A week in Victoria climbing trad and sport. Climbing will be in areas that are not subject to bans, but there should still be plenty of areas where we can climb single and multi-pitch trad routes and some sport climbing. Climbs are mostly protected with trad gear at Arapiles (Dyurrite) but sport climbing is more plentiful at some Grampians (Gariwerd) crags for anyone interested in mixing things up and climbing some bolted routes too. Bouldering has also been available in both areas (it's not clear if any bouldering areas are subject bans - further research is needed) so bring bouldering mats if you have space for them.
You will need to be competent at belaying and basic rope/safety techniques relating to climbing. There will be limited spaces for beginners - depending on the number of experienced lead climbers available to teach trad/multi-pitch climbing lead and seconding techniques, alongside the availability of club gear for trad/sport climbing.
For camping you will need basic camping gear including a tent (or someone with a tent to share with), sleeping mat, sleeping bag, cooking equipment, plate, mug, cutlery, water containers, head-torch/lighting, spare batteries/charging facilities to charge from sunlight or car accessory ports. A cooler box shared between your car group is recommended if you plan on bringing food that needs to be kept cold. Suitable camp furniture such as a chair and shared camp table plus materials to make a shelter such as tarps, rope, spare pegs and poles are also recommended as we will be camping for 7 nights.
For climbing you will need at a minimum: a helmet, thermals/packable jacket (in case of getting delayed/stuck on multi-pitch climbs/descents), climbing harness, suitable day-pack, climbing shoes, 1 locking carabiner, a safety leash/PAS, 2 prusik cords, and a belay device that is suitable for abseiling. Sun protection is also advised.
Toilet facilities and tank water are available at the campgrounds but food and groceries are about a 30 minute drive away in Horsham. There are no supermarkets in Natimuk which is closer to Arapiles although prepared food and climbing gear may be bought from The Nati cafe or The Climbing Shop there. So it's best to bring/buy enough food to get through at least several days and sufficient water in case tank water isn't available. Most likely we will base ourselves at Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park in the Pines or Gums campgrounds, but we can explore the option of camping in one of a number of campgrounds in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park, noting that both areas are within National/State Parks and subject to restrictions (e.g. no dogs, no generators, no fires), and there are fees per night and additionally bookings are required for the campgrounds in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. Options for showers are available at the Horsham Aquatic Centre and some of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park campgrounds.
Approximate cost per person to participate is $200 in fuel sharing a car with 2 others, $28-$35 camping fees, plus $140 for food for 7 days. Participants are expected to arrange their expenses among themselves for any shared vehicle costs, food or other consumables.