AATS
Australian Alps Trek Support
Vehicle Transfers / Heli-Support / Food Drops / Caching / Resupply / MTB Support / Evacs / Rescue Services
TM
Australian Alps Trek Support offers a wide range of basic and specialised trek support services across the Australian Alps in Victoria, focusing on the Australian Alps Walking Track and many other multi-day treks across remote areas of the Victorian High Country
AATS SERVICES FOR 2023-2024
This website is still being developed and populated.
AATS services starting 1 November 2023
Resupply Drops ( Food and Water)
Remote Area Transfers
Emergency Evacs
Emergency Resupplies
Emergency Caches
Tracking & Check Ins
Trek Training
TM
RESUPPLY-WATER DROPS
Water Drops will be at the same locations as food drop points, though requests have come through for water drop only. Water drops will be done in 20lt Jerry batches. Water drops will be cached out bush at designated points. You MUST know how to use a GPS.
EMERGENCY CACHES
As part of our service, we will place a number of seasonal emergency caches across the high country, that will have spare water, food, batteries, PLB's, power packs, emergency shelters, sleeping gear etc if things get spicy and desperate.
Basic, advanced and specialised hiking courses will be conducted out of Mansfield or in the Lake Eildon area starting from November 2023. Courses will be weekend and 7 days courses covering the full spectrum of hiking and trekking skills. Courses specifically designed to prepare you for the AAWT will also be conducted. These courses will run year round.
RESUPPLY-FOOD DROPS
Food drops will be offered at locations around the Vic Alps, namely at locations to support the Australian Alps Walking Track and the McMillan Walking Track. Full list below. Food drops will be cached out bush at designated points. You MUST know how to use a GPS.
EMERGENCY EVACS
Pri 3 and less for emergency evacuations from areas due to medical issues, extreme weather, fire and other emergencies will be offered. This will be offered via vehicle or helicopter evacs. These are considered as short notice callouts. If you have a life-threatening situation call 000.
TRACKING & CHECK INS
We will offer to monitor all of our customers while they are out on the AAWT or MMWT and any other multi-day or extended walks. This also includes daily check-ins via SMS with customers and daily update /alert relays. Compulsory terms and conditions for booking with us are that at least one hiker will have a satellite messaging and tracking device during their trek. This is a safety element in case of injury, fires, storms etc
TRANSFERS
Transfers ( drop off's and pick-ups) across the Victorian High Country linking Mansfield, Walhalla, Omeo, Mitta Mitta, Mt Hotham and everything in between. See the detailed breakdown below. We can drop hikers off or pick them up anywhere there is reasonable vehicle access. Consider using existing transport services to main towns and resorts for cheaper options.
EMERGENCY RESUPPLY
Emergency resupply options will be available throughout the season for any lost or damaged gear replacements. Emergency supplies can be delivered via vehicle, helicopter or drones (under 5kg) direct to hikers, caching or existing food drop points.
COMMS HIRE & SUPPLIES
We offer a wide range of satellite and emergency communication devices you can hire for your trek which includes PLBs, trackers, SMS satellite messengers and more. See more below. We also supply commercial trek from form Radix, Strive and Backcountry plus fuel options from Jetboil and MSR.
RESUPPLY
We will service a number of resupply (food, water, etc) points across the Victorian High Country, namely to support the AAWT and McMillans Track, but many other shorter multi-day treks in the Australian Alps National Park.
All resupply points are also transfer points (drop off/pick up).
We are only servicing the Victorian part of the AAWT in 2023/2024
PRICING/LOCATIONS
Food drops will go out on certain days during the week.
If you can get your drops done at the same time as other hikers, it will be cheaper. Contact us to discuss how.
TRACKS/TRAILS
RESUP POINT 1: Mt Victor
Mt Victor on Matlock-Aberfeldy Road
$550 - 1 - 2 x 60lt containers
$650 - 3 or 4 x 60lt containers
RESUP POINT 2: Mt Skene
Specific locations to be provided
$450 - 1-2 x 60lt containers
$550 - 3-4 x 60lt containers
RESUP POINT 3: Mt Hotham #
Field cache options available
$450 - 1-2 x 60lt containers
$550 - 3-4 x 60lt containers
RESUP POINT 4: Cope Hut
Bogong High Plains Rd
$450 - 1-2 x 60lt containers
$550 - 3-4 x 60lt containers
RESUP POINT 5: Sunnyside
Specific locations to be provided
$550 - 1-2 x 60lt containers
$650 - 3-4 x 60lt containers
TRACKS/TRAILS
McMillans Walking Track (MMWT)
RESUP POINT 1: Mt Skene
Specific locations to be provided
$550 - 1-2 x 60lt containers
$650 - 3-4 x 60lt containers
RESUP POINT 2: Glencairn
Along Glencairn Road close to Rumpffs Flat
$650 - 1-2 x 60lt containers
$750 - 3-4 x 60lt containers
RESUP POINT 4: Tamboritha
Vicinity Mt Tamboritha - Dingo Hill Track
$650 - 1-2 x 60lt containers
$750 - 3-4 x 60lt containers
RESUP POINT 4: Eaglevale
Vicinity Eaglevale Campsite - Wonnongatta River
$750 - 1-2 x 60lt containers
$850 - 3-4 x 60lt containers
RESUP POINT 5: Lankey Plain Hut
Vicinity Dargo High Plains Road and King Spur Track
$750 - 1-2 x 60lt containers
$850 - 3-4 x 60lt containers
If you have other resupply point locations in mind, let us know
We can do food and water drops in other locations to suit your specific trek, including remote locations like King Billy, Cobberas
Combine 3 or more resupply drops to get 20% off
Resupply Cost Includes
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60lt Container Hire & Use (Note we do have 80lt options as well)
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Field Placement of Container to resupply point
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Gear Retrieval & Rubbish Removal
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2x XL 5kg Pre-Paid Parcel Post Satchels (510 x 440mm) per container ( for pre-trek packing)
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Local Shopping List Run. You pay for the items, we buy it and pack it for you.
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We will also sell fuel (Jetboil, MSR, Shellite, Metho etc) you can order and buy and we'll pack it locally.
RESUPPLY CONTAINER
60lt Robust Container
Tough 60lt container that will protect your resupply contents from heavy rain, sleet, wind, snow and wildlife. Containers are clearly marked with hiker surname and drop number
Dimensions: 80.1 W x 38.3 D x 32.5 H cm
Rubbish removal
All resupply food drops include rubbish removal, including used/left over fuel cannisters, liquid fuel etc
Field Cached
All remote area resupply drops will be cached out bush close to trail intersections on the road. They will be carefully hidden and camouflaged.
Gear Retrieval
Gear retrieval is included at no extra cost, but you pay for the postage and handling of any items that need to be posted back to you, or collect it from us at Mansfield.
Water
Each remote bush resupply point will have 5x22lt jerries of water left there for an emergency but hikers are NOT to rely on these as we can't monitor or control their use when customers use them.
Zip Tied Containers
All containers are zip tied locked
Images provide some context of the size and depth of the 60lt container we will be using for the resupply caches. Inside the container is a 10lt spring water box. The fuel is a 227g MSR canister. Note: We do have 80lt container options as we
TRANSFERS
We will offer transfers across the Victorian High Country and Australian Alps National Park to and from townships, settlements, remote access points and remote campsites.
At a minimum, we will service locations linked to the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT) and McMillans Walking Track (MMWT). If you have a specific location in mind, we're all ears, send us an email.
PRICING/LOCATIONS
The price is for 1 passenger.
Add $70 for any extra person. Max 4
All transfers EX Mansfield
SOUTH EAST ALPS ROUTE
Ex Mansfield SE
Howqua Hills Historical Area $450
Jamieson from $250
Woods Point from $350
Licola from $650
Licola North from $680
Bryces Plain from $820
Howitt Plains Campground from $950
Other towns we can transfer to/from includes Matlock, Aberfeldy, Walhalla and Baw Baw Resort and any food drop point.
NORTH EAST ALPS ROUTE
Ex Mansfield NE
Mt Beauty from $450
Bogong High Plains from $550
Falls Creek from $550
Buckley Plain from $580
Sunnyside from $650
Mitta Mitta from $750
Dartmouth from $850
Includes midpoint remote campsites/tracks in between the towns/settlements listed above. Always consider using public transport or existing conventional bus services, it's cheaper unless you want the AATS reliability or you need to access the tricky remote areas or food drop points.
NORTH EAST ALPS ROUTE
Ex Mansfield E
Mt Hotham from $550
Dargo from $1,110
Dinner Plain from $650
Cobungra from $650
Omeo from $700
Benambra from $750
Nariel Valley from $850
Includes midpoint remote campsites/tracks in between the towns/settlements listed above. Always consider using public transport or existing conventional bus services, it's cheaper unless you want the AATS reliability or you need to access the tricky remote areas or food drop points.
SUPPLIES
We offer a wide range of commercial trek food, stove fuel and other items you can buy from our store online and have the items placed in your food drop containers.
This can save you the hassle of buying the same items and posting it to us. All AATS customers have 20% off retail when buying from our store.
COMMS HIRE
We offer a range of communication and tracking devices you can hire for your trek, including PLBs, trackers, satellite phones, Satellite SMS and combo devices.
Book comms options online, and we will post the device to you. We set up and register your devices specifically for your trek.
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Who is AATS?Australian Alps Trek Support ( AATS) is a newly formed serviced established in November 2022 to support independent hikers in the Australian Alps of Victoria. AATS is a team of highly experienced professionals specialising in remote area trek support logistics, search and rescue, drone operations and training, all focused on the hiking and trekking. AATS is primarily focused on supporting hikers completing the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT) but will offer its services for a wide range of other overnight, multi-day and extended day walks in the Victorian High Country. AATS is an extension of Larapinta Trail Trek Support ( LTTS), which services the world renowned Larapinta Trail in the NT. LTTS was formed in 2016 and is the no 1 provided of trek support services on the Larapinta Trail.
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Does AATS service the Australian Alps Walking Track?Yes. But at this stage we are only supporting the Victorian section of AAWT. We plan to open up services for the NSW and ACT in the 2024-2025 season onwards.
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How do I book my food drops for the AATS?Use the form on this website to submit an enquiry.
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I want to book food drops not shown on your list. Can I do that?Get in touch and let us know what locations you have in mind and we'll let you know whether we can do it.
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I want to book transfers to locations not shown on your list. Can I do that?Get in touch and let us know what you have mind and we'll see what we can do.
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How do I get my food and stuff to you for the food drop?Once you have made a booking, we will post you 2x XL (5kg) pre-paid satchels per container. You pack these satchels and post them back to us. They will then be placed into each resupply container as is. Note that each satchel is clearly marked with your name, relevant dates* and the location, so it will be very clear which satchel you need to pack for each drop. We can also do a local supermarket run in Mansfield if you want to buy water or other bulky items to put in your container.
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FAQs: How do you get my gear retrieval stuff back to me once I've finished my hike?You can either pick it up at our Mansfield depot or we will post it back to you. No charge either way.
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FAQs: What are some cheaper ways to get my food drops done?Food drops can be cheaper if a bunch of them are being done at the same time, even if the hikers are unknown to each other. We have pre-scheduled dates when resupply containers go out for placement in the field. If we have multiple resupplies being booked for these dates, the cost can be 30% cheaper for everyone who booked on for that day. If you're not sure, give us a call.
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When do you need my food for the food drops?You need to get your food parcels back to us at least 3 weeks before your trek starts. This is non-negotiable. We need to make sure your food is received, packed and placed at least 10 days before you start your trek to make sure all loose ends are tied off; container placement is confirmed; and you received all the drop location info ( GPS, map, photo etc).
GET IN TOUCH
08 8953 0666
This office phone is not manned all the time.
Email is best. An AATS field team mobile number is provided once a booking is made.
info (at) treksupport.com.au
General Enquiry Form