RESUPPLY
AATS has established pre-set remote area resupply (food drops, water drops etc) points across the Victorian High Country. Resupply options include food, water, gear replacement. All resupplies are bush cached at pre-set GPS points.
We specifically service the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT) and the McMillans Walking Track (MCWT)
SERVICE SUMMARY
Resupply Drops ( Food, Water, Gear)
Supporting Hikers, MTBs, Dirt Bikers, Groups
Emergency & Short Notice Resupply
Emergency SOS Cache Support
Static Placements (Caches/GPS Points)
Short to Long Term Caching Options
Government Emergency Operations Support
RESUPPLY LOCATIONS
From depot in Mansfield
Exact GPS Locations Provided When Booked
REMOTE LOCATIONS
On Request
Bluff Hutt-Lovicks Hutt
Buenba Flat
Cowombat Flat
High Cone
King Billy 1 or 2
Mt Hope Road JCT
Mt Selwyn
Mt Wellington
Nobs Track vicinity Mt Mac
Vicinity Mt Cobberas
Vicinity Mt Speculation
Vicinity Mt Sunday
Prices vary between $550-$900
per drop. Book on same date as other hikers to split costs. Ask us how.
REGULAR RUNS
Bi monthly
Benambra-Corryong Rd
Cope Hut
Eaglevale
Glencairn
Lankey Plain Hut
Rumpff Saddle
Sunny Side
Tamboritha
Vicinity Mt Skene
Vicinity Mt Viktor
Vicinity of Mt Murray
Vicinity of Mt Saint Bernard
$250 per container/per drop
The above locations are generally suited to Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT) and McMillans Walking Track (MCWT) hikers.
But many hikers, MTB, trail & dirt bike riders have provided us with preferred resupply points which we have facilitated. If you have your own resupply points to suit your activity, get in touch.
AATS Resupply Point Signage
RESUPPLY INCLUDES
60lt Container Hire & Use (Note we do have 40lt & 80lt options as well)
Extra Cost if Included: 20lt Bladder/ Jerry Hire & Use (400D Nylon Fabric)
Field Placement of Container to resupply point
Gear Retrieval & Rubbish Removal
1x XL 5kg Pre-Paid Parcel Post Satchels (510 x 440mm) per container ( for pre-trek packing)
Local Shopping Run. You pay for the items, we buy it and pack it for you.
We will also sell fuel (Jetboil, MSR, Shellite, Metho etc) you can order and buy and we'll pack it locally.
RESUPPLY CONTAINER
45-60lt 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
40lt containers are also available
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.
Zip Tied Containers
All containers can be zip tied locked if you opt for this
60lt container
Images taken from the field across the AAWT, pics include locations at Mt Viktor, Mt Skene, King Billy, Mt Sunday, Mt Speculation and much more.
WATER RESUPPLY/CACHING
We cache water at any of our fixed resupply points or pre-approved cache point. Resupply can be provided in 20lt collapsible bladders or 20lt food-grade LDPE and HDPE plastic water jerries
RESUPPLY RUN DATES FOR 2024/2025
CUT OFF DATES
This is the date you need to get your food drop parcels, packages and store orders to us
NOVEMBER
Departing Mansfield
BOOKED OUT
4 November
Cut Off Date
21 October
Departing Mansfield
25 November
Cut Off Date
11 November
DECEMBER
Departing Mansfield
BOOKED OUT
9 December
Cut Off Date
25 November
JANUARY
Departing Mansfield
BOOKED OUT
6 January
Cut Off Date
23 December
Departing Mansfield
BOOKED OUT
27 January
Cut Off Date
13 January
FEBRUARY
Departing Mansfield
10 February
Cut Off Date
20 January
MARCH
Departing Mansfield
BOOKED OUT
Departing Mansfield
3 March
Cut Off Date
15 February
Departing Mansfield
BOOKED OUT
24 March
Cut Off Date
10 March
MAKE A RESUPPLY ENQUIRY
-
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.
-
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.
-
How do I book my food drops for the AATS?Use the form on this website to submit an enquiry.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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. We're working out the best way to display this online transparently but in the interim, give us a call to discuss and request and invite the AATW Food Drop Page in our Trailhead Portal . Here you can discuss options with other AATW hikers
-
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).