Kurth Kiln camp ground (not Kirth!)

Introduction

3 basic average camp areas within the Kurth Kiln Regional Park
this is the closest free camp east of Melbourne (there are none in the Dandenongs!)
- hence there is a high risk of the boys from the hood dropping in for a noisy night of drinking late on a Friday night and leaving their rubbish!
has a sandy bottomed creek to play in
nearby mill pond with frogs
drop toilets
easy trails
possible phone reception depending upon carrier
dogs on a leash only

lies in a forested valley at ~220m elevation near Tomahawk Creek which flows westward, dropping a further 30m elevation or so before joining Shepherds Creek 1km to the west
Bunyip State Park lies nearby to the south-east and these hills rise to 400m elevation 3km away
hills to the north east are generally 500m but there is a 600m peak 2km away in the Powelltown direction
a low ridge of 280m elevation runs in a N-S line 1km to the west
further away are the Dandenongs which lie to the NW and are generally 400-500m but Mt Dandenong is a 600m peak and is 20km away as the crow flies

10min drive from Gembrook;
just over an hour drive from Melbourne CBD via SE Freeway to Mulgrave then south of Dandenongs and past Cardinia Reservoir
~1hr 15min drive from Brunswick via Eastern Fway and East Link to Ringwood then north of Dandenongs
easy road in and is close to Melbourne hence it can get busy/loud on weekends or public holidays

30 numbered camp sites at Scout Loop and 6 at Magazine camping areas; PLUS 4 unnumbered communal camping at Heritage Fence camping area which shares the Magazine camp drop toilet;
sites are close to each other and can be busy and noisy on weekends and only 1 drop toilet can be challenging.
no bookings (govt scrapped fees for basic camp grounds in 2015), hence first in first served - AVOID weekends!
No rubbish bins or collection - unfortunately some people seem to often leave rubbish behind.
dogs on leash;
horses at Scout Loop;
a few fire places but BYO firewood
no potable water - need to treat the creek water!
not suitable for big rigs

BEWARE falling tree branches - there are lots of tall timber than can kill you!

historic huts and caretaker residence
rare example of a relatively intact charcoal burning kiln and the only one of its type in Australia - charcoal was used in gas producer units attached to motor vehicles to produce combustible gas as an alternative to petrol during the Second World War.
rare plants including Long Pink-bells, Tall Astelia and Brickmakers Saw-sedge along with stunning Mountain Ash, stringybark and riparian forests.
Shiprock Falls near Shiprock picnic area (40min 3.5km one-way walk, or 6min drive)
- an uninspiring blog of the picnic area and the invisible falls but they at least liked the boulders
25min drive to Emerald and the Puffing Billy train and ~5 minutes further is Aura Vale at Cardinia Reservoir
40 min drive to Olinda attractions via Yellingbo or via Gembrook
Warburton or Powelltown are just over half an hour drive via Yarra Junction - Noojee is a further half an hour east from Powelltown
Healesville Sanctuary is just over half an hour drive via Launching Place or Yellingbo and Yarra Glen is ~10 minutes further
if you decide next camp is Tidal River, Wilsons Prom then that is just under 3hrs drive

none in the Dandenongs except for:
- Sherbrooke Forest 4WD Hip Camp - 1 camp site only, no facilities
  - https://www.hipcamp.com/en-AU/victoria/kallista-camp/sherbrooke-forest-4wd-camp

Doon Reserve Caravan Park Yarra Junction
- commercial: http://doonreserve.com.au
- toilets, hot showers, power, laundry
- 23min drive;
also commercial parks at Lilydale, Healesville, Warburton
Gladysdale gravel pit
- dogs allowed but no water, no toilets.
- 24 min drive
Powelltown Hall:
- only space for 3 vans; toilets; dogs allowed but no water;

Mortimer Picnic Ground
- tents only on a grassed camp ground on the other side of bollards
- 17min drive via Gembrook; within Bunyip State Park;
- toilets; no mobile phone coverage; no dogs;
- Four Brothers Mortimer Circuit Walk
Nash Creek camp ground
- 30min drive via Gembrook; within Bunyip State Park;
- toilets; no mobile phone coverage; no dogs;
- caravans and tents;
Bunyip Weir (Freemans Mill) hike in only camping area
- 23km and under 1hr via Shiprock Picnic Ground - windy road!!
- hike in only - 6km walk from car park on Bunyip River Rd

Pakenham Caravan Park
- http://pakenhamcaravanparks.com.au
Akoonah Park showground, Berwick
- https://akoonahpark.com.au/caravan-park/ 17 sites
some near Drouin and Warragul