Victorian Alps - Australia
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| Spring
brings with it the warmer weather and, as the snow melts, it is
replaces by spring flowers, green grass and once again the opening of
the bush tracks, so popular in the summer months with bush
walkers,
four wheel drivers and campers, and the rivers and streams again attract the recreational fisherman. The area becomes equally popular with horse riders who have untold areas that they can explore. As with the Australian deserts, The High Country can be an inhospitable place for the ill-prepared, particularly in the higher regions. It is not unknown to have extremes between warm summer weather and wintery snow blizzards. Together with this the tree growth in some areas present the bush fire hazard, often without warning. Nevertheless the whole region presents a vaste array of stunning scenery. a wide variety of flora and fauna and leaves its visitors, many of whom return year after year, with long lasting, happy memories. There are four wheel drive routes throughout much of the High Country with a popular trip starting in Mansfield, Victoria, and ends on the Victorian / New South Wales border at Tom Groggin, just south of Thredbo, having wound its way through the Alpine National Park. There is also a popular track from Marysville, to the south west of Mansfield, that first travels through the Yarra Ranges National Park, then the south western regions of the Alpine National Park before joining this track in the Wonnangatta Valley, near Dargo. There is also a route from Bairnsdale to the south, in the beautiful East Gippsland lakes district, that joins up at Dargo as well. Most of the tracks have been created for management of the forests and fire control and not for four wheel drives. They are left open for recreational use and those using them must remember to leave them as they found them and to head warning signs and respect track closures. If a track is closed it is closed for a reason, those who ignore the warnings will place themselves and their passengers at risk. It is also worth noting that if a track was in good condition last year it may not be this year for a whole range of reasons. It is always a good idea to check with the locals before proceeding into remote areas. This trip covers a distance of around 420 km and takes in spectacular scenery comprising mountains, rivers and historic sights. There are also many excellent camping sites along the way. The whole trip could easily keep you busy for 10 days or more although, as the track does cross several access roads to various towns, there are opportunities to cut the trip short. There will be many stretches where it is slow going and there is a little over 200 km for the longest distance without fuel supplies. Whilst much of the trip is through easy 4wd country there are stages that are definitely not for the beginner. If you are inexperienced there are several 4wd tag along tours operators that will guide you through the area in safety. That is their job and they do it well. Mansfield, north east of Melbourne and to the west of the Alpine National Park, is Ned Kelly country and is a main gateway into the mountains. Whilst it is mainly an agricultural town it also plays host to thousands of tourists as it is on the access road to Mt Buller to its east. Mansfield offers all facilities and is an ideal place to stock up on fuel and provisions. Leaving town head for Mt Buller to the east. About 30 kilometers from Mansfield. at Mirimbah, turnoff towards Mount Stirling. At Telephone Box Junction there is the Circuit Track that leads to the summit which is walking or 4wd access only. There is also a much sought after landmark in the area, Craig's Hut which was originally built when the film Man From Snowy River was made, with its sensational scenic backdrop. Heading out along the Circuit Track the going gets tougher as you pass through Howqua Gap and travel along the edge of the mountain. Several kilometers past Howqua Gap the route takes the Bindaree Creek Track as it heads down the mountain to the Howqua River which is crossed a few km's further. There are several very good camp sites in the area but once over the river there is an ideal camping ground on the Bindaree Hut river flats. This is a lovely spot with good trout fishing for those into it. Although Bindaree Hut is only about 70km from Mansfield the average driver would have taken two or more hours so far. Stopping to look at the scenery could easily make this a day trip so far, an early indication of why this trip could take a week or longer. Later crossing 16 Mile Creek, whilst traveling on 16 Mile Track the 16 Mile Road is eventually reached. Just after getting onto 16 Mile Road there is a turnoff to Bluff Hut, which is on a cattle property leased by the Stoney family. The hut is used by the family when they are in the area but visitors are welcome and the view is well worth stopping for. Near Bluff Hut, a little further on there is a track leading off the main track that will take you to views that you shouldn't miss. They stretch forever. As the trip heads for Dargo there are several fairly steep climbs and descents with river and creek crossings and, off course, lots more views. If you have time on your hands there is a reasonable track, Brocks Road, leading down to the Jamieson River. But then are are many other tracks as well that lead to equally pleasant places. Perhaps you should plan to be here for a month or so! Of great historical significance is Wonnangatta Valley and was known as the Lost Valley of The Alps. First discovered in 1860 by a gold prospector called Howitt, the cattle station lease of Wonnagatta Station was taken up. It was at Wonnagatta Homestead the then manager of the station, James Barclay, and the homestead's chef, John Bamford, were murdered, crimes that have never been solved. There is little remaining of the old homestead after being accidentally set alight in 1957. Continuing past the homestead towards Eaglevale, on the Wombat Range Track, there is a good chance of coming across some washouts on the track and very tight bends so exercise extreme caution. There are plenty of excellent camp sites along the way, many on the river bank. From Eaglevale to Dargo there are some more creek crossings until the main road, which is bitumen, is reached about 5km out of the village of Dargo. From Dargo there is the main road to Omeo, via Mt Hotham, for the traveler who would like a break from four wheel driving for a while, or the 4wd track, which runs parallel to the Dargo River for a while before climbing up to Mt Steve via The Farm. At Mt Steve the route travels almost north along Birregun Track before heading north east to Omeo. From Omeo travel north towards Mitta Mitta for about 4km and turn east onto Benambra Road and on to, and through, the town of Benambra and passed Omeo Lake towards Corryong. The road passes through timber logging country and it is not uncommon to come across large logging trucks. Having followed the Gibbo River for a while the road climbs fairly rapidly towards Sassafras Gap, which is at the top of the Great Dividing Range. As a detour the Dartmouth Track heads westwards to Lake Dartmouth. There is a decent camping area at Lake Dartmouth within a close proximity to the Greens Creek Mining Area. About 10km north of Sassafras Gap the Wheelers Creek Logging Road heads of to the east towards the forests and Wheelers Creek Hut, which is a good camp site. However about 2 km before Wheelers Creek Hut is Cattlemans Track, which then leads to Shady Creek Lower Track heading towards Gibson's Hut. Gibson's Hut is another good camping area situated next to a beautiful stream. From here the route follows a series of tracks to Tom Groggin traveling through spectacular mountain country, Tom Groggin Station and eventually meeting the Murray River at Dogmans Hut, and the Victorian, New South Wales border. There is a reasonably shallow river crossing and then only a short distance to the Alpine Way and the end of the journey. From here it goes right across Alpine National Park south east, and out of the park for a while, to Dargo. From Dargo the trip turns north east and heads for Omeo, on the Omeo Highway, and then on, back into the Alpine National Park to Sassafras Gap, where the route swings east to Tom Groggin. The trip is over rugged, mountainous, country and a well prepared, well equipped, vehicle is essential. The best time to do the trip is in the late spring to early autumn. During the winter months much of the route is impassable due to the snow falls and road closures. It covers about 420 km with around 215 km being the longest distance between fuel stops. Park permits are required |
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