Walking Areas

Last updated 28 Aril 2000

There are a number of dangers to be aware of. One of the most important is bushfires. The fire danger period is from December to March. Fire danger is advertised in newspapers, radio and television, usually under the weather report. The highest is total fire ban days. On these days no firs may be lit in the open, this includes camping stoves. Fires, including stoves, may only be lit inside permanent structures, not tents. There are heavy fines and prison terms for people breaking a fire ban day. Note that the state is divided into several fire districts and a fire ban may be declared for only some districts. If you don't have access to the news a hot day with strong northerly winds is likely to be a total fire ban. It is best to avoid bush walking on total fire ban days. For further information see the Country Fire Authority.

• Victorian Alps

  The geography of the Victorian Alps is usually tilted beds of rock which are steep and rocky on one side but a gentle slope on the other. The area is a number of small plateaus rather than one big plateau as in the New South Wales Alps. One result is that creeks and streams tend to be small and can be unreliable at the end of summer and start of autumn.

  In most parts of the Alps camping is allowed anywhere and possible campsites abound, but walkers should follow miniml the impact approach in selecting a campsite. The alpine wild flowers are at their most beautiful in summer. Freezing conditions, snow and blizzards can occur any time of the year and walkers should always be prepared for them. However they are unlikely to last more than a day in summer.

  • Australian Alps Walking Track This track runs from Walhalla in Victoria to Namadgi rangers station on the outskirts of Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory. It is 683 km long and runs through Australia's main alpine areas. See my detailed notes.
  • Baw Baw National Park

  • Mt Buffalo

    Mt Buffalo is about 320 km north east of Melbourne, and has been a National Park since 1898. It is a large granite plateau reaching 1720 m in altitude.There are a number of tracks and roads on the plateau. It is suitable for walking from Spring to Autumn and for skiing in Winter, although the snow is less reliable than at other skiing areas.

    There are a number of accomodation options: - Mt Buffalo Chalet , built in the 1920's offers guest house accomodation and a restaurant, ring on 03 5755 1500. It overlooks the Buffalo Gorge, probably the most apectacular part of the Park. - Mt Buffalo Lodge (formerly Tatra Inn) offers backpacker, motel and lodge style accomodation year round. Ring on 03 5755 1988.

    - Lake Catani Camping area. Open from the beginning of November to the end of April. A very beautiful spot with numbered camp sites and toilets, water, hot showers and a basic laundry. you can drive in with a car. A fee is payable to the rangers. Camp fires are only permitted in fire places and you must bring firewood from outside the Park or purchase it from the rangers. During peak periods it is a good idea to book in advance from the Entrance Station, phone 03 5756 2328, fax 03 5756 2148.

    - Rocky Creek Remote Camping Area. Located adjacent to rocky creek near the Half Day Bridge crossing, on the south east of the park, near Mollison's galleries, this is only accessible by walking. A maximum of ten people at any time can camp here and it is open from 1 November to 30 April. A fee is payable and you must book at the Entrance Station, phone 03 5756 2328 or fax 03 5756 2148.

    The best map of the Park is a privately produced one , Mount Buffalo Plateau 1:30,000 produced in 1994 by a guy called Geoff Lawford at 2215 Prices Highway Mulgrave 3170. Unfortunately I don't know if it's still in print. Otherwise use the Vicmap 1:25,000 sheets, Eurobin, Nug Nug (I aren't making these up!), Dandongadale and Buckland. There are plenty of good walks marked on the maps. One of the most interesting is called the Big Walk from the Entrance Station up to The Chalet. However I prefer to do it in reverse, ie going down rather than up.

    An interesting walk not on the map that I've received notes for is from the Old Galleries to Kennedy Creek. The person who gave me the notes last walked it in 1984 so it might be a lot harder to follow now! The route is (was?) marked by metal markers nailed to the trees at head height or above, they were usually painted orange. Some of the markers are up to 100 m apart. The route follows the established track from the Horn Road to the Old Galleries and leaves the main track in an easterly direction just past a yellow marker nailed to a tree on the right hand side of the track and about 25 metres before the track enteres the lower rocks of the old Galleries. The two reports I had said it took 5 - 7 hours. When I try it myself I'll put more detail here.

  • Wonnangatta - Moroka Area - Approach from Licola (south)
  • Wonnangatta - Moroka Area - Approach from Mansfield (East)
  • Mt Hotham Area
  • Bogong High Plains

  • Mt Bogong - Mt Wills

  • The Cobberas

• Wilson's Promontory

  Wilson's Prom is about 200 km southeast of Melbourne and includes the southernmost point of mainland Australia. The National Park is one of the most visited in Victoria and you can expect to see plenty of people in the popular areas. The Park is accessible along one road and activities are centred on the Tidal River village in the centre of the Park. This village has shops that provide food, groceries, take away food, petrol etc. The Park has spectacular coatal scenery and rugged mountains that rise over 700 metres high inland. There are plenty of well defined walking tracks and campsites for overnight walkers. The climate is suitable for walking all year round and it is a very good area for beginners.

  The Park has charges for camping at Tidal River and for overnight walking. You also need to book for your overnight walks. In ordinary times you can just do this after you arive but at popular holiday times it would be advisable to book in advance. Fires are banned all year round so you need to bring a stove.

  Although nearly everyone walks along the tracks at Wilson's Prom it is possible to do off-track walking . The Rangers will give permits for off-track walking under fairly strict guidelines. You can only walk off-track in the period May - October, you need to apply in writing at least a month in advance with a copy of a map showing your intended route and you need to say that you are aware of the guidelines about off-track walking, ie, minimal damage to vegetation, maximum party size of six and no fires. Also the Rangers are paranoid about people getting lost so you need to deatil your navigational qualifications/expertise. SAfter sending in the written aplication (addressed to the Ranger in charge at Tidal River) you need to follow up with a phone call to see if permission was granted. It's a complicated procedure but worth it as you'll be walking in areas hardly ever visited.

  Some off track areas:
  • Mt Ramsay and Mt Latrobe.
    Very scrubby on Mt Latrobe just above the saddle. You can find campsites on the two ridges running west-south-west of Latrobe. There is a reliable creek between the ridges, although it's not shown on the map.
  • Mt Wilson
    Best approached from Windy Saddle. Thgere a is water and a good spot for camping about 500 metres north of the summit. The summit is becoming overgrown and it would be hard to pitch a tent there. There is a log book dating back to about 1972 on the summit. The direct route from Wilson to the south is very rocky. You may need an abseiling rope, or else take the ridge that heads east then bends south.
  • Boulder Range
    The climb from Boulder Saddle to Mt Boulder is very scrubby but it is fairly clear on top. Good camping in the saddle at grid ref 56 70.9 south 4 48.1 east. It gets scrubby again as you do the final climb up South Peak and it's very scrubby between there and the lighthouse walking track.
  • Vereker Range
    Starting from Vereker Outlook in the north the first bit of off track walking is one of the scrubbiest sections but much of the forest along the ridge is now mature and fairly easy walking. You can camp at either of the two creeks past the summit. The first, about 500 metres from e summit, has the best water but not very good camping. The secong creek, which is about two thirds of the way between Mt Vereker summit and the helipad, is smaller but has good camping about 50 metres south of the creek.
  • Mt Norgate
    I did it in about 1988 and it was very thick scrub the whole way. There is good camping and easy walking in the valley of Enclave creek.
• The Grampians

• East Gippsland

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