Advice on walk in Howitt-Crosscut Saw-Lake Cobbler region

[Droog]

Hi Guys

Long time walker, but first time poster hoping to get a bit of advice from people who know this area. We are looking at doing a 4 day semi circle walk with a car shuffle with the following itinerary:

Day 1: Upper Howqua Campsite -> Vallejo Gantner Hut
Day 2: Valleno Gartner -> Mt Speculation/Camp Creek
Day 3: Mt Speculation -> Lake Cobbler

I believe this is all fairly straightforward and the Bindaree Rd down to Upper Howqua is good for 2WDs, the problem is working out the best place to leave the second car withing striking distance of Mt Cobbler. I have a Rooftops map that shows a track named King Hut track that runs from Peters Corner on the Circuit Rd down to King Hut and I was thinking we could leave the car at Peters corner and use that, but it seems like a while since that track was used and I am not sure if it is still walkable - does anyone know?
Alternatively, I have read the Speculation Road down to Kings River can be done by 2WD, if this is so we could leave a car at the bottom of Muesli Spur track. Does anyone know if Speculation Road to King River can be done by 2WD (one of the cars is likely a Mazda 3)?

Open to any other suggestions and all advice is much appreciated.

[peregrinator]

I have parked a 2WD there (or near there) a couple of times with no problems. Not in recent years though.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

You can get a 2 wd car down to the corner of King Basin Track and Speculation road.
There are good parking spots there .
Muesli spur track pops out onto the Spec. road just a short way up the Spec. road from that point.
The Bindaree road has always been okay for 2 WD cars.

When I was at Mac. Springs doing a track clearing working bee at the end of Jan. 2025 the spring itself at Mac. Springs was flowing V E R Y slowly.
It has been a very hot and dry summer and early Autumn thus far. There is a rainwater tank at the Loo with a view near the Gantner hut.

Finding water is my point here . Camp Creek should be fine and so should the water point on Stanely Name spur.
As for other usual water points , I would not presume or assume that
they would be flowing.
Lake Cobbler is a scenic place and good for a swim after a sweaty hike
but the serenity is often despoiled by loud hoonish 4 WD enthusiasts.
If you can fetch water at the Lake then you can camp away from this place . The junction of the Mt. Cobbler track that leads to Lake Cobbler has some dry
campsites that are hike in only.
I would cart water up there and camp away from vehicular access points.
Big Kev did walk up that track from King Hut to Peter's corner as part
of his Buller huts walk.
The King river crossing was a
bit hairy but the track up to The Circuit road was not too difficult to follow.

Last edited by paidal_chalne_vala on Wed 26 Mar, 2025 8:30 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Baeng72]

I was last at Upper Howqua in November, but it's never been an issue in 2WD (with some clearance).
I was last at the Lake Cobbler Turnoff in the same 2WD with no issue last June. (this is where the road splits, when approaching the lake, the right side goes down to the lake, and the left goes past a gate that's closed from June to November. There's a carpark that can handle 3 vehicles at the split).

I've only walked down Muesli Spur to get from Spec. road to King River, but unless they've graded Spec. road from Cobbler track intersection to King River, it will be hard if not silly to do in a 2WD. I think there's a section called the Staircase, which doesn't sound 2WD friendly.
.

[Baeng72]

I should add, that as PCV said, no issue driving as 2WD from Circuit road down Spec. road to the the King River if you want to walk down Muesli Spur or down Spec road and be picked up there.
But now I'm having flashbacks, the horror, the horror (don't go up or down King Spur, unless you want to experience the horror).

[Xplora]

Hi Guys

Long time walker, but first time poster hoping to get a bit of advice from people who know this area. We are looking at doing a 4 day semi circle walk with a car shuffle with the following itinerary:

Day 1: Upper Howqua Campsite -> Vallejo Gantner Hut
Day 2: Valleno Gartner -> Mt Speculation/Camp Creek
Day 3: Mt Speculation -> Lake Cobbler

I believe this is all fairly straightforward and the Bindaree Rd down to Upper Howqua is good for 2WDs, the problem is working out the best place to leave the second car withing striking distance of Mt Cobbler. I have a Rooftops map that shows a track named King Hut track that runs from Peters Corner on the Circuit Rd down to King Hut and I was thinking we could leave the car at Peters corner and use that, but it seems like a while since that track was used and I am not sure if it is still walkable - does anyone know?
Alternatively, I have read the Speculation Road down to Kings River can be done by 2WD, if this is so we could leave a car at the bottom of Muesli Spur track. Does anyone know if Speculation Road to King River can be done by 2WD (one of the cars is likely a Mazda 3)?

Open to any other suggestions and all advice is much appreciated.

I think you are making it a bit too hard for yourself. Clearly the area is foreign to you so I would suggest your simplify things for your first visit. I can't imagine leaving a 2wd car at Lake Cobbler. I have no doubt you would be able to get it there but it is quite a drive and then the drive back the Howqua to pick up the other car. When you add up the time taken to walk to the second car and drive it back to the first you might as well walk back along the Crosscut and could take Stanley Name spur down instead of Howitt spur. Walking Spec road from Camp creek would be boring. Spec road from the Circuit road to King Spur might be OK but at times it can be rough. Then you have King Spur to deal with.

The Crosscut is so nice you should walk it there and back IMO. There will be ample water at Camp Creek for your return trip and going down SNS will give you an opportunity to refill plus shave off some time getting down into the valley.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

As Baeng said you can get a 2 WD past Bennie's near the Rose River and close to Lake Cobbler.
The actual last section of road down to Lake Cobbler itself is NOT 2 wd friendly .
If it rains you may not be able to drive out in a 2 wd.
Then you will be in big trouble!

The section of road from Lake Cobbler to King Hut and/or to Mt. Spec. car park at Camp
creek is serious proper 4 x 4 access only.
If you return via the Cross Cut saw/ AAWT
then you could drop down Stanely Name spur and get water there and return to the Upper
Howqua that way .

The track over the Thorn range is a nice walk and connects the Upper Howqua area with the Circuit rd.

[Droog]

Thanks for all the info guys - very useful.

Looking at doing the walk in October so water will hopefully not be an issue then. Lots of notice and planning needed when there is a group going, but watch the weather screw it all up!

[Xplora]

Thanks for all the info guys - very useful.

Looking at doing the walk in October so water will hopefully not be an issue then. Lots of notice and planning needed when there is a group going, but watch the weather screw it all up!

Forward planning is good but you may have some issues in Oct with roads being open. Especially down to the Howqua. Not saying they won't but it is not usual.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Alpine weather in October is quite unstable and you could be hit by sun , rain, high winds, dense fog and snow, possibly all in one walking trip.
:-0

The winter access gates will still be locked in October. So access to the Upper Howqua camping area would be a day's walk from 8 Mile Flat on the Howqua river.
The river crossings could be quite interesting too !
You could park at Telephone Box Junction after the ski season is declared kaput and walk along the Circuit road at Mt. Stirling .

Another October starting point could be from Lake Cobbler which adds
at least 1/2 a day of walking to access Mt. Spec..
Walking in from 8 Mile Gap on Brock's road is 12 kms to the Bluff hut . The
Bluff link road is not suitable for 2 wd and the gate
up to The Bluff hut will be locked.
I would not drive out there without a chainsaw and good chainsaw skills.
The 4 x 4 track up to The Bluff Hut was a serious low range gears 4 x 4 track
when we went up there in Nov. 2024 in my friend's Ford Ranger
Then you will have a long day of walking to reach Mac. Springs from there or
camp at Hellfire Creek saddle between Mt. Magdala and Big Hill on the AAWT.