7 day circuit walk in Victorian Alps?

[LAMEA-Gals]

Hi there
A few friends and I are planning a summer trip to the Victorian High Plains. Not being overly familiar with this area can anyone recommend a good circuit walk that takes about 7 days to do. We don't mind where we start from but ideally the walk is a circuit as we are only taking one car.

Thanks

[Moondog55]

Sure.
A classic is Mt Loch car park to Bogong and back. Up Bogong by one route and down by the other and returning to the car park by way of Machinery spur. 7 days will give you time to detour via Feathertop where you could choose to return by way of the Razorback and a short road walk to the car park at Mt Loch

[madmacca]

Moondog's suggestion is a good one. There are buses every day from Mt Beauty to Bright, and 3 days per week from Bright to Hotham, so you could leave your car at Bright and get the bus to make this a one way trip if you wanted shorter days, or take in more interesting side trip variations.

[ryantmalone]

I'll agree with that. Bogong to Harrietville is one of the better walks the state has to offer. Did it a few years back via the Staircase Spur, T and Duanne spur, Wallace Hut, high plains and Lake Spur, Blairs Hut, Diamantina, Feathertop and Bungalow Spur. Took me 6 days, with a late start and overnight at Bivouak on the first day.

There are also many great circuits to be made at Mt Howitt and the Crosscut Saw. Personally, I find that area more remote and exciting than the High Plains too.

[LAMEA-Gals]

Thanks for those suggestions - really useful. I'm looking at the map now seeing the options suggested. I like the sound of climbing Bogong and Feathertop on the same trip as well as not doing too much back tracking.

If we utilised the public buses from Bright is there any operator (taxi, mini bus) that does drop offs from Mt Beauty to the start of the staircase spur track? It looks to be a fairly long road walk in.

Also another route question - I see from Mt Hotham that you can head towards Cope saddle via the offical Alpine walking track or via Mt Loch /Red Robin Gap/Blair Hut. Is any route better than the other?

[Lophophaps]

There’s a taxi at Mt Beauty that may be able to take you to the foot of Mt Bogong, about 25 minutes if that by car. The AAWT goes down to Dibbins Hut and then up to Basalt temple, Mt Jim and points east. It’s a bit steep in places but quite pleasant. Going via Mt Loch is an option, but Loch can be bagged with a side-trip from where you leave the road to go Derrick Hut.

[north-north-west]

You could also start at Harrietville, going up via Bon Accord or Bunglaow, and return via whichever one you don't go up. That avoids the transport issues at the Mountain Creek end.
Or start at Bogong Village, go up the Fainter track, and circle around from there, going down past Westons and up Diamantina to get to Feathertop, then back along the Razorback and on via the AAWT.

[ryantmalone]

As for transport issues at Mountain Creek, the taxis in Mt Beauty are always willing to head out there. If you guide the driver to go via Damms Road, it shouldnt cost more than a few dollars, it's only some 8kms by foot from the town center. Busses are quick from Bright too, and pretty regular from what I remember. I used to Vline from Melbourne to the area for some trips, and stay at Bright Backpackers. Never had an issue.

[peregrinator]

As for transport issues at Mountain Creek, the taxis in Mt Beauty are always willing to head out there. If you guide the driver to go via Damms Road, it shouldnt cost more than a few dollars, it's only some 8kms by foot from the town center. Busses are quick from Bright too, and pretty regular from what I remember. I used to Vline from Melbourne to the area for some trips, and stay at Bright Backpackers. Never had an issue.

Using the measurement tool at http://nremap-sc.nre.vic.gov.au/MapShare.v2/imf.jsp?site=forestexplorer, the distance from the bus stop in Mount Beauty to Mountain Creek camping area via Damms Road is about 14km.

[JamesMc]

Buller Bluff Howitt Stirling Buller. I'm thinking of doing it next spring.

JamesMc

[ryantmalone]

As for transport issues at Mountain Creek, the taxis in Mt Beauty are always willing to head out there. If you guide the driver to go via Damms Road, it shouldnt cost more than a few dollars, it's only some 8kms by foot from the town center. Busses are quick from Bright too, and pretty regular from what I remember. I used to Vline from Melbourne to the area for some trips, and stay at Bright Backpackers. Never had an issue.

Using the measurement tool at http://nremap-sc.nre.vic.gov.au/MapShare.v2/imf.jsp?site=forestexplorer, the distance from the bus stop in Mount Beauty to Mountain Creek camping area via Damms Road is about 14km.

Just checked it myself on Google Earth, and you're right. Always thought it was less.

Either way, the point is that its a cheap taxi trip, and not that bad if you want to walk it.

I've walked it, and gone up and down Bogong in a day before, camping at Mountain Creek. Not to say I wasn't completely and utterly buggered though...

[madmacca]

Presumably you would be getting to/from the Razorback via Dimantina Spur (and Blair Hut). So going to/from Mt Hotham, going via Dibbins Hut would mininize back-tracking?

[bernieq]

Less retracing of steps (none, actually) than the first suggestion is to start at Bogong Village, up to Mt Bogong, around past Cleve Cole Hut and south along the AAWT to Mt Jim and pole 333. Then to Tawonga Huts, the Fainters and down past Bogong Jack Hut to Bogong Village – about 75km.

Wallace Hut (approx 1990) GDA94 Z55 527390 5916530

Good challenging up and down bits, mostly on-track, lots of huts, potential for side trips, high plains, peaks and views, snowgums and mountain ash, water-availability not a big issue, mobile phone coverage most of the way and emergency egress to Falls Creek if needed.

There are also many great circuits to be made at Mt Howitt and the Crosscut Saw.

Certainly Speculation/Howitt/Crosscut Saw is a fabulous area but it’s difficult to produce a 7-day loop that doesn’t involve significant off-track and navigation (which I am assuming you don’t want) – it’s also a lot further to drive, coming from NSW.

[tonka]

This would be a good walk
Day 1 Bogong Village - The Springs saddle - Bogong Jack saddle or Little Plain
Day 2 Follow trk and snow pole line to either Ryder's Yards or Cope Hut
Day 3 Follow aqueduct to Kelly's or Fitgeralds hut then on to Edmunsons Hut
Day 4 Then down Duane Spur up T spur to Bogong
Day 5 Around to Quartz Ridge - Bogong saddle - Timm's Lookout - Spion Kopje aqueduct area
Day 6 Down Spion Kopje fire trk to Bogong Village and car (park near the cafe or tennis courts)
Day 7 Depending on fitness its easy to lenghten the walk by a day.

[Kinsayder]

Some fantastic and enticing suggestions here! Tonka's and Bernie's especially. I just wish we weren't heading into that horrid time of year that forbids me from hiking...

[ryantmalone]

Some fantastic and enticing suggestions here! Tonka's and Bernie's especially. I just wish we weren't heading into that horrid time of year that forbids me from hiking...

What summer? No better time! Its so much cooler in the high country, the sun still bites hard, but nice cool breezes. Its the best of both worlds!!

[Kinsayder]

What summer? No better time! Its so much cooler in the high country, the sun still bites hard, but nice cool breezes. Its the best of both worlds!!

I need it to be less than ten degrees. I seriously overheat, so it's off-season for me.

[ryantmalone]

What summer? No better time! Its so much cooler in the high country, the sun still bites hard, but nice cool breezes. Its the best of both worlds!!

I need it to be less than ten degrees. I seriously overheat, so it's off-season for me.

Me and Summer dont get along either, but strangely, I've never had an issue with the temps in the high country. Just so long as I have the right clothing on (not too much heavy cotton, etc) then I am fine.