- our mountain heritage

around Heyfield, Licola and Dargo in the - Moroka area

From the time people first set foot on the Australian continent, they have sought the alps for social, spiritual and survival reasons.

Their presence in these wild and wonderful mountains has left us a rich cultural heritage - from the rock scatters of the Ganai/Kurnai people on lofty vantage points to graziers huts nestling in protected folds of the high country; we are surrounded by our mountain heritage.

Getting there & getting around Trees killed in the 1998 fire have been salvaged within the Carey State Forest, This area of the Alpine National Park is passed on the way through the Park. situated approximately 250 km east of along the Princes Highway to In the past Traralgon then north east to Heyfield. Aboriginal groups travelled up to the high The main access is from Licola (north of plains in summer, finding food such as Heyfield) via the Tamboritha Road, which Bogong Moths and conducting leads to the Howitt and Moroka roads. ceremonies. Little visible evidence of their occupation now remains, but Aboriginal Please remember that mountain roads are communities are researching and often unsealed, narrow and winding. Take recovering more of their peoples history. care as roads may be slippery at any time of the year. Away from the main Howitt and Moroka roads many tracks are suitable only for experienced four wheel drivers, with many closed seasonally between early June and Parks Ranger late October. David Foster Plants & Animals “Victoria has all the outdoors The area contains a diversity of habitats you could wish for- mountains, including the alpine herbfields and Cattle have been grazed in the area since the 1840s and licensed areas are still forests, beaches and bushland, subalpine woodlands of the Snowy and Howitt plains, often associated with grazed today. Grazing had its beginnings all preserved in our parks. subalpine bogs and grasslands in cold air in the Howqua and areas, drainage basins. and during the following 50 years extended Our natural landscapes have to include most of the grassy forested These grasslands and woodlands are often been here longer than anyone slopes, river flats and snow plains. Cattle home for mammals such as Brown and no longer graze the Wonnangatta valley knows, and together we can Swainsons antechinus, Mountain Brushtail but you can sense the history by visiting make sure they’re here forever.” and Ringtail possums. the ruins of the station, home of the Mountain gum - Snow gum forests often pioneer Bryce family for many years and For more information grow on more sheltered sites between the site of an unsolved murder. Howitt hut 1000 and 1400 metres with a grassy or is also closely related to both the call the Parks Victoria heathy understorey. Wonnangatta runs and murder! Information Centre Below 1000 metres the mountain slopes There are relics of gold mining days of the are dominated by bands of tall straight 1860s and 1870s in the Grant Historic on 13 1963 Alpine ash (Woolly Butt) forests. These area, adjacent to the Alpine National Park. or visit our website at extensive forests include mature ash, 1939 Please beware of mine shafts. regrowth, and regeneration from more http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au Loggers seeking Alpine Ash timber began recent timber harvesting operations. cutting here in the late 1940s. Bindaree Hut Mount Buggery ● To Myrtleford Cross Cut Saw Wonnangatta RAZOR / VIKING WILDERNESS ● Ritchie Howqua Homestead Hut Bindaree Gantner ZEKA Enjoying the Park Lovick TRACK Hut Hut Creek Mount Magdala Zeka Bluff ● WONNANGAWONNANGATTA Car Touring Mount Lovick ● King Billy Hut ● Howitt Hut It is possible to visit many of the areas mountain TT A heritage sites in a 2WD conventional vehicle. Three Track ● The popular heritage drives are:- The Bluff TRACK ●Bastards BROCKS Neck ● Mount The Pinnacles - Moroka Road ( 91 km, 2 alking Darling W MOUNT DARLING/ hours Licola to Pinnacles, one way) SNOWY BLUFF WILDERNESS Mount Clear ● Alps River The highlight is a high rocky crag called the Snowy HOWITT TRACK Bryce Gorge Pinnacles. On a clear day the view takes in the High Cone ● Lakes to the south and Mt Hotham to the Range Dimmick ● north, and beneath the lookout the settled areas of The Australian ● Lookout the Wonnangatta valley. Other features along the Knobs Guys Hut way include Moroka Lookout, Moroka Hut and River Horseyard Flat camping area COUNTRY

East R

Howitt and Snowy Plains - Howitt Road O

Caledonia A Macalister D

(82 km, 2 hours from Licola one way) ange

Snowy R ● BUTCHER Range Superb alpine and sub alpine scenery with River Airstrip Neilsons expanses of colourful fragrant herbfields and snow Crag BULL grass plains are a highlight along the way. Other Snowy Lost features include Snowy Plains Airstrip, Dimmick Plain Moroka Holmes VValleyalley Plain Lookout, Bryces Gorge and Guy’s Hut, Howitt Hut Arbuckle Lookout and Mt Howitt walking track. PLAIN Junction Grant Historic Area (17 km, 0.5 hours from Caledonia Dargo) ROAD ROAD CAREY Track STATESTATE A short drive north from Dargo along the Dargo FOREST

High Plains Road will bring you to McMillan Road iver R TAMBORITHA and the Grant Historic Area. This thickly forested ● McMillans Tamboritha area hides many features of the mining days Saddle including cemeteries, township sites and mining Camping Area Bennison Lookout Mount relics. McMillan road is steep, narrow and rough WellingtonWellington● beyond Grant and is best accessed by 4wd Wellington vehicles, but the haunting Talbotville township site Carey Lake on the is a great reward for those Tali Karng who explore further. River The Sentinels ●

Macalister To Jamieson

AVON Licola WILDERNESS Four wheel drive tours JAMIESON PPARKARK There are many 4WD trips in the area, some of the Ben more popular ones being the Marathon Road to HEYFIELD Castle Hill (off Moroka Road), the Zeka Spur to the Wonnangatta Valley and around the historic Cruachan Eaglevale and Talbotville regions. Please remember:

ROAD ● check road and track conditions before setting Creek out ● vehicle access is limited to formed roads and River To Heyfield tracks open to the public

● many roads and tracks are closed seasonally Alpine National Park - for environmental and safety reasons Recreational Our Mountain Heritage Facilities

Sealed road National Park Airstrip

Unsealed road Other Park Bushwalking

Vehicle track (4WD) Wilderness Zone Camping

Walking track Historic Area Cross country skiing

Gate (Closed State Forest Fire tower in winter) Water body To Bright Wongungarra Humffray

DARGO Setting up Camp

River Dispersed camping is permitted throughout the area, but make sure you are at least 20 m from any

River River lake, river or stream. If you prefer the use of toilets, TRACK HIGH picnic tables and fireplaces the following camping areas are provided, no bookings are required:-

● River Wellington River, 17 numbered camping areas WOMBAT beneath shady peppermints and manna gums,

Crooked toilets located at 1, 5, 8, 13 & 16, horseyards at PLAINS site 13, Tamboritha Road approximately 10 km SPUR from Licola;

MOUNT DARLING/ McMillans ● TK Track Horseyard Flat set amongst Black Sallees on SNOWY BLUFF WILDERNESS the banks of the , Moroka Road;

Mount ● Eaglevale on the Wonnangatta River below the Cynthia ● Talbotville Grant ROAD towering ramparts of Mt Kent and Snowy Bluff; McMillans ● Wonnangatta Valley (4WD access only), near Track GRANT HISTORIC AREA the historic site of the Wonnangatta ● Snowy Homestead; Bluff Eaglevale ● Talbotville (4WD access only) on the grassy flats of the Crooked River;

Moroka ● Grant a grassy clearing in the forest, all that Mount Kent ● Wonnangatta remains of a once thriving gold mining town. When camping you should be fully self sufficient Moroka with food, water and camping equipment. Always River The Gorge Pinnacles carry a tent. Huts are for emergency use only. Fires River Dargo Firewood supplies are limited especially in the

Moroka ROAD alpine and subalpine areas, so the use of camping Hut Castle Hill stoves is preferred. Tali Karng is a fuel stoves only area. If you must use a fire, keep it small and within Horseyard fireplaces provided. No fires, including camp Turton Flat stoves, may be lit on days of Total Fire Ban. MARATHON DARGO Huts There are many old huts in the area, some of them RD historic. Moroka (1946), Guy (1940) and Howitt (early 1900s) huts are all easily accessible and reflect the grazing history of the area. Moroka hut is LINDENOW Avon Wodonga River still used today by graziers. ● HUME Source of Enjoy a visit to a hut but do not rely on them for ● HWY the Rivers GREAT accommodation as they may be difficult to find or FWY already occupied. Please help look after them. HUME Bright ● River To On Horseback Bairnsdale ● Mansfield ● Horse riding is popular during summer and autumn, ALPINE Valleys and Bluffs Wilderness and especially along the Bicentennial National Trail, ALPINE The High the Snowy which passes through the Wonnangatta Valley on Country RD NATIONAL HWY its journey between Healesville (Victoria) and PARK Bairnsdale Our ● Cooktown (Queensland) PRINCES Mountain Heritage Horses must be held in the Wellington River yards when in that area of the Park, there is a horse route ● Mount Angus from there to the start of the Tali Karng track. Various controls apply to group size, and the location and timing of rides, to minimise the impact 0 4 8 on the environment and other park visitors. KILOMETRES Cartography by Horses are not permitted on the shores of Tali

➣ Land Information Group,NRE 1999 N G/6642 Karng. Horseriding Park information Bicentennial National Trail Picnic table

Horse yard Toilets MELBOURNE ★ Lookout ● For further Fishing Wilderness information contact: The major streams and rivers such as The The Avon, Razor-Viking, Mt Darling/Snowy Parks Victoria Wellington, Macalister, Wonnangatta and Bluff wilderness areas are large areas of Information Line 13 1963 Caledonia rivers, provide good fishing remote, undisturbed land with little evidence opportunities. A closed season may apply to of European occupation. Parks Victoria website trout fishing so be sure to check when you www.parkweb.vic.gov.au There is no vehicle access into or within purchase your inland fishing licence. these areas, signposts or walking track Parks Victoria office at: Walking markers; here visitors need to be self reliant, meeting nature on its own terms. Heyfield (03) 5148 2355 Some of the best mountain walking country in is found in the Alps. Some Tour guides tracks are suitable for day and weekend A number of commercial tour operators run family walks; others are long, rough and tours (4wding, walking, horseriding and challenging, requiring a high degree of rafting) in this area. Contact the Victorian bushwalking skill and stamina. Tour Operators Association (VTOA) for Shorter family walks can be undertaken to details. Dinner Creek Gorge, Mt Arbuckle, Neilson (03) 9654 2618 Crag, Guys Hut and Bryces Gorge (half day). Take care! In the Grant and Talbotville area there are several walks exploring historic sites such as All visitors and especially walkers, should Jolly Sailor mine, New and Old Good Hope realise that weather conditions can change mines and Jungle Creek Falls rapidly in mountain and alpine areas. Longer more challenging day and overnight Snowfalls can be experienced at any time of hikes can be undertaken to the Wonnangatta the year, so always be prepared with:-

Valley, Mt Howitt, Tali Karng and the Moroka ● waterproofjacket Gorge. warmclothing Caring for the ●

environment ● woollen hat, gloves

Take your rubbish home with ● strongfootwear you, most rubbish will not burn or rot. ● first aid kit, and

Dogs and other pets are not ● map and compass permitted. Before you go, let someone know where you Firearms are generally are going, and when you expect to return. prohibited Please keep to walking tracks, particularly in Choose a firm, dry, well old gold mining areas such as Talbotville and drained camp site at least 20 metres from any watercourses. Grant where there may be mine shafts. Use a portable stove instead Other Publications of lighting a fire - especially above or near the treeline. For more details and extensive coverage of Always check fire danger the Alpine National Park see the following forecasts. No fires (including maps and publications: stoves) on days of Total Fire Ban. VicMap 1:50,000 series Howitt - Selwyn, Tamboritha - Moroka, Dargo Plains - Fuel Stove Only Area. Due to Cobungra & Crooked River. vegetation damage and visual scarring no campfires are to be The Walking Track & Alpine lit within one km of Tali Karng National Park by John Siseman (Pindari or Vallejo Gantner hut Publications) (Macalister Springs). Explore the Australian Alps - car touring Where toilets are not provided, guide to the Australian Alps national parks bury your toilet waste at least Cross Country Skiing by Australian Alps Liaison Committee (New 100m from water or camp sites. Cross country skiing is popular in the Lost Holland Press) Wash up away from streams Plain - Holmes Plain area. From Lost Plain a to protect the fragile stream 4 km ski trail passes over Mt Arbuckle, with Alpine National Park Parknotes environment. good views from the summit. More experienced skiers can explore the ● Valleys and Bluffs Enjoy a visit to a hut but do around Mansfield and Whitfield not use them for extensive, but remote open snow plains, accommodation, always carry a particularly the Snowy and Howitt Plains. ● Source of the Rivers tent. A four wheel drive vehicle may be necessary around Mitta Mitta, Tallangatta and . , including trail bikes to access the areas along the Tamboritha Vehicles ● The High Country are restricted to existing roads Road, even then a relatively arduous walk and tracks. Vehicles must be may be necessary to reach skiable snow around Bright, Mt Beauty & Omeo fully registered and drivers past the seasonal road closure on the Howitt ● Wilderness & the Snowy licensed. Road. around Benambra, Buchan & Jindabyne