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Snowy River National Park Visitor Guide Snowy River National Park is dominated by the river that gives its name to the park. Reserved as a national park in 1979, it offers spectacular river scenery, magnificent deep gorges and diverse forests in the most rugged and remote country in Victoria. Location and access Before embarking on your 4WD trip always: The Snowy River National Park is located 390 • Check current road conditions, kilometres north-east of Melbourne, almost half • Carry a chainsaw or sharp axe as roads may be way to Sydney and can be approached from a blocked by fallen trees, number of directions. From the south, access is • Carry recovery gear including a winch, tree via the Princes Hwy and either Buchan or Orbost. protector and shovel, and From the north, the Barry Way through Jindabyne • Leave details of your trip intentions with a n o tand e the s Bonang Main Road from Bombala, NSW responsible person. give the best access. Car touring Walking To get the most from your visit come prepared to An ideal way to discover some of the park’s walk. The park has walks to suit most interests special features is by spending a few days touring and times. the area by vehicle with all major roads suitable for 2WD vehicles. Many roads are unsealed, Raymond Creek Falls in the south of the park can narrow and winding and some unsuitable for be reached all year round from Orbost along caravans, particularly from Little River Gorge to Moresford Track. A short walking track leads to a McKillops Bridge. Allow plenty of time for touring. view of Raymond Falls plunging 20 metres into a deep, clear pool. The descent into the Snowy River Valley from Little River is one of Victoria’s most stunning The Silver Mine Walking Track (18km) and the drives marked by great scenery and spectacular short Snowy River Nature Trail offer self guided p a rvertical k drops on one side. walks, both leaving from McKillops Bridge. It’s advisable to check road conditions if visiting Little River Gorge, Victoria's deepest gorge can be the park after rain or bad weather. Touring at night viewed by following the 400 metre walking track is often a great way to meet the local wildlife. which leads to breathtaking cliff-top views over the Drive carefully and watch out for Wombats, gorge. If you are planning a walk remember to: Kangaroos and Wallabies! Be aware of log trucks • Be clear about where you are going and carry a if you are travelling along the Bonang Main Road, detailed map and compass if necessary; Yalmy Road or Tulloch Ard Road. • Carry plenty of drinking water; By 4WD • Wear comfortable sturdy footwear, thongs or To protect the environment and for your safety, sandals are not recommended; and many of the 4WD tracks in the park are closed • Always remember to let someone know before during the wetter winter months. To check road you go and when you return. conditions at any time of the year please contact one of the information outlets listed on the back. Wilderness The Deddick Trail and Bowen Track access some Much of the park is reserved as wilderness to of the most diverse and remote areas in the park. provide opportunities for solitude, inspiration and These challenging yet rewarding 4WD tracks are appropriate self-reliant recreational activities. To suitable for well equipped, experienced drivers. maintain the wilderness experience, tracks in The Deddick Trail takes approximately 3 hours wilderness areas are closed to public vehicles, from its start at Yalmy Road to McKillops Road, including trail bikes, bicycles and horses. not inclusive of a refreshing picnic stop at Mountain Creek. For more information call the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963 or visit our website at www.parkweb.vic.gov.au A two day tour Snowy River National Park is a remote area that rewards Stop on McKillops Road to walk to the lookouts that give Stop to explore the imposing mixed age Mountain Ash those who make the effort to visit. An ideal way to discover spectacular views of Little River Falls and Gorge. Camp at forest at Waratah Flat. Finally take a detour out to some of its special features is to spend a few days touring McKillops Bridge and walk the nearby nature trail, or paddle Raymond Creek Falls before finishing your tour in Orbost. the area by vehicle. in the refreshing waters of the Snowy River. Early next The climate is ideal for a visit any time of year, the best An interesting two day trip is to travel north from Buchan morning, continue to Bonang and then along the Yalmy times depend on what you plan to do. Spring is ideal for along Tulloch Ard Road, pausing at New Guinea Gap to Road. canoeing and rafting, summer for camping and autumn for take in the view over the Snowy and Rodger River vehicle touring. catchments. A two day tour Snowy River National Park is a remote area that rewards Stop on McKillops Road to walk to the lookouts that give Stop to explore the imposing mixed age Mountain Ash those who make the effort to visit. An ideal way to discover spectacular views of Little River Falls and Gorge. Camp at forest at Waratah Flat. Finally take a detour out to some of its special features is to spend a few days touring McKillops Bridge and walk the nearby nature trail, or paddle Raymond Creek Falls before finishing your tour in Orbost. the area by vehicle. in the refreshing waters of the Snowy River. Early next The climate is ideal for a visit any time of year, the best An interesting two day trip is to travel north from Buchan morning, continue to Bonang and then along the Yalmy times depend on what you plan to do. Spring is ideal for along Tulloch Ard Road, pausing at New Guinea Gap to Road. canoeing and rafting, summer for camping and autumn for take in the view over the Snowy and Rodger River vehicle touring. catchments. For further information Camping Human history Parks Victoria The camping areas and other attractions in the The park contains some of Victoria’s oldest and Information Centre park are some distance from towns and shops. most significant aboriginal cultural sites. The 13 1963 When you visit, carry all the fuel, food, drinking Gunai/Kurnai people occupied this land more or visit the website water and equipment you will need during your than 21,000 years ago. Their scar trees, www.parkweb.vic.gov.au stay. middens and stone artefacts depict life as they travelled the bountiful river corridor which Parks Victoria Bendoc Bush camping areas offering basic facilities are connected the Monaro plains with the coastal Nichol Street provided at Balley Hooley, at the junction of the Bendoc VIC 3888 lowlands. Snowy and Buchan Rivers; McKillops Bridge, Raymond Creek Falls, Waratah Flat and Hicks Mining for gold, silver and copper, cattle Parks Victoria Orbost 171 Nicholson Street camp site. farming and honey production supported a number of small settlements in and around the Orbost VIC 3888 Dispersed camping for bushwalkers is allowed. park since Europeans arrived in the 1830s. Please ensure you are at least 20 metres from Buchan Caves Reserve Bridal trails and blaze trees stand as evidence any river or stream. Wherever you camp, Caves Road to this by-gone era. please respect the environment, the area’s Buchan VIC 3885 cultural heritage and other visitors by aiming to About the park Caring for the environment leave as little trace of your visit as possible. The 98,700 hectares of this park are full of Help us care for our parks by Canoeing and rafting interest. It has the sandbanks and deep gorges remembering these guidelines: of the Snowy River, the old growth forests of Mt McKillops Bridge is one of the few places in the Gelantipy, distinctive native pine woodlands in Dogs and other pets are not park with access to the Snowy River by the Snowy River valley and the undisturbed permitted in the park conventional vehicle making it the best canoe- catchments of the Rodger River. Add extensive Please do not disturb or remove launching place for experienced adventurers wilderness areas, significant plant and animal any native plants, animals or rock wanting to explore the gorges downstream. species, important archaeological sites and formations The Snowy River offers thrilling canoeing and spectacular landscapes and you have an Vehicles including trail bikes may white water rafting opportunities with rugged outstanding national park. only be driven or ridden on formed gorges, rapids, flat sections with sand bars and roads open to the public, and must beautiful scenery. The gently sloping sand bars The natural background be fully road registered. Drivers make ideal camp sites for extended trips. and riders must hold a current In this area mountains were worn down and licence The most popular section is from McKillops dissected by weathering and the constant action of flowing water, including that of the No fires, including BBQs may be lit Bridge to the Buchan River junction at Balley Snowy River, which has been carving out its on a day of Total Fire Ban (Eastern Hooley. This trip takes three-four days to present course for over 20 million years. All this Fire Ban District) complete. activity has created the shape of the land you Use a portable stove instead of Prepare carefully for any river trip. Consult see today. lighting a fire guide books or speak to the Victorian Canoe Association.