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Bushwalking in Alpine National ParkQuick Links: Track Notes Hazards - Low Impact Bushwalking Remember you take personal responsibility for the use of any information on this website. IntroductionThere are 6 walks described in this section on the Alpine National Park ranging from a gentle walk down a short track to walks of 22 km. No matter what your fitness or interest level there are walks to cater for all. Maps1:50 000 - Bogong Alpine Area, Outdoor Leiure 1991 Walks in the Mt Hotham Area1. Mt Feathertop via the Razorback 2. Mt Loch via Derrick and Dibbin Huts Walks in the Bogong High Plains Area1.Mt Cope - Cope Hut - Wallace Hut - Langford West Aqueduct 1. Mt Feathertop via the Razorback - 22 km return (300 m ascent)Rating - Medium to hard because of the distance Mt Feathertop (1922m) is a long day walk which rewards the walker with fantastic views over the Ovens Valley and across to Mt Buffalo as you walk out north along the Razorback Ridge. The walk starts at Diamantina Hut , which is on the main road, the Great Alpine Road, 2.5 km on the Harrietville side of Mt Hotham village. The track is very easy to follow. At approximately the 7.5 km mark, you will see the turn off to Diamantina Spur. At the 9.5 km mark you will reach an area called The Cross. This is the junction of the Bungalow Spur Track with the Razorback Track where the last steep 1.5 km rises to the top of Mt Feathertop. (Many overnighters will camp adjacent to Federation Hut which can be easily seen from The Cross) If required you can leave packs here but as a word of caution if the weather is of any doubt take precautionary gear with you as the summit of Mt Feathertop is very exposed. If you have not organised a car shuffle return the same way. An alternate return to Harrietville via Bungalow Spur Track is possible but a car shuffle would be required. It is about the same distance round trip as the return Razorback route.
2. Mt Loch via Derrick Hut and/or Dibbons Hut
This walk starts from the Mt Loch carpark, which is 1km from Hotham on the Harrietville side of the Great Alpine Road.This location is significant because the track also follows part of the Australian Alps Walking Track.(AAWT) A snow pole line starts here with pole number 1 and continues with further poles at 40m intervals until Pole 1285 is reached at Mt Bogong. Follow the AAWT for 3.5 km to pole 60 where you will reach a junction and signage for various locations. Take the Derrick Hut and Dibbons Hut track in a roughly south-south easterly direction for 1.5 km. Dibbons Hut is a further 3.5km along Swindlers Spur. Retrace the 5km, passing Derrick Hut until you reach the track junction again. This time take the road track up to Mt Loch which at 1887m in height has fabulous views over the area and is really worth the detour. Retrace your steps to the carpark.
Walks in the Bogong High Plains Area1. Mt Cope, Cope Hut and Wallace Hut areaOption 1: Langford West Camping Area, Mt Cope, Cope Hut, Wallaces Hut, Rover Lodge, Langford West Aqueduct - 13 km Rating: medium Option 2 - Cope Hut carpark, Cope Hut, Wallaces Hut, Langford West Aqueduct, Cope Hut, carpar - 6 km return Rating: easy Option 3: Road track to Wallaces Hut - 1.5 km return Rating: easy Option 1: Langford West Camping Area, Mt Cope, Cope Hut, Wallaces Hut, Rover Lodge, Langford West Aqueduct - 13 km (200 m ascent)Walk uphill for approximately 1200m north of the camping area along Bogong High Plains Rd. You will come to a turnoff sign on the left which says Mt Cope.The track is not very well formed, but is relatively easy to follow as it rises up a grassy ridge. Stay on the eastern side of Mt Cope as you rise. There is a cairn at the top and at 1837m offers great views over the surrounding plain. Descend from Mt Cope for approximately 200m and head cross-country in a north, north-westerly direction.for approximately 800m. The terrain is faily easy to walk in but watch out for hidden rocks in the tussock grass.. You will come to a well-defined track. Turn left here and continue walking for approximately 1km until you come to a junction with the Australian Alpine Walking Track (you can cut the corner here but be careful walking through the moss beds and swampy areas). You will be between pole 476 and 480. Turn right here and follow the pole line back to the Cope Hut carpark, Cope Hut.is approximately 400m walk down the hill. The hut was originally built in 1929, spefically for shelter to cross-country skiiers. It was fondly known as the 'Menzies of the Plains'. Retrace your steps to the carpark. The track to Wallaces Hut can be picked up from just after the Cope Hut carpark, approximately 100m further north along the Bogong High Plains Rd. You will see the track on the right. Wallace's Hut has interpretative signs and a picnic table.It was built in 1889 and is the oldest hut in Alpine National Park. It is quite amazing that it has survived bushfires throughout its life when fires have destroyed so many other huts. It provides a great insight into the way of life of the cattlemen and their families. From Wallaces Hut you can stay on the track which leads downhill to pick up the Langford West Aqueduct. This well defined vehicle/cross-country skiing track passes Rover Lodge, which is privately owned.Another 300m along, at a creek a track climbs up to join a vehicle track which leads to Cope Hut. If you have not already visited the hut, this is a good time to do so. From here, follow the Bogong High plains Rd back to the camping area or continue along the Aqueduct track until you reach the camping area. Option 2: Cope Hut carpark, Cope Hut, Wallaces Hut, Langford West Aqueduct, Cope Hut, carpark (approx 6 km return)The parking area above Cope Hut is approximately 14 kms along Bogong High Plains Rd from Falls Creek. If you are staying at the camping area at Langford West, it is an extra 2km walk/drive up to the parking area. Cope Hut.is approximately 400m walk down the hill. The hut was originally built in 1929, spefically for shelter to cross-country skiiers. It was fondly known as the 'Menzies of the Plains'. Retrace your steps to the carpark. The track to Wallaces Hut can be picked up from just after the Cope Hut carpark, approximately 100m further north along the Bogong High Plains Rd. You will see the track on the right.This is a beautiful walk through snow gums and wildflowers and is a great walk for a family with younger children. The track follows a generally north-easterly direction for about 2 km.. Wallace's Hut has interpretative signs and a picnic table.It was built in 1889 and is the oldest hut in Alpine National Park. It is quite amazing that it has survived bushfires throughout its life when fires have destroyed so many other huts. It provides a great insight into the way of life of the cattlemen and their families. From Wallaces Hut you can retrace your steps to the carpark ot alternately stay on the track which leads downhill to pick up the Langford West Aqueduct. This well defined vehicle/cross-country skiing track passes Rover Lodge, which is privately owned.Another 300m along, at a creek a track climbs up to join a vehicle track which leads to Cope Hut. This will bring you up to the carpark. Option 3: Road track to Wallaces Hut - 1.5 km returnFrom Falls Creek drive to Rocky Valley dam and continue along Bogong High Plains Rd from the dam for about 10 km. There is an old vehicle track which runs to the east. You can drive in for about 100m before you come to a locked gate. Park here and the hut is about a 15 minute walk to the hut. Suitable for families with very young children who cannot walk very far.Retrace your steps to your parked car. From Langford West Camping Area, you will need to drive approximately 4.3 km and the turnoff will be on your right.
2. Big River Fire Track, Edmondson Hut, Warby Corner, Mt Nelse North, Mt Nelse Alpine Walking Track Johnston Hut, Big River Fire Trail 13 km return (300 m ascent)Rating: medium This walk is a beautiful walk up through snow gum forest and up onto the tops around Mt Nelse and Mt Nelse Nth (1884 m) which affords magnificent views above the tree line. It also passes 2 mountain huts - Edmondson and Johnston Hut which are both in very pretty settings. Drive to the Big River Fire Track which is approx 5 km from Falls Creek and turn left and drive up for about 1 km to a locked gate. Make sure you park away from the gate to enable service vehicles access and to allow a turning circle. If coming from the Langford West Camping Area, it is the next track turnoff to the right after Langford Gap (approx 1.2 km). After leaving your car walk through the locked gate and ascend up the track . You will pass the turnoff to Kelly and Fitzgerald Hut on the right. Continue on the main track for approx 1.5 km further and you will see the turnoff to the right to Johnston Hut. Turn right (east) and follow the track downhill for 1 km. The hut is in a beautiful setting amongst snow gums and is a great place to have morning tea. Retrace your steps back up the hill to the main track. About 100 m further on you will see the turnoff to the left to Edmondson Hut. There are great views down the Nelse Creek valley to the west and as you are now above the tree line, lots of wildflowers such as yellow paper daisies abound. Take the detour to Edmondson Hut and then retrace your steps to the main track.Continue your ascent from here for approximately 2 km . You are actually skirting the western side of firstly Mt Nelse and then Mt Nelse North. You will reach a track junction known as Warby Corner. From here it is easy to climb up to the top of Mt Nelse North. Continue south along the saddle until you rise up to Mt Nelse and the trig point on top.. There are fabulous views across to Mt Buffalo in the west, and the Bogong High Plains to the south. Descend from the summit keeping in a general south-westerly direction (no formed path, but the vegeatation is easy to walk through) until you you meet up again with the main track. Here you will be on the same track you came up on until you meet up with the locked gate and your car.
3. Pretty Valley Pondage - Fainter Fire Track - Tawonga Huts - Mt Niggerhead - southern Niggerhead Range - Fainter Fire Track - Pretty Valley Pondage - 11 km (300 m ascent)Rating: medium to hard (basic navigation skills required) Much of this walk is above the treeline, passes Tawonga Huts and from Mt Niggerhead gives fantastic views of the park's highest mountains. Drive to Pretty Valley Pondage and park your car. Cross over the causeway and walk uphill along the Fainter Fire Track for approximately 2 km. As you reach the top of the saddle a magnificent view will unfold of Mt Niggerhead on the right and Mt Feathertop in the centre ground. This is a beautiful morning tea spot. Continue down the track for about another kilometre and you will have reached Tawonga Huts. These huts have traditionally been used by cattlemen and horseriders and there is still old fencing around a paddock just behind the huts. About 50-100 m along the vehicle track, look for a foot/animal pad which turns off to the left (west) and ascends steeply, gaining about 200 m in elevation. You may see the occasional orange marker. As you reach the top of the first steep section, the track turn more northerly and travels below, but parallel to the southern end of the Niggerhead range. The track continues to rise and follows a small creek up until it becomes more boulder strewn. Occasionally you may see rock cairns highlighting the way. A trig point signifies the highest point of Mt Niggerhead at 1852 m. From the top there are magnificent views of Mt Feathertop to the west, Mt Loch and Mt Hotham to the south, Mt Fainter to the north and in the far north north-east, Mt Bogong. Retrace your steps but instead of dropping down the track towards the Tawonga Huts, stay higher and follow the pads below the range in a south easterly direction. You will slowly descend off the range to join up with the Fainter Fire Track (approx 2 km from Mt Niggerhead) just below the saddle that you walked over in the morning. It's a short but steep walk uphill to the saddle but once reached, it is all downhill to Pretty Valley Pondage.
4.Langford Gap - Langford East Aqueduct - wooden footbridge - western saddle off Marum Point - Kelly Track Kelly Hut - Fitzgerald Hut - Langford East Aqueduct - Langford Gap 12 km (200 m ascent)Rating: medium Fabulous views above the tree line from near Marum Point and 2 beautiful mountain huts set in snow gums. Drive to Langford Gap and park your car here. Follow the track in a general easterly direction for approximately 2 km. You will come to a purpose built wooden foot bridge on your left , which is the turn off point to ascend to the sadde just east of Marum Point (1800 m). There are occasional snow poles which make the track fairly easy to follow. Once the saddle is reached the track joins up with Big River Fire Track for a hundred metres or so and then heads off in a generally easterly direction to Kellys Hut. Fitzgerald Hut is a further 300 m away to the south-west. Both huts are in beautiful locations, but Fitzgerald Hut is my personal favourite. Originally built in 1903 as a shelter for the men mustering cattle, it was accidently burnt down in 1993 by a school group.The school and volunteers helped to rebuild it as close to the original as possible. There is an interesting sign over the fireplace - 'No big fires please'. I wonder why!!! From the hut descend down the small valley (no formed track) in a southerly direction until you meet up with the Langford East Aqueduct. From here it is about a 5 km walk back to Langford Gap Hazards
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