Other Activities in Alpine National Park

Photography Camping Fishing Canoeing Wildflowers Birdwatching

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Photography

With it varied landscapes of deep valleys, mountains and high plains, Alpine National Park offers many subjects to concentrate on for photography. Because of our harsh light conditions in Australia, early morning or later in the afternoon usually results in better photos. In contrast to the light referred to above, Alpine areas are often subject to mist, fog and rain and these combined with valleys and mountains can provide great atmospheric shots.

Some of the more interesting natural subjects include wolf spiders, wildflower dispalys in late spring/summer and the bark of snow gums. (Splashing water on the bark of interestingly coloured snowgums can really bring out the colour.)

Early morning is definitely the best time for 'catching' birds, and two of the more interesting birds of the Alpine areas and adjacent forests are the Gang Gang cockatoo (only the male has the red head) and the very pretty Flame Robin.

Historic huts such as Wallaces and Cope hut make interesting subjects.

On the banner above are several of these subjects - from l to r - wolf spider, everlasting, gang gang cockatoo, Wallace Hut, view of Mt Feathertop from Mt Niggerhead and snow gum patterns.

Camping

Organised camping in the national park is permitted at Langford West Camping Area. There are horse yards, tables, fireplaces and water from the aqueduct below the campsite. Camping near the mountain huts usually means sheltered places and water nearby from creeks. The huts are meant for emergency use during adverse weather and not for general use by backpackers, so always take your own tent if you intend camping out overnight.

Commercial camping grounds are available in the nearby towns of Bright, Harrietville, Omeo and Mt Beauty.

Fishing

Many of the rivers, creeks and dams in Alpine National Park have rainbow and brown trout. The Kiewa River, Pretty Valley Pondage and Rocky Valley Storage are all excellent places to fish. An Inland Angling Licence is required.

Canoeing

Pretty Valley Pondage and Rocky Valley Storage are both suitable for canoeing.Remember that the water in these alpine areas is very cold. PFD's should always be worn as a safety measure.

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Wildflowers


Alpine gentian		Sphagnum moss underneath previously burnt, bleached shrubs

Golden everlastings		Button everlastings

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Birdwatching (and other animals)

Birdwatching is usually better in the early morning, although birds can be seen at other times during the day. Two of my favourite birds in Alpine National Park are the Gang Gang cockatoo and flame robin. Gang Gangs like to eat the gum nuts from snow gums. The females and juveniles are grey but the male has the most beautiful red plumage on his head. You will often hear their creaky door sound long before you see them. Flame robins have a beautiful red breast and a small white patch between their eyes, above their beak. They like to eat insects, including the Bogong moth.

Other common birds you are likely to hear and see are the crimson rosella, Richard's pipit, magpies and currawongs, red wattlebird, kookaburras and birds of prey such as the brown goshawk and the nankeen kestrel.

Three of the more common snakes seen in the higher areas are the highlands copperhead, the mainland tiger snake and the white lipped snake. Never approach any snake, as most snakes in Australia are highly venomous. Cold mornings in summer can make snakes sluggish until they warm up. However they can move very fast if theatened in any way.

In the higher areas you nay see the occasional wombat, echidna and platypus (in rivers and creeks.) Larger kangaroos and wallabies are not common above the tree line. The rustling you hear at night could be the brushtail or ringtail possum in the trees or at ground level the little mouse sized antechinus which is a marsupial, not a rodent. There are various species of native rat which also live in the Alps. A number of the huts have display posters, outlining which species live in the area.

See the Contact and References section for the name of a good little guide to plants and animals of the Australian Alps.