Table of Contents
Edi Cutting camp ground, King River
see also:
Introduction
- “Edi” is pronounced as “Ee-die” (/ˈiːdaɪ/)
- one of the most popular camp grounds in Victoria, especially in summer months but BEWARE very painful Christmas Eye in Dec-Feb in this region
- on the King River north of Whitfield at elevation 200m with a 500m elevation range on its west which will block late afternoon sun but also reduces westerly winds
- two toilets - one at southern end and one at northern end - perhaps wise to BYO toilet paper as usual
- takes about 6 minutes to drive from one end to the other
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtv50upHHpI Gay and Carol's videos - quite a bit of water over the camp roads coming in from the south end
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8FUnv4sDP8 Okidoke's video
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxNOoGaKyZg Wandering Newbie's video
Getting there
- ~270km (2hrs 50min) from NW suburbs via Glenrowan and Oxyley;
- 27min (36km) south of the city of Wangaratta
- 40min (55km) from Benalla via Greta South;
- 1hr (74km) from Mansfield
Pros
- nice river and tall gums with some open spaces
- very large camp ground
- short walk to a nice winery
- lots of options for drives, wineries, etc
- river provides for a nice way to cool off on hot summer days although it will generally be shallow
- good mobile phone internet 4G reception
- only 11 minutes drive to a small town with amenities including tap water, flush toilets, petrol, pub
- no mozzies or European wasps around when I was there in Nov
Cons
- long way from Melbourne
- can get very busy and over-crowded in peak periods which also challenges the single drop toilet at each section of the camp ground
- lots of road noise all day long 6am-10pm, but thankfully no dust as it is bitumen
- not much flat ground
- perhaps avoid Dec-Feb due to Christmas eye risk, overcrowded, caravanners with generators to run air conditioners
- valley will be cold at night in autumn through to spring - May with clear nights will probably drop to minus 3-4degC
- being close to a river increases condensation risks, snakes and insects
- no hikes from camp ground
- poorly controlled dogs can be an issue
Facilities
- drop toilets
- river
- very close to wineries and a brewery
- King River Estate Wines wine tasting Fri-Sun; ~11 minute walk to north
- La Cantina winery wine tasting at cellar door is open 7 days a week from 10 am - 5 pm; 4min drive to south
- King River Brewing open Thurs-Sun, pizzas, beer, etc 6min drive south
- Dal Zotto wines, Whitfield cellar door open daily need to book and there is a fee
- Brown Brothers winery, Milawa wine tasting, lunch grazing menu, coffee bar open 7 days a week; gourmet restaurant open for lunch Thurs-Mon (book, starts at $85pp); 23min to NE
- there may be a guy selling firewood - if his sign is up with his mobile phone on it
- closest food, petrol, firewood:
- Whitfield 9min to south
- general store - fast foods, petrol, firewood and public toilets over the road
- Hobbledehoy cafe/distillery
- gourmet food condiments - minimal range
- caravan parks
- Mountain View Hotel open for lunch and dinner every day it seems (may need to book)
- Cheshunt just past Whitfield
- nice thin crust pizzas as the cafe
- Milawa 25min to north
- closest city is Wangaratta 30min to north
- Bunnings, Chemist Warehouse, etc
- free hot showers Merriwa Park
- Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues - Melb Cup weekend?
History
- the town Edi got its name from a pastoral station taken up by George Faithfull in 1849. It was also known as Hedi.
- the township of Edi developed following the discovery of gold around 1862, and was initially known as King Flat before being renamed to Edi
- the region is also Ned Kelly bushranger country
- Greta where he grew up
- Power's Lookout - associated with Harry Power, a bushranger mentor figure to Ned Kelly
- Mansfield - in Oct 1878, the gang ambushed and killed three police officers in the Wombat Ranges bushland area Stringybark Creek, Mansfield area
- Euroa - in Dec 1878, the gang conducted a well-planned bank robbery at Euroa, Victoria. They locked up people at Faithfull’s Creek Station to prevent interference and then held up the Euroa Bank, escaping with a large sum of money
- Glenrowan to the NW where he was finally captured in the famous shootout with police in his metal armour in June 1880
- the gang had planned to derail a police train. They held the town’s population hostage in the Glenrowan Inn but were betrayed by a local warning the police. This led to the final shootout and his capture.
- in the late 19th century, tobacco farming played a significant role in shaping Edi's history due to the fertile river flats in the region, which made it a prominent area for tobacco growing.
- tobacco cultivation, alongside hops farming, contributed to the local economy and attracted farming communities.
- the King Valley is now known for its wineries and cheeses
Nearby attractions
- King River Estate Wines and many other wineries
south
- 13km north of the small town of Whitfield and then access to:
- Mansfield-Whitfield Rd
- Whitfield lookout 720m elevation
- Power's lookout 800m elevation
- Upper King River Rd
- William Hovell Dam 400m elevation
- King Valley Rd
- Paradise Falls 30km (31min drive) south of Edi Cutting
- unlikely to be flowing in autumn
- Little Falls
- Rose River Rd then 4WD track to:
- Bennie's camp ground on the Rose River 500m elevation
- Lake Cobbler hut at 1100m elevation - 63km (90min drive) south of Edi Cutting
- Dadongadale Falls
- Mountain hike to Cobbler Summit and possibly beyond
north
- 32km (23min) to Milawa
- Brown Brothers winery
- Milawa gourmet foods - Milawa Cheese Factory, Milawa Mustards, etc
- 53km (40min) to the historic gold mining town of Eldorado
- historic gold dredge
- Reedy Creek bush camping and gold and gem hunting area
- Barry Falls - bit of a walk
- Woolshed Falls - requires a river crossing with car to access from Eldorado but then can continue to Beechworth
- 62km (47min) to the historic gold mining town of Beechworth
- Spring Creek cascades
- the old Gaol and courthouse
- old hospital ruins
- Burke Museum
- Chinese miners cemetery
- the original Beechworth Bakery
- Beechworth Asylum ghost tours
- Beechworth historic park of gold mining relics
- Woolshed Falls
- 112km (102min) Mt Buffalo
- 96km (68min) Bright
Nearby camp grounds
north
- Warby Ranges NP/ Wangaratta region
- Wenhams Camp, Warby-Ovens National Park
- There is some great bushwalks and native flora, fauna and wildlife in abundance. Access is via a dirt road and dependent on weather conditions.
- There is a pit toilet, wood fire BBQ and tank water suitable for washing.
- The Forest Camp, Warby-Ovens National Park
- Well laid out mainly bollarded camping area with a large shelter shed, non drinking tank water. There are several bush walks, wild flowers throughout the area and plenty of birds for birdwatchers.
- Pioneer Bridges on the Ovens River
- shady bush camp is located alongside the Ovens River there is a nice sandy bank, picnic table and pit toilet. The Ovens River offers great fishing, kayaking & swimming.
- Ovens River bush camps mainly north of Wangaratta
- ~55km (47min) eg. Wilsons Bend
- Benalla region
- Tungamah Lions RV Park near Benalla - on a river, toilets, free
- Oxley Recreation Reserve
- formed in 1865 and is a unique 47-hectare mix of bushland and cleared areas, backing onto the King River
- a large well-grassed level area with scattered shade – perfect for those travelling with horses as there are horse yards and water available
- showers, ?small fee
- James Campground near Benalla
- 8 sites; pleasant, reasonably large site on grassed creek flats sloping down to the cascading Lima East (Moonee Moonee or Black Charlie) Creek, surrounded by steep forested hills.
- 11km on the Lima East Road (5.4k gravel)
- Lake Nillahcootie Camp
- 2hr 20min from NW suburbs via Violet Town; 30min Sth of Benalla;
- potable water;
-
- 128km (78min) back along the Hume Fway towards Melbourne
- Bright region
- Nug Nug and Buffalo River camps
- 80km (56min)
- Yarrawonga region
- free Murray River sites
- ~100km (70-80min) see Murray River camping
south
- Tolmie Recreation Reserve
- 52km (45min) en route to Mansfield;
- 2hr 40min from NW suburbs; 19min NE of Mansfield; camp kitchen; local pub open on weekends;
- see also Mansfield region campgrounds
- Howqua Hills / Sheepyard Flats camping area 100km (95min) via Mansfield
- Sandy Flat campground and Top Crossing Hut campground
- 42km (43min) south;
- elevation 420m on the upper part so the King River; bush camps on east side of King River along Sandy Flat Track; no toilets;
- 3hrs 40min from NW suburbs via Benalla
- 2hrs from Benalla via Whitfield with 4WD options (you may need a winch exiting the river bank!) of:
- via Cheshunt and Sandy Flat Track - avoids King River crossings unless you want to cross the deepest part of King River in this area to go to Top Crossing Hut campground
- Paradise Falls on the way
- via Cheshunt South and passing William Hovell Dam and then it becomes 4WD slippery when wet rutted clay gravel road with some river crossings which may be at level of 4WD bonnet depth but which have a good solid rocky base;
- 4km and 12min to Top Crossing Hut camping area with toilets further up on the King River (via Top Crossing Track) at 500m elevation with some more river crossings; not usually seasonally closed;
- Bennie's camp ground on the Rose River 500m elevation
- 43km (48min) south; elevation 540m;
- just under 4hrs from NW suburbs via Benalla and Whitfield; 1.5hrs SE of Benalla; 49min SSE of Whitfield;
- 45min 4WD drive (seasonally closed) from Lake Cobbler which is at 1100m elevation and near Dadongadale Falls and optional hike to Mt Cobbler summit elevation 1580m which is the source of the Rose River;
- Lake Cobbler
- 62km (92min) 4WD or high clearance AWD needed
- 1100m elevation; snow gums;
Some pics from south end in Nov 2025
