australia:vic:stirling
bushwalks in Victoria's Mt Stirling region near Mansfield
see also:
- How far can an older person hike with average ability and a 12-14kg backpack?
- the rough rule of thumb is to plan to walk only 8-12 km per day of full pack carrying and count every 100m climbed or descended as an extra kilometre walked.
- Camp amongst the snow gums rather than in the lower Mountain Ash areas - Mountain Ash are prone to falling unpredictably
Mt Stirling, Craig's Hut and Razorback Hut
- access to Mt Stirling Snow Resort (the Telephone Box Junction or TBJ with cafe and toilets at 1330m) is 3hrs from Melbourne via the Mount Buller Road via Mansfield (and in winter, TBJ is the most distal part you can get to by car)
- Mt Buller is 1805m with accommodation options, restaurant, day spa but no camping options
- Mt Stirling summit is 1749m and is largely un-developed (apart from the Geelong Grammar Hut and Bluff Spur Hut) and unspoilt (apart from the multitude of commercial horse trail riders and 4WD recreationalists, plus, at the TBJ region, day mountain bikers) and has free camping
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- 12.3km summit loop walk from King Saddle Shelter
- http://www.mtstirling.com.au/ - note entry fees only apply in snow season
- the sometimes rough 2WD Circuit Road complete round trip starting and finishing at Mirimbah is about 80 kilometres, including a 10 kilometre return detour to Bindaree Falls - but don't bother doing this in winter as it is closed
- Craig's Hut
- Craig's Hut is at 1438m and was originally built for the Man From Snowy River movie set and 19km from TBJ
- in 2006 Craig’s Hut was destroyed by the Great Divide wildfire and again rebuilt, opening for visitors in 2008 and has toilet facilities and 270deg views
- access from Circuit Road (~17km from TBJ) where there is a Day Visitor Centre 1.2km walk from the hut
- Craig's Hut Walk (or take the steep 8 min 4WD Clear Hills Track then optionally back down the Monument Track although this may be in bad shape):
- very steep, intermediate 3km 2hr return walk
- Craig's Hut overnight snow walk from TBJ in winter ~4hrs each way:
- very rough and steep 4WD Clear Hills Track takes you to Mt Stirling from Craig's Hut then to Howqua Gap Track and optionally across to Mt Buller - but a high clearance 4WD is needed, and the ascent just before Geelong Grammar Hut is particularly steep from 1420m at Craigs Hut, descends to 1320m then rises to 1525m, then falls to 1380m before the last 320m ascent to Mt Stirling at 1700m.
- Craig's Hut can also be accessed with 4WD via King Basin Road but be prepared for about 10 river crossings !
Upper Howqua Camp Ground to Mt Speculation
- Howqua
- 1 hr drive from TBJ will get you to Upper Howqua Camping area which can be used as a base for multi-day walks to Mt Speculation
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- 7.5hr 15km ascent via Queens Spur to camp at Mt Spec where they should be water 500m down the slope unless it has been very dry
- 7.5hr 16km very exposed return includes, 1.5hr walk back from Mt Spec to Mt Buggery, then over Crosscut Saw to Mt Howitt then to West Peak
- circuit trip, 31km, 15.5hrs
australia/vic/stirling.txt · Last modified: 2017/03/14 22:27 by gary1