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Mount Buffalo - Cities, Towns and Localities |
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A four hour drive from Melbourne brings you to this
spectacular location above the Ovens Valley. With huge granite cliffs rising up
into the sky,
this sub-alpine plateau is one of Victoria’s oldest national park having provided
visitors a unique and spectacular experience for over 100 years. The park
offers some great camping, especially in the more remote sections. There is also
some great nearby accommodation in
Bright,
Porepunkah,
Wandiligong and
Wangaratta.
Check out some of the travel
guide attractions listed and visit the local tourist information centre for
up-to-date info. Click here for Victorian
Alpine accommodation or
Snowy Mountains
accommodation: |
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 Eurobin
Falls Track • Easy to moderate • Ladies Bath Falls 0.4 km • Lower
Falls 0.5 km • Upper Falls 0.75 km • 1 hour return
• The Eurobin Falls are a series of
broad cascades spilling over large granite rock slabs, a beautiful sight after
some heavy rain higher up. The short 500 m walking track takes you through
mountain forest of Narrow Leaf Peppermint, Manna Gum and Tree-ferns, pass the
Ladies Bath Falls (where you may catch the glimpse of fishes and yabbies,
arriving at the Lower Eurobin Falls Lookout. A steeper track continues another
250 m to the lookout perched at the base of Upper Eurobin Falls.
The Gorge and Crystal Brook Falls, towering 1,000 m above, can only be accessed
from the Gorge Heritage Walk on top of the plateau.
The rock slabs forming the main falls are extremely slippery and visitors must
not leave the track or venture past the lookout railing. Serious personal injury
and death have occurred in this area from people attempting to cross the falls.
Ladies Bath Falls are popular for bathing. If planning to swim in the rock pool,
be aware of very cold water and possible strong currents form the cascades. It
is not safe to div e or jump into the rock pool due to unmarked or hidden
obstacles. To see some images,
click here...
Source: Information from Parks Victoria signage
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 Gorge
Day Visitor Area •
• Perched on the Gorge edge, this large area has tables, toilets including
disabled toilets), picnic shelter, water and fireplaces. A cafe is located in
the Chalet opposite. There are a couple of viewing spots such as
Bents Lookout with
spectacular views of the Australian Alps. The parks signage providing names to
the peaks and ranges.From here there are a number of walks that include:
- The Gorge Heritage Walk • 2.5 km loop walk
• Follow in the
footsteps of Guide Alice, as signage along the way tell you about her life
and Mount Buffalo, as she knew it.
- The Big Walk • 11.3 km one way - 5 to 6 hours
• Descending to the Park Entrance on Eurobin Creek, ‘The Big Walk’ drops
100 m in only 9 km. It follows sections of the original horse route known as
‘Stakers Track’, cut in the 1890’s. Dramatic views of The Gorge and the
Australian Alps can be seen from several lookouts along the way. One of
Mount Buffalo’s endemic plants, Buffalo Sallow Wattle, grows in the exposed
rocky areas between the Gorge and Mackeys Lookout. It is readily identified
by it’s thick leathery, lime green leaves and long pale yellow flowers.
– Walkers should be reasonably fit and have strong footwear as the long, rocky
in places and has sustained steep grades.
– Sudden changes in the weather can occur at any time of the year.
– Drinking water is not reliable along the track especially during summer.
– Be prepared by carrying water, snack, sunscreen, a hat and a waterproof
jacket.
– Always let someone know of your plans before setting out. |
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Guide
Alice
• The Gorge has been an attraction for tourists since the 1850s.
Until 1908 there were no roads to the Buffalo plateau and tourist
reached this point with the aid of a guide.
The most famous of these was Alice Manfield, known as Guide Alice
(pictured), who became legendary for her knowledge of the plateau and
its plants, animals and beauty spots.
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Grossmans Mill Picnic Area • Site
of Grossman’s Sawmill
• From 1907 until 1912 there was a sawmill on this site. It was owned and
operated by Frank Charles Grossman and was built to provide timber for the
construction of the first stage of the Mount Buffalo Chalet, opened in 1910.
 At first, teams of horses were used to haul the timber, probably alpine ash.
Later, Jack Usher’s bullock team (shown in the photograph) carted the logs and
sawn timber to and from the mill where up to nine men worked six days a week.
Mr Grossman, who lived at “Chatsworth”, North Wangaratta, camped on Mount
Buffalo from spring to autumn while the mill was operating.
The milling machinery, including a 12 HP engine, was sold and removed after Mr
Grossman died in March 1913. Only the concrete foundations of the mill remain on
site.Source: Jack Usher’s bullock team - Information and image from
Parks Victoria
signage
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 Manfield’s Chalet
• Before the present Mount Buffalo Chalet was built, Manfield’s Chalet stood on
this site.
Manfield’s Chalet was built in 1902 by Robert Meldrum-Bowie with assistance from
Alice Manfield, her brother Bill and their father James Manfield Snr.
(pictured). Slabs for the walls were cut form local Alpine Ash, and furniture
and supplies packed up the mountain on horse back.
This type of rustic mountain-top accommodation encouraged more tourists to the
plateau and led to the construction of a new Mount Buffalo Chalet, completed in
1910. The Government then ordered Manfield’s Chalet to be dismantled, paid the
family 25 compensation and granted them a new site on the other side of the
Gorge.Source:
Manfield’s Chalet (circa 1909) - Information and image from Parks Victoria signage
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 Cresta
Valley Day Visitor Centre Mt Buffalo Lodge
• An audio-visual
show on the natural and cultural heritage of Mount Buffalo that can be viewed
from the Cresta Valley Day Visitor Centre, adjacent to Mount Buffalo Lodge. There
is also tourist information, toilets and cafe, whilst Mt Buffalo Lodge provides
for backpacker, motel and lodge style accommodation.
Cresta Valley
has the Cresta Ski Runs, that includes:
- Downhill skiing - with five lifts and good day facilities including ski
school and patrol.
- Cross country skiing - there are 11 km of marked trails trails starting
at the information board adjacent to Cresta Valley car park.
- Tobogganing and snowplay - only permitted in the ‘safe’ designated areas
at Cresta Valley and Dingo Dell (Note: Dingo Dell is only open when
conditions are favourable).
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The Horn Picnic Area and Lookout • GPS: S36º 46.580’ E 146º 45.861’
• The historic shelter was built in the late 1930’s by the then National Park
Committee of Management for the comfort of tourists and bushwalkers.
It was constructed from local hand cut granite and clad with Alpine Ash
shingles. The shelter was required to blend in with the ‘rugged nature of the
environment’.
 Since the road from Cresta Valley to this point was widened in the 1940’s
tourists arriving in motor cars have enjoyed extensive views of the Australian
Alps framed by the windows in the shelter.
The Horn Summit Track • You need to be
reasonably fit • 1.5 km return
• The narrow track is steep, and the rocks are slippery when wet or icy.
To view
images of The Horn Summit click
here...
Source: Tour party from the Chalet enjoying the view at The
Horn c1940’s - Parks Victoria signage
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Mount Buffalo - Walks
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Walking is one of the best ways to see Mount Buffalo, with over 90 km of tracks
traversing pristine sub-alpine plant communities and unique landscapes. There
are a number of self-guided walks, short and longer walks. Self guided walks
include:
- Gorge Heritage Walk • 2.5 km - 1 hour return
- View Point Nature Walk • 4 km - 2 hours return
- Dicksons Falls Nature Walk • 4 km - 1.5 hours return
Shorter walks include:
- Eurobin Falls Track • 1.5 km - 45 mins return
- Rollasons Falls Track • 4 km - 1.5 hours return
- Gorge-Lake Catani Track • 4 km - 1.5 hours return
- Underground River Track • 2.5 km - 1 hour return
- Monolith Track • 1.8 km - 1 hour circuit
- Lake View Track • 2 km - 45 mins return
- Lakeside Walk • 3 km - 1 hour circuit
- Chalwell Galleries Track • 1.7 km - 1 hour circuit
- Old Galleries Track • 1 km - 30 mins circuit
- Cathedral-Hump Track • 2 km - 45 mins return
- Corral-Castle Track • 3.5 km - 1.5 hours return
- The Horn Track • 1.5 km - 45 mins return
Longer walks include:
- Mount McLeod Track • 16 km - 6 hours return
- Mollisons Galleries Track • 18 km - 6 hours circuit
- Rocky Creek Track • 13 km - 4 hours return
- Long Plain Track • 8 km - 3 hours return
- Macs Point Rack • 7 km - 3 hours return
- South Buffalo Track • 8 km - 3 hours return
- Back Wall Track • 12 km - 4 hours return
- The Big Walk • 11.3 km - 4 to 5 hours one way
Full details of the above walks and map can be picked up from the local visitor centre or from
Parks
Victoria.
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During summer, the host of activities you can do in the park include walking,
canoeing, swimming, picnicking, sight seeing, bike and horse riding, rock
climbing, abseiling and hang gliding.
- Bike riding • restricted to vehicle tracks.
There are good rides along the Reservoir Road and Gorge-Lake Catani Track.
- Hang gliding • for experienced pilots only
from the launch ramp 200 m past the Gorge Day Visitors Area lower car park.
- Horse Riding • permitted only with a guide
from Mount Buffalo Chalet and on limited tracks during the summer months.
- Rock climbing and abseiling • guided
activities are usually available from private operators in the Gorge area.
- Sight seeing • where do you begin! Lookouts at
the Gorge and the Horn offer views of the Alps.
- Swimming and canoeing • best from the Lake
Catani Jetty, accessed through the Lakeside Day Visitor Area.
- Cross country skiing • there are 11 km of
marked trails Cresta Valley.
- Downhill skiing • lifts and good day
facilities based at Cresta Valley.
- Tobogganing and snowplay • designated ‘safe’
areas at Cresta Valley and Dingo Dell.
- Driving • when driving take your time and
enjoy the changing environment and views. Please watch out for native
animals, especially in the early morning and at dusk. Wildlife is much more
active at these times, especially wallabies, wombats, rosellas and
lyrebirds.
Take extreme care driving during winter. The main road is often snow-covered
from McKinnons Corner through to Cresta Valley. Snow chains must be carried
during the declared ski season and fitted when and where directed.
The Reservoir, Lake Catani and Horn Roads are narrow and winding with gravel
surfaces. Beware of dusty and rough conditions. Please drive slowly and
carefully. Note that these roads are seasonally closed during the wetter
months.
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Lakeside Day Visitor Area •
Lakeside Catani Campground
• Located right on Lake Catani shore (on the
east side), this shady area includes tables, toilets, cold showers, water and
fireplaces. Activities include canoeing or swimming.
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Picnic Area
• There are ten picnic areas with various
facilities to choose from on Mount Buffalo. These include:
- Gorge Day Visitor Area - facilities: tables, disabled toilets, picnic
shelter, water and fireplaces. Cafe in the Chalet opposite.
- Lakeside Day Visitor Area - facilities: tables, toilets, cold showers,
water and fireplaces.
- Eurobin Creek Picnic Area - facilities: tables, toilets and fireplaces.
- Rollasons Falls Picnic Area - facilities: tables, toilets and
fireplaces.
- Grossmans Mill Area - facilities: tables and fireplaces.
- The Oval Picnic Area - facilities: tables and fireplaces.
- The Cathedral Picnic Area - facilities: toilets are only open for busy
holiday periods.
- Eurobin Falls Picnic Area - facilities: tables.
- Reservoir Picnic Area - facilities: tables.
- Horn Picnic Area - facilities: tables (the nearest toilets for the Horn
Picnic Area are at Cresta Valley or Cathedral Saddle.
• All of the toilets, except those at Lakeside and Cathedral Picnic Area, are
designed for wheelchair access. The camp-ground also has a disabled hot
shower/bathroom facility.
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Want to know more?
• All the information provided here
is available from the Entrance Station, Park Office and various pamphlet boxes
in the region. There are information shelters at various picnic areas throughout
the park providing more site specific information and orientation. An
audio-visual show on the natural and cultural heritage of Mount Buffalo can be
viewed in the Cresta Valley Day Visitor Centre, adjacent to Mount Buffalo Lodge.
Guide books, posters and maps are also for sale from the Entrance Station, Park
Office and Mount Buffalo Chalet, or just drop into the Park Office and chat to a
Ranger. Source:
Parks
Victoria
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