great alpine walk
traverse the victorian high country
highlights
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Stunning alpine hiking with 360 degree views
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Walk the classic alpine traverse from Falls Creek to Mt Hotham
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Hike along the Razorback to Mt Feathertop then descend into the riverside village of Harrietville
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Visit historic huts including Wallaces Hut & Cope Hut
Auswalk's Great Alpine Walk is an INN-to-INN accommodated walking holiday. You traverse the alps, walking from one delightful accommodation to the next. We move your luggage for you while you are out walking. This holiday is Self-Guided. Note that we also offer a group guided trip on a similar itinerary.
The High Plains are located in north east Victoria and contain Victoria’s highest mountains. From the 1860’s huge quantities of gold were discovered in the area. Even before then, graziers brought their cattle into the mountains to feed on the lush green summer pastures. During this walk you’ll see rough yards for holding mustered cattle, simple huts built by the cattlemen for protection from the weather, and follow trails that cattle traversed between valleys and the high plains.
Much of the Australian Alps National Park is covered in a blanket of snow from late May to November, but then the winter snows melt and flow as life-giving fresh water into Australia's rivers. The grasslands and boggy areas hold vast amounts of water, allowing a never-ending supply for alpine rivers and streams even during the driest of summers. The rolling plains become a cool refuge from the hot valleys below, supporting masses of spectacular wildflowers and extensive snowgrass plains. Alpine wildflowers are prolific along the walking route from about December to February in most years.
Classic alpine hiking
This is a true alpine experience. Highlights include the classic Razorback Ridge to Mt Feathertop, the second highest peak in Victoria. From here the route continues down to the picturesque village of Harrietville. You will also hike all the way from Falls Creek to Mt Hotham. The historic huts circuit walk will delight history buffs and remote Mt Tabletop is a favourite place to sit and ponder the beauty of the region.
360 degree views abound
location
This trip starts in Mt Beauty. It's a 5 hour drive from Melbourne. There are also public transport services from Melbourne - contact us for more details. The trip ends in Bright. If you have a car in Mt Beauty you will need to catch a taxi back there to collect it (costs around $65-$70). If you arrived by public transport, there are daily connections back to Melbourne.
grading
30% easy, 35% moderate, 35% more strenuous. This is our most demanding INN-to-INN walk. There is an average of 6 hours walking time each day, and tracks are frequently rough or stony underfoot. The highest altitude on this walk is 1922 metres, and the greatest descent is 1400 metres in one day – very impressive! All slopes will require more effort at altitude than at lower elevations. However, we have designed the itinerary so that a long, hard day can be followed by an easier walking day.
Magnificent snowgum trees
accommodation
Alpine ski lodges, motels, boutique hotel - private rooms with ensuite bathrooms.
regional wine & food
The mountains are noted for fresh trout and excellent local wines.
what's included
8 day itinerary: 7 nights accommodation, 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners, luggage transfers, vehicle transfers required for the itinerary, information booklets, insulated lunch bag, map case, National Park fees, detailed walking notes, maps.
6 day itinerary: 5 nights accommodation, 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, luggage transfers, vehicle transfers required for the itinerary, information booklets, insulated lunch bag, map case, National Park fees, detailed walking notes, maps.
not included
Alcohol, additional meals.
the best time to go
This walk can be done any time from the start of December to 20th April. This mountain environment is about 10 – 15 degrees cooler than Melbourne and Sydney, and there is a possibility of bad weather even during summer. January and February are usually warm and the alpine wildflowers are at their best. December and March are usually mild, and considered by many people to be the best times to visit.
Probably the most photographed historic hut in the country -
Wallaces Hut, nestled in a grove of snowgums
departure dates
Self guided INN-to-INN - any day from 01 December to 20 April, with a minimum of 2 people booking together.
itinerary guide - 8 days
(includes 7 nights accommodation & 6 days walking)
Day 1: Starts in Mount Beauty any time after 2pm. No walking scheduled for today. Accommodation: Mt Beauty
Day 2: After a transfer high into the mountains, the walk begins by following an easy Aqueduct Trail connected to one of Australia’s early hydro-electricity schemes, built between the 1930’s and 1950’s. Mountain cattlemen’s huts feature prominently on this holiday and today you’ll visit the oldest in Victoria, Wallace’s Hut. The ancient snowgum trees here are twisted and gnarled by centuries of harsh winters. After rain or fog these tree trunks change colour to brilliant shades of red, orange, yellow and green. After lunch, walk along the southern edge of Rocky Valley Dam, before climbing to Falls Creek ski resort. Accommodation: Falls Creek
Day 3: An easier walking day, following more aqueduct trails and crossing gently graded snow plains. All the walking terrain yesterday and today provides superb cross country skiing during winter. It is easy to imagine dozens of fit, lycra–clad athletes skating past and making it look effortless. The day ends with a walk to the summit of a small peak with a fine view over Falls Creek and the Kiewa valley before strolling along another aqueduct trail back to the village. Accommodation: Falls Creek
Day 4: A big one today! Very few people have done this walk, even amongst the locals. Follow a section of the 750km Alpine Walking Track (between Walhalla and Canberra) all the way to Mt Hotham. You certainly won’t see many people out here, in fact you are more likely to see brumbies (wild horses) than people! Along the way, drop steeply down to the Cobungra River and Dibbins Hut (sometimes also called “Creep-Inn” – you’ll see why), then back through the Mt Hotham ski village. Skiers flock to Hotham for its powder snow. It is easy to see how the surrounding steep valleys would provide protection from strong winter winds, allowing snow to settle gently into deep drifts. The day’s walking finishes with a stroll through the picturesque Davenport area of Hotham village. Accommodation: Hotham alpine village
Day 5: Today’s walk meanders through snowgum forests and across thick snowgrass plains, where there are many spring wildflowers. The standard 10km track to Dinner Plain is easy, but you can also add an optional 9km walk to the aptly named Mt Tabletop. Cattle grazed these plains till recently, and you’ll see historic huts and even some cattle yards made by felling trees into piles! You’ll walk into Dinner Plain, the highest freehold land in Australia, where every building is constructed of mud brick, weathered timber, local rock and galvanized iron. You can build anything you like there, so long as it resembles a cattleman’s hut. Accommodation: Dinner Plain
Suggestion
Many of our walkers have suggested that, if you are doing the 8 day trip, that you take a rest day at Dinner Plain. This allows you to recover from a couple of big walking days and get ready for the next couple of big walking days. There’s a day spa facility at Dinner Plain, offering a full range of treatments. There are also short walks close to the village. We can arrange an extra night for you – contact us for a price.
Another gnarled snowgum
Day 6: Another big walking day today. After an early start, you’ll be transferred to the breathtaking Razorback Ridge, surely one of the most dramatic walking routes in Australia. As you walk along it, Mt Feathertop gradually looms more and more impressively. The final (optional) steep climb to the summit is a ripper! The rest of the day is spent walking down the gently graded Bungalow spur to the township of Harrietville. The spur is covered by tall mountain ash trees, many of which stand stark and white following the bushfires of 2003. Either dead or alive, they are impressive. Harrietville is built on mine tailings created by a huge dredge called the Tronah Monster, which was sold to a tin miner in Malaysia in the 1930’s. Today it’s a friendly holiday village with a laid-back atmosphere. Accommodation: Harrietville
Day 7: An easy walk through valley bushland and a good chance to stretch those muscles after yesterday’s big descent. Walk through forests beside the Ovens River to the outskirts of Bright, then detour to Wandiligong, another historic gold town that is Heritage Listed. The only industry at Wandi these days is apple growing but there are numerous sluices, tailings, mines and shafts remaining from the days when Chinese miners were more successful than Europeans, with nasty consequences. The day finishes with an optional walk through the Ovens River Gorge. Bright town is a busy tourist area, now better known for its splendid tree-lined streets and colourful autumn leaves than for the phenomenal amount of gold extracted in the past. Accommodation: Bright
Day 8: The trip ends after breakfast, either by catching a V-line coach out of town, or by catching a taxi back to Mount Beauty to collect your car (taxi fare not included in tour cost - allow approx. $70).
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Alpine wildflowers appear during summer |
It's like being in the middle of nowhere! |
itinerary guide - 6 days
(includes 5 nights accommodation & 4 days walking)
Day 1: Starts in Mt Beauty any time after 2pm.
Day 2: As for day 2 above.
Day 3: As for day 4 above.
Day 4: As for day 6 above.
Day 5: As for day 7 above.
Day 6: As for day 8 above.
fact sheet
Would you like more detailed information about this trip?
Download our Great Alpine Walk self guided INN-to-INN Fact Sheet.
Note: If you are having trouble opening this Fact Sheet, please click on the link to download the latest version of Adobe Reader. http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html?promoid=BUIGO
prices
See the prices section
how to book
See the booking section
View a sample page of Self-Guided walking notes
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Auswalk Pty Ltd |
4 Red Gum Lease Track |
Halls Gap Victoria 3381 | Australia
Phone +61 (0)3 5356 4971 |
Fax +61 (0)3 5356 4970 | Email info@auswalk.com.au
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