OCCV

Offroad and Camping Club of Victoria

Camping Trip

Victorian High Country

Byoccvic

May 23, 2026 #4WD, #camping, #high country, #victoria
Victorian High Country

The Victorian High Country is one of the most scenic regions in Victoria, known for alpine mountains, historic towns, rivers, and food & wine, which covers 276,000 square kilometres.

Where is the High Country?

The High Country sits in north-east Victoria, stretching along the Victorian Alps near the NSW border.

Rough boundaries:

  • North: Murray River / NSW border
  • South: Alpine National Park & Gippsland
  • West: Around Benalla / Mansfield
  • East: Toward Omeo & the alpine wilderness

Best Time to Go: Autumn (April–May)

Why autumn is ideal:

  • Bright turns into one of Australia’s best autumn colour spots
  • Crisp weather (great for walking, not too hot)
  • Vineyards are active (harvest season vibes)
  • Less crowded than summer peaks

Alternative: Spring (Oct–Nov)

  • Wildflowers in alpine areas
  • Green countryside + waterfalls flowing
  • Slightly quieter than autumn

High Country Towns and Attractions

Beechworth

  • Beechworth Historic and Cultural Precinct
  • Town Hall – Visitor Information Centre
  • HM Prison Beechworth
  • Courthouse Museum
  • Beechworth Bakery
  • Powder Magazine
  • Cemetery
  • Beechworth Lunatic Asylum
  • Woolshed Falls
  • Lake Sambell
  • Billson’s Brewery

Wangaratta

  • Historic Buildings
  • Cemetery
  • Wangaratta Art Gallery
  • Warby-Ovens National Park
  • November – Festival of Jazz and Blues
  • Marmungun Rock ceremony site
  • Horseshoe Lagoon Bushland Reserve
  • Ryans Lookout

Benalla

  • Costume and Kelly Museum and Visitor Information
  • Lake Benalla
  • Ceramic Mural Garden
  • Botanical Gardens
  • Weary Dunlop Memorial
  • Historic buildings
  • Cemetery
  • Reef Hills State Park
  • Mount Samaria State Park
  • Benalla Aviation Museum

Mount Beauty

  • Base for Falls Creek skiing & snowboarding
  • Sullivans Lookout
  • Hike to the summit of Mount Bogong
  • Mountain biking
  • Mount Beauty Gorge
  • Mountain Monk Brewers
  • Crank Handle Brewery
  • Mermaid Pool and Rock Pool (swimming)

Licola

  • Licola Wilderness Village
  • Four wheel driving
  • Macalister River

Mansfield, VIC

  • Lonigan, Kennedy and Scanlon Monument
  • Courthouse
  • Historical Society
  • Highton Manor
  • Powers Lookout
  • Mansfield Zoo
  • Gateway to Mt Buller

Bright

  • Court House and Lockup
  • District Historical Society Museum
  • Clearspot Lookout
  • Canyon Walk
  • Ovens River
  • Reed and Co. Distillery
  • Huggins Lookout
  • Howitt Park
  • Autumn Festival (late April–early May)
  • Spring Festival
  • Bright Art Gallery
  • Wandiligong (super pretty valley)

Tolmie

  • Kelly Tree at Stringybark Creek
  • Tolmie Recreation Reserve

Dinner Plain

  • Skiing, Snowboarding and Tobogganing
  • Bushwalking
  • Carmichael Falls

Falls Creek

  • Skiing and Snowboarding
  • Falls Creek Museum
  • Australian Alps Walking Track
  • Short walking tracks
  • Rocky Valley Lookout “offers excellent views over the Rocky Valley Lake” 1
  • Falls Creek Mountain Bike Park
  • Fainter Falls

Mount Hotham

  • Skiing, Snowboarding and Tobogganing
  • Bushwalking
  • Howling Husky Sled Dog tours

Harrietville

  • Pioneer Park
  • Harrietville Museum
  • Tronoh Dredge Hole
  • Bushwalking
  • Stony Creek Fish Farm

Porepunkah

  • Mount Buffalo
  • Ovens River
  • Scenic flights

Rutherglen

  • Heritage Walk
  • Rutherglen State Battery
  • Lake Moodemere
  • Lower Ovens Wildlife Reserve
  • Chiltern Mount Pilot National Park
  • Murray to Mountains Rail Trail (“Rutherglen to Wahgunyah section” 2)
  • Wineries
  • Wine Festival

Yackandandah

  •  A walk in High Street
  • Yackandandah Museum 
  • Yackandandah Gorge
  • Kirbys Flat Pottery
  • Sluga Gallery
  • Lion’s Walk
  • Miner’s Hut
  • Cemetery
  • Allans Flat Reserve
  • Osbornes Flat

Chiltern

  • Lake Anderson
  • Federal Standard Printing Works
  • Star Hotel and Theatre and historic grapevine
  • Chiltern Athenaeum Museum
  • Railway Station
  • Donchi Hill (lookout over town)
  • Yeddonba Aboriginal Art Site

Milawa

  • Old Emu Inn
  • Crossroads
  • Milawa Cheese Company
  • Milawa Mustards
  • Brown Brothers Winery
  • Former Flour Mill
  • Milawa Gourmet ride

Whitfield

  • Newtons Organic Prickleberry Farm
  • Lake William Hovell
  • Paradise Falls
  • Powers Lookout

Marysville

  • Bruno’s Art and Sculpture Garden
  • Marysville & District Historical Society Museum
  • Steavenson Falls
  • Keppel Lookout and Falls
  • Lady Talbot Drive
  • Four wheel driving

Alexandra

  • Alexandra Timber Tramway Museum
  • Historic Buildings (Grant Street)
  • McKenzie Flora Reserve 
  • Rotary Park
  • Dove Cottage
  • Jack Shiel Gardens
  • Lucky Mine lookout

Jamieson

  • Self Guided Historic Walk
  • The Island
  • Jamieson and District Historical Museum
  • Mitchells Bridle Trail
  • Jamieson Arboretum

Bonnie Doon

  • Lake Eildon
  • Waterskiing and wakeboarding
  • Fishing

Corryong

  • Horrie the Wog Dog
  • Cemetery (grave of Jack Riley)
  • Man from Snowy River Sculpture
  • Man From Snowy River Museum
  • Corryong Mural Art
  • Playle’s Lookout
  • Farran’s Lookout
  • Man from Snowy River Bush Festival (April)
  • Four wheel driving

Mitta Mitta

  • Walking
  • Fishing
  • Mitta Mitta Brewing Co
  • Pioneer Mine
  • Drive to Mount Benambra

Tallangatta

  • Tallangatta Lookout
  •  Old Tallangatta Lookout
  • Lake Hume
  • Tallangatta’s murals
  • Mount Granya State Park

Omeo

  • Heritage Trail
  • Walking trails
  • Historical Park and Justice Precinct
  • German Cuckoo Clock Shop
  • Oriental Claims
  • Ah Fong’s Loop Walk
  • Kozsciusko Lookout
  • Four wheel driving (Knocker Track)

Dargo

  • Dargo Hotel
  • Four wheel driving
  • Dargo Heritage Museum
  • Crooked River

Woods Point

  • Four wheel driving
  • Old petrol station
  • Woods Point Pictorial Museum
  • Goulburn River Reserve
  • Commercial Hotel
  • Walking tracks

Barnawartha

  • Indigo Creek Park
  • Barnawartha Scenic Reserve
  • Barnawartha War Memorial
  • Soldiers Memorial Hall

Euroa

  • Euroa Heritage Trail
  • Hume and Hovell Cairn
  • Strathbogie Ranges
  • Farmers’ Arms Hotel Museum
  • Euroa Arboretum
  • Swoop the Big Barrwarrang (Magpie)
  • Rotary Lookout & Balmattum Hill Walking Track
  • Victoria Cross Memorial
  • Mt Wombat Lookout
  • Gooram Falls

Myrtleford

  • Historic Log Tobacco Kiln in Rotary Park
  • Phoenix tree
  • Ovens River Loop Trail
  • Historic Walk
  • Mosaic Trail
  •  Reform Hill Lookout

Nagambie

  • Lake Nagambie
  • Statue of Black Caviar
  • Nagambie & District Historical Museum
  • Goulburn Weir
  • Goulburn River
  • Kirwans Bridge

Wandiligong

  • The Diggings Walk
  • Chinese Swing Bridge
  • Morses Creek
  • Nightingales Alpine Apples Farm Gate Store
  • Nut Festival

Yea

  • Heritage Walk
  • Yea Wetlands
  • Yea Wetlands Discovery Centre
  • Indigenous garden Badji Baanang
  • Cheviot Tunnel
  • Yea Fountain Gardens
  • Yea Station

Hikes in the High Country

Easy (relaxed, short walks)

  • The Horn
    • A short but spectacular walk to a rocky summit with sweeping views across the High Country—great for minimal effort, maximum reward.
  • Eurobin Falls Walk
    • A gentle, short, family-friendly walk to a beautiful waterfall surrounded by lush forest.
  • Craig’s Hut Walk
    • An easy walk to one of the High Country’s most famous huts, with fantastic views and a great mix of history and landscape.
  • Mount Buffalo Plateau (short walks)
    • A network of easier walks across granite landscapes, with highlights like rock formations, waterfalls, and wildflowers.

Moderate (half-day, some climbs)

  • Mount Stirling Circuit
    • A peaceful loop walk through alpine forest and open clearings, ideal for a quieter, less crowded experience.
  • Wonnangatta Valley Walks
    • Remote and historic walks through one of the High Country’s most isolated valleys, rich in stories and scenery, great for exploring historic huts and river flats.
  • Cathedral Range Southern Circuit
    • A step up in challenge with some steep sections and light scrambling, but very rewarding ridge-top views.

Hard (full-day or multi-day, serious effort)

  • Mount Feathertop (via Razorback Track)
    • Arguably the most beautiful hikes in Victoria, featuring a stunning ridgeline walk with alpine views almost the entire way.
  • Mount Bogong
    • The highest peak in Victoria, offering a challenging full-day hike with steep, long, and physically demanding, with incredible alpine scenery and a real sense of achievement.
  • Mount Hotham to Falls Creek
    • A multi-day alpine crossing through open plains and mountain ridges—considered one of Australia’s best long-distance hikes and best for experienced hikers.

Top Ten High Country 4WD Tracks

  • Billy Goat Bluff Track (near Dargo)
    Steep, relentless climb with tight switchbacks and huge views at the top. One of the most iconic and challenging tracks—great for experienced drivers.
  • Blue Rag Range Track (off Dargo High Plains Road)
    Famous ridge-line driving with 360° alpine views. Not super technical, but very exposed—feels dramatic the whole way.
  • Zeka Spur Track (near Wonnangatta Valley)
    Long descent into the remote Wonnangatta Valley. Remote, steep in places, and part of a classic High Country loop.
  • Herne Spur Track (Wonnangatta area)
    Short but very steep and challenging. Often used as a test piece—can be slippery and rutted.
  • Cynthia Range Track (near Mansfield)
    Technical climbs and descents through forest, less crowded than the big-name tracks.
  • King Billy Track (near Howqua Hills)
    Classic High Country driving—steep, scenic, and often combined with Bluff Track.
  • Bluff Track (towards Mount Buller)
    Leads to Bluff Hut and incredible views. Rocky sections and steep climbs.
  • Crooked River Track (near Talbotville)
    A fun track with multiple river crossings. Less extreme, but great adventure and scenery.
  • Mount Pinnibar Track (near Corryong)
    One of the highest driveable peaks in Victoria. Long climb with rewarding summit views.
  • Davies Plain Track (Alpine National Park)
    Remote, scenic, and historic. Includes river crossings and access to huts like Davies Plain Hut.

Preparing Your Vehicle

Your vehicle needs to be properly set up for steep climbs, rough terrain, and remote travel. A low-range 4WD is essential, along with all-terrain or mud-terrain tyres in good condition. Recovery gear is critical—carry a snatch strap, rated recovery points, shovel, and ideally a winch for harder tracks. Make sure your cooling system, brakes, and suspension are in good shape, as many tracks involve long climbs and descents. Lowering tyre pressures for off-road conditions will improve traction and comfort.

Preparing Yourself (and your group)

Conditions in the High Country can change quickly, so plan to be self-sufficient. Carry plenty of water, food, warm clothing, and a first aid kit even for short trips. Mobile reception is unreliable, so a UHF radio or satellite communication device is highly recommended. Let someone know your plans before heading out. Basic 4WD knowledge—like how to handle steep descents and recovery situations—makes a big difference to safety and enjoyment. The benefits of joining a four wheel driving group means you can travel as a group, which provides extra safety

Joining the Offroad and Camping Club of Victoria will provide access to experienced drivers, shared knowledge, organised trips, and added safety through group travel—making driving the High Country more enjoyable and far less risky, especially as some of the tracks are in remote areas.

Victorian High Country Huts Association

https://hutsvictoria.org.au/

A group of volunteers dedicated to the conservation, maintenance, and rebuilding of bush huts across the High Country.

To see a list of all the High Country huts, please click on the link below:

https://hutsvictoria.org.au/the-huts-of-victoria/vic-high-country-huts-list/

One of my favourite huts is Craigs Hut, “which was built as a set for the movie, “The Man from Snowy River” produced in 1982, and the sequel in 1988.” 3

Best Camping Spots

  • Wonnangatta Valley – iconic remote camping, rivers + huts
  • Talbotville – riverside camping with history
  • Lake Buffalo – quieter, relaxed alternative

Seasonal Access & Track Closures

Seasonal road closures

Plants

The Victorian High Country has a really distinct mix of alpine, subalpine, and forest vegetation, and what you see changes with elevation.

Alpine Ash forests

  • Tall, straight eucalyptus trees in cooler, higher elevations
  • Often regrow after bushfires, creating dense young forests

Snow Gum woodlands (iconic High Country look)

  • Twisted trunks with smooth, pale bark
  • Found at higher altitudes near the snowline
  • Beautiful in mist, snow, or autumn light

Alpine grasslands

  • Open plains above the tree line
  • Covered in tussock grasses like Snow Grass
  • Wildflowers appear in spring and summer

Alpine wildflowers

Seasonal but spectacular (especially spring–early summer):

  • Billy Buttons (bright yellow-like flowers)
  • Alpine Daisy
  • Trigger Plant

Heathlands & shrubs

  • Low, dense shrubs adapted to harsh alpine conditions
  • Includes:
    • Alpine Grevillea
    • Hovea

Mountain forests (lower elevations)

  • Mixed eucalyptus forests including:
    • Mountain Gum
    • Peppermints and stringybarks
  • Lush understorey with ferns and wattles

River & creek vegetation

  • Along rivers like the Ovens River
  • You’ll see:
    • Tree ferns
    • Wattles
    • Dense green vegetation

Wildlife

The Victorian High Country is full of wildlife, and even on a relaxed trip you’re likely to see quite a bit—especially around dawn and dusk.

Kangaroos & wallabies (most commonly seen)

  • Eastern Grey Kangaroo
  • Swamp Wallaby

Seen in open fields, roadsides, and near campsites—especially early morning and evening.

Common Wombats

Often spotted grazing in alpine areas like around Mount Buffalo and Falls Creek, particularly at dusk.

Koalas (less common but possible)

  • Koala

Found in eucalyptus forests at lower elevations—more likely to be heard than seen.

Birdlife (very noticeable everywhere)

  • Superb Lyrebird
    Famous for mimicking sounds—often heard in forest areas
  • Crimson Rosella
    Bright red parrots commonly seen in towns and bush
  • Laughing Kookaburra
    Iconic call, often around campsites

Birds of prey

  • Wedge-tailed Eagle

Australia’s largest bird of prey—often seen soaring over valleys and ridgelines.

Reptiles (be aware, especially in warmer months)

  • Eastern Brown Snake

Common in warmer weather—generally shy but important to be aware of when walking.

Introduced deer (increasingly common)

  • Sambar Deer

Large deer often seen in forested areas, particularly early morning or dusk.

Wildlife is beautiful—but also a hazard on roads. Drive carefully at dawn and dusk, especially around places like Bright and Mansfield.

Books

  • 4WD Treks of the High Country by Craig Lewis and Kathy Savage
  • Best Walks of Victoria’s High Country by Woodslane Press
  • Australian Geographic High Country Victoria by Chris Munn
  • The History of Wonnangatta Station by Wallace Malcolm Mortimer
  • Plants of the Victorian High Country: A Field Guide for Walkers (Second Edition) by John Murphy and Bill Dowling
  • Friends of Wonnangatta Valley: Yummy recipes for around the campfire and home compiled by Melissa Holden
  • Mt Hotham Flora Guide produced by Green Gecko Publications https://www.mthotham.com.au/Portals/0/Publications/Mt-Hotham-Flora-Guide/index.html

Maps

  • High Country Victoria by Hema
  • High Country Victoria – South West by Hema
  • High Country Victoria – North East by Hema
  • High Country Victoria – North West by Hema
  • High Country Victoria – South East by Hema
  • Marysville – Lake Eildon Adventure Map by Rooftop Maps
  • Dargo – Wonnangatta Adventure Map by Rooftop Maps

Website Links

Park-note-Alpine-NP-around-Bright-Mt-Beauty-Omeo-and-DargoDownload
info_wonnangattaDownload
track_wonnangattaDownload
  1. https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/falls-creek-vic ↩︎
  2. https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/the-murray/corowa/visitor-information-centres/rutherglen-visitor-information-centre ↩︎
  3. https://hutsvictoria.org.au/huts/craigs-hut/ ↩︎

By occvic

Related Post

Camping Trip

Heyfield/Maffra – November 2026

May 23, 2026 occvic
Camping Trip

Inner Loop – June to August

May 23, 2026 occvic
Camping Trip

Litchfield National Park

May 23, 2026 occvic

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *