The Huts!
Nestled amongst the wild beauty of Australia’s High Country, these historic huts stand as enduring monuments to frontier life. Perched near Mt. Stirling, Craigs Hut boasts a commanding view of rolling hills and distant peaks, its weathered façade a testament to resilience. Tucked away in the Victorian Alps, Number 3 Hut whispers tales of pioneer perseverance amidst ancient snow gums and alpine meadows. Tomahawk Hut, nestled beneath Mt Stirling, off Carter’s road being small in size but huge in history. Bindaree Hut, nestled in the heart of the Alpine region which has its low looking features and a very low door as you have to duck to get into. Razorback Hut where there is two different Huts each hold their own stories, inviting wanderers and horse groups to rest their saddle ridden bodies, to delve into the rich history woven into the fabric of these rugged landscapes. Through weathered timber and worn stone, these huts stand as guardians of the past, inviting modern adventurers to step back in time and experience the untamed beauty of the High Country.
Thursday 28th March
We got into the campground of Running Creek on Howqua River road on the Thursday night, we had 16 vehicles and we managed a spot in the middle of camp amongst the tall gum trees. As we were only there for one night it didn’t really matter how we camped.
Good Friday 29th March
We woke to a cold but beautiful morning, the campground was very busy with campers for the Easter long weekend.
Everyone was excite about getting on those tracks, so we packed up camp by 8.30am,( as we were leaving camp we had two other groups moving straight into our site).
We headed along Howqua River road then turned left up Symes track and straight into Low Range, as this track is fairly steep it’s a really nice climb. On reaching the top we turned left on Mitchells track, this track is a really great drive, with it’s steep ascents and descent with deep ruts in places and one section has a rock wall you climb up.( in the wet this track would be very challenging). W on getting to the end we turned left on Stieners road then right down Howqua Hills track. This is another good track to drive, steep all the way down into Frys Hut area then onto Sheepyard Flat. We met Andrew here and had a small break.
We left Sheepyard heading up Brock’s road then onto Bluff Link having lunch at Refrigerator Gap. After lunch we headed down 16 Mile Jeep track, the start of the track is steep then flattens out towards the bottom going through a couple of river crossings we reached Pikes Flat. Pikes was empty so we pulled in and found a great camp beside the river. We set up camp got some fire wood. Being such a nice afternoon and being 3.00pm we sat down in the river,( it was cold) and enjoyed the afternoon. We sat around the fire for the night before getting to bed about 10.30 pm.
Saturday 30th March
We woke to another cold morning, got the fire going again enjoying the warmth. We packed up camp and headed off to Bindaree Hut. This Hut wasn’t built very tall with it’s squat features and tiny door. Leaving the Hut through the river crossing we arrived at Bindaree Falls. It’s a short walk of 450m to the base of the Falls. You stand underneath them on a walkway, a very pretty area.
Leaving here we got onto Monument track on the harder way to Craig’s Hut, there was a few vehicles coming down from Craig’s Hut, we turned right onto Clear Hills track and up to Craig’s Hut, we managed a park in the main parking area. We stopped here for about an hour looking around and having smoko. The view was amazing of Mt Stirling. With the far mountains looking so Blue in colour. The Hut was built for the set the movie The Man from the Snowy River and is one of the most iconic Huts in the High Country.
We headed off again towards Mt Stirling, going back along Clear Hills track We got to the Peak of Mt Stirling @1742m. We pulled up and went for a walk up to the Trigg point and over the other side where the loneliest tree stands up on top of the hill. There was the horse riders from McCormicks Horse riding up there taking photos. This is where we had lunch as the view was amazing.
After lunch the track changes to Howqua Gap track which is a great drive down to Howqua Gap Huts, quick stop here looking at the Huts. We then headed down Circuit road in 2wd to Speculation road and into King Hut. We managed a camp-site on the other side of the river, we set up camp collected fire wood then relaxed in the river for the afternoon. The fire was lit to a nice evening around the fire until everyone was in bed by 10.30pm.
Easter Sunday 31st March
Up early after our good night sleep, we packed up and getting on the tracks by 9.00am. Back out from the King Hut area we got onto Cobbler Lake track and around into Lake Cobbler, few campers up there so we pulled up and went for a walk out to Dangongadale Falls. The walk took about 30 minutes to get out there on a little walking track. The views of the Falls is very impressive and you can stand right on the edge. Walking back a black snake was spotted.
After Cobbler we got into 2wd and onto Cobbler road for a bit before pulling up at Wild Horse track. We turned left up here, this track is one of the most amazing drives in the High Country, it has everything from amazing views and steep hills up and down. Rocky sections which you have to really have wheel placement perfect to get over some of these sections. We got down into Rose river for a lunch break and Morri had to change his front wheel as he ripped it apart on the Rocky sections.
After lunch we headed of again and had the climb out, the next section is steep, rough, rocky and goes for about 200m. We all made it with no worries at all.
We got into Pineapple Flat where we met Glen, we got into another camp here and set up, some of the boys grabbed fire wood on their way into camp. We went for a swim in the freezing cold King River before sitting around the warm fire for the night. That night we had a interesting conversation and Q&A about the dating scene these days until we all went to bed around 12.00am.
Easter Monday 2st April
In the morning was cold and we left camp around 10.00am as most people were heading home. We left Pineapple Flat across the King River, onto Black Landing road and around to the Circuit road. We went into Razorback Hut for a look, then onto N⁰ 3 Hut where Morri stayed here and camped the night. We moved onto Tomahawk Hut where most left to head home out through Carter’s road.
Then myself, Lou, Andrew and Geoff headed off down Buckland Spur track into Top Crossing and camped on the King River for the night.
Participants
Russell – 105 LandCruiser
Andrew – Triton
Karl – 105 LandCruiser
Geoff – Isuzu
Allan – Triton
Luke – Hilux
Justin – Triton
Wayne – Hilux
John – Triton
Dave and Ang – Tank 300
Dave – Jackaroo
Ian – Nissan Patrol
Phil and Marree – Triton
Morri – Land Rover
Richard – Prado
Frank – Nissan Patrol
