National Parks of the Victorian High Country

VC, Australia Travel Guides

Alpine National Park

This is Victorias largest park, and its 646000 hectares covers just about all of the high country. The landscapes and features that it covers are too immense for words, but it is some of the most rugged and beautiful countryside n the whole world. Snowfall on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range in the winter months pulls in the ski tourists, who stay in the adjacent ski resorts of Falls Creek and Hotham. Then in the summer months other adventure sports such as cycling and rock climbing become prevalent. Fishing is pursuit with a strong following here, especially in the King and the Rose Rivers, where the brown trout grow thick and fast.
Bushwalking is very popular too, with walks ranging from the short to the very long. The 655 kilometre long Australian Alps Walking track that runs up to Canberra passes begins down here, but of course should only be tackled by fit hikers who understand the weather conditions.
A popular touring route is the Great Alpine Drive, which runs from Wangaratta to Bairnsdale. The 110 kilometre stretch between Bright and Omeo provides the greatest views of the park however- just stop in at Danny Lookout and experience the views of the park and Mt Feathertop for yourself.

Lake Eildon National Park

150 kilometres north east of Melbourne lies this lush, forested national park on the shores of Lake Eildon. Easily accessed via the Goulburn Valley Highway, this is the perfect spot for a weekend break from the city in your campervan. Nestled into the northern foothills of the Central Highlands, this 27750 hectare National Park has a wealth of Australian wildlife roaming freely through it.
There are plenty of designated nature trails and walking tracks that bring you into close contact with this wildlife and the beautiful landscapes of the park, which makes bushwalking very popular here.
The lake itself is a perfect bases for watersports of all kinds, and is used for skiing, boating, fishing and swimming.
There are a number of campsites both near to the lakes edge as well as deeper in the park, and a new online booking service has been implemented by the government to make booking and paying for your camping easier.

Mt Buffalo National Park

Established well over a century ago, this is one of Victoria's oldest National Parks, and it protects the stunning Mt Buffalo and its surrounding landscapes, covering most of the sub alpine plateau.
It lies just to the east of the town of Bright, which is reached by a 320 kilometre drive from Melbourne. There are a number of camping grounds in the park, or you could base your motorhome in Bright and explore it from there. The heritage listed Lake Catani has a very popular campsite next to it. There is lots to see, from giant rock tors to 300 metre high cliffs to dense woodlands, sparkling creeks and crashing waterfalls, so if you want to fully appreciate the park you will need more than a day trip.
There are over 90 kilometres of walking tracks taking you to some of the most beautiful parts of the park, and in the winter the snow attracts cross country skiers who utilise over 11 kilometres of demarcated trials.
Hang gliding and abseiling off the high cliffs are also popular in the summer months, as is rock climbing. Summer visitors will be pleased by the colourful exhibitions of wildflowers that add dazzling colour to the rugged landscapes.

Beechworth Historic Park

The town of Beechworth lies 280 kilometres north east of Melbourne, just pay the larger settlement of Wangaratta. With just 3000 residents, Beechworth is one of the most well preserved Gold Towns in the state, with over 30 of its buildings being heritage classified. They are still in pristine condition, having been well maintained since as far back as the 1860's.
The Beechworth Historic Park lies above and below the town, and is home to a number of important old gold mining sites. Its only 1080 hectares in size, but theres a lot to see and do in this beautiful park.
Creeks wind their way through thick eucalyptus and pine forests, and steep granite gullies mark the spots where miners once toiled away. A couple of the mining sites have been dammed to create lakes (Lake Sambell and Kerferd), and a network of walking trails take you past these and other attractions.
For the lazy or the time constricted there is a five kilometre drive called the 'Gorge Scenic Drive' which takes you past some stunning waterfalls.
There is no camping in the park but in Beechworth town there is plenty of accommodation options that cater to all levels of tourist.

Gavin Wyatt is a journalist with a passion for travel. originally from Zambia he has traveled around the world to end up on the sunny shores of Australia. For more of his articles visit Discovery Campervans

More Information: National Parks of the Victorian High Country Website

VC, Australia Travel Guides