Campsites - Wellington River - Alpine NP - VIC

Wellington River Camp Grounds:



 Summary:
This page was created to share information about the many free camp grounds along the Wellington River in the Alpine National Park.

The Wellington River area is a fantastic place to spend a few days either just camping and relaxing by the river, or for the more adventurous heading off to a number of hikes, either for a few hours or a few days.  Both the popular Lake Tali Karng and Mt. Howitt/Crosscut Saw/Mt Speculation hikes can be reached from here. 

Some older National Parks brochures mention there used to be 17 campsites along the river.
Due to bushfires and some major flooding events in the area, some of these sites have been damaged and closed as there are only 14 available now (#1 to #14)

Each of the campgrounds has a name associated with it and the signs are easily visible along Tamboritha Road.
The road is bitumen up to the last campsite #14 and all are accessible by 2wd.

Mobile phone reception is very limited in the area.
Heyfield is the last town for fuel supplies.

(Click on any of the pictures for larger size picture gallery.)

Start of Tamboritha Rd at Licola.

The drive up from Heyfield to Licola is a lovely winding road that has some great views of the Wellington River valley. 
Tamboritha Road, that the campsites reside on, forks to the right just prior to the bridge at Licola.

The Licola General Store is just across the bridge, is open 7 days a week and has a good assortment of supplies.  Spend some $ there to support it.
There is a nice BBQ picnic ground there and has the last decent toilet block before heading bush.
If you'd rather camp somewhere with decent bathroom facilities then Licola also has a caravan park.
The park has cabins, powered and unpowered sites and bunkhouse accommodation.

Map:

#1 Wild Cherry Tree:
At approximately 10km past Licola we arrive at the first Wellington River campground, called Wild Cherry Tree.  It can be easily missed as there is no sign to indicate a campsite.
Look out for a dirt track on the left on a short straight section of road.

Bit of a narrow track in, and a labyrinth of  campsites>
If you head straight down to the river and then to the right it opens up into larger areas the further along you go. 

Plenty of sites and most are pretty well grassed so good for tents.  

No picnic tables or firepits and didn't notice any toilet here.

Rating:  Large campground but no toilet, tables or firepits, so better options available.

#2 Boobook:
Another km or two along and we arrive at the Boobook campground.
A dirt service lane type track skirts the road for a while before leading down the entrance into the camping area.
As with a few of the sites along here there are circular concrete campfire pits and picnic tables scattered throughout this site.   Theres just one main open area for camping at this site. 

The campground at the time was very dusty and had very lightly grassed fringes so probably better suited to campers & caravans rather than tents.  

#2 Boobook camp area

There is a pit toilet on the left of the track you initially enter into the campground. 
To exit head out the same way you came in, turn left and follow the track out skirting the road.
Rating: Smaller campsite than Wild Cherry tree but with extra faciltites.
Wouldn't recommend for tenting, but nice area with easy access for trailer or caravan.

#3 Blackfish:
A further 1km along the road we reach Campsite #3 Blackfish on the left.
Similar to #2 without any picnic tables or designated campfire areas. It appears more worn out than #2 and thus dustier.
A small campground that basically consists of one open campsite next to the river and open turn around area that you could park around if desperate.  

Once again due to the dirt and lack of grass not a great site for tents.

#3 Blackfish camp area

I did not notice a toilet at this campground.
Rating: Dusty limited campsite with no obvious toilet.  Wouldn't recommended tenting at this campsite.

The only bonus is the one campsite area is nice right next to the river.

#4 Currawong:
A further 1km along we reach Campsite #4 Currawong on the left.

#4 Currawong camp entrance

A much larger camping area compared to the first 3. There are plenty of sites to choose from, ranging from opens spaces for groups to secluded sites for the solo camper.
Plenty of designated campfire pits and picnic tables scattered throughout the area.

#4 Currawong camp area

Good amount of well grassed areas for tents and easy access and view of river.
There are two toilets here.

#4  Curawong camp river area

Rating: Along with campsite #8 this is one of the best sites along here.
There are two pit toilets here and a great variety of sites to choose from.

Good access for trailers and caravans.

#5 Pardalote:
2km further along past the cutting, we reach Campsite #5 on the left, Pardalote.
The toilet is on your left as you enter the campground along the long straight entrance track.

#5 Paradalote camp area

The camping area follows the river for quite a while with various camping hubs with nice locations next to the river. 

This camping area does not have any picnic tables or designated campfire areas..

Rating:  Not quite as nice as #4 & #8 but has a good variety of campsites.

Only negative would be distance to toilet if you camp further along the river. 

#6 Treefrog:

A few km further drive along the river we reach Campsite #6 on the left, Treefog.
Just a short track into an open area with no view of the river.
No toilet, firepits or picnic tables here.
Rating: Just a patch of area with no real redeeming features.  Least recommended.

#7 Manna Gum:
1km further along we reach Campsite #7 on the left. Manna Gum
This is a large campground with many various group hubs & lots of  quiet areas to camp in.

Lots of nice areas along the river.  No picnic tables or firepits.
Only noticed one toilet here early on, so quite a distance from deeper in.

#7 Manna Gum camp pit toilet

Rating: Just below #4 & # 8.  Quite a labrynth of tracks in this one and goes for some distance along the road.

#8 - Muttonwood:
This campsite is 2km past #7.
A fantastic huge campground.
There are 2 entrances into this site, the first appears on the right just after crossing the river, and is easy to miss or the main entrance another 50m down the road which is signposted. Both have treelined tracks to drive through before opening up into the main camping areas.

#8 Muttonwood camp entrance

Large wide well grassed camping area for tents or caravans. Plenty of sites to choose from ranging from secluded to open areas and many picnic tables and designated campfire areas spread throughout the camping area.

#8 Muttonwood camp area

There are at least 2 toilets here, both in the central treed area and there are plenty of areas to dip in the river.

#8 Muttonwood Camp river

Rating;  Highly recommended. Together with #4, one of the top camping grounds which runs along the river for quite some distance.
Good access for caravans and trailers and nicely grassed for pitching tents.


#9 - Cockatoo:
This campsite is 1km past #8 and appears on the right. There are 2 entrances into this camping area.

#9 Cockatoo camp area

This is another larger camping area for tents or caravans. Plenty of sites to choose from ranging from secluded to open areas. Has at least one pit toilet near the entrance and plenty of areas to dip in the river.  Nice wide vehicle tracks to get into and around the site.

#9 Cookatoo camp area

Rating; Next rung down from #4 & #8 . Recommended if those sites are busy.
Very Good access for caravans and trailers with some grassed areas for tents.


#10 Breakfast Creek:
1km further along just past the huts on the left we reach Campsite #10 on the left.
Breakfast Creek is better suited as car park for the Crinoline/Mt Tamboritha hike than a campsite.
The camping area next to the road is pretty open.  

There are two tracks that go deeper in to two separate secluded camping hubs.

#10 Breakfast Creek camp entrance

The area near the road has a couple of picnic tables and campfire areas, not so deeper in.
Melbourne Grammar have their camp buildings located here.

#10 Breakfast camp area

No obvious toilet at this site.
Rating: Open area next to the road and a couple of campsites deeper in.
More useful as car park for the Crinoline hike or a rest spot.  Easy access for trailer/caravan.


#11 - Red Bluff :
This campsite is 1km past #10 and appears on the right just before the bridge.

#11 Red Bluff camp entrance

Easy short dirt track which ends in a loop at the small camping area. 

Very limited amount of areas to camp.  You could park in the loop and tent in a quieter spot further around to the right along the riverbed.

#11 Red Bluff camp riverbed

I did not notice a toilet at this campground.
Camping area is open to the road and noise of traffic going over bridge unless you camp further around the river.

#11 Red Bluff camp river

Nice section of river with various depths to take a dip in. More privacy further around.

Rating:   With this site not having any amenities, other sites are better.  Tenting only.
Best not to enter if you have a trailer or caravan.


#12 - Redbox:
Just over the bridge, on the left is one of the Redbox campground entrances, consisting of a narrow track.  The main entrance is another 1km down the road.

#12 Redbox camp entrance

The camping area is wide and long with plenty of campsites but its a dusty, rocky site compared to others.  Maybe this site is well used due to the horseyards there.

#12 Redbox camp Horseyards

There is a toilet opposite the Horseyard on the main track. The other track travels for a hundred meters exiting further up the road.

Rating: Wouldn't want to be there on a windy day as theres a lot of dirt to blow around.  Good access for caravans or trailers.


#13 - Greenhood:
This campsite is about 2km after #12 on the left. 

A rough narrow rocky dirt track down leads down to just before the river with a small open area at the end to turn around in.  Not many areas to camp here.

#13 Greenhood camp entrance

No tent friendly area here unless you want to pitch down in the sand along the riverbed.

#13 Greenhood camp riverbed

Various depths of water in the river nearby for a private dip. No Toilet at this site.

#13 Greenhood camp river

Rating: Dusty and rocky limited camp area with no toilet.
Wouldn't recommend.  Car-based camping only.  Limited access for caravans and trailers.


#14 - Platypus:
This campsite is a few kms further along the river from #13.

The entrance appears on the left just before the Wellington River Bridge crossing / Tali Karng track.

#14 Platypus camp area

Nice flat straight drive down that follows along the river for over a hundred meters.
Feels like a long carpark. Wouldn't recommend for caravans or trailers as there's very limited room to turnaround at the end of the road.
A couple of parking bays and a couple of picnic tables scattered along the length of the track. 
For how long the track is theres actually a limited amount of areas to pitch a tent.



#14 Platypus camp river

There's a toilet halfway along the track on the left and plenty of areas to get down to the river.

Rating: Next rung down from #4 & #8.  More like a carpark than a camping area, with limited amount of sites.   Wouldn't recommend for caravans/trailers.

Check out this excellent video from the Wandering Newbie, of the campsites.

Further On:

After crossing the Wellington River Bridge from campsite #14, on the right is the start of the Wellington River walking track to Lake Tali Karng. The road changes to dirt from here onwards taking you to places like Arbuckle Junction, Bryce Gorge, Mt Howitt Track, MacFarlanes Saddle and Moroka Gorge.

You can make a loop drive of this (2WD) by driving past Tamboritha Saddle and heading out south on Marathon Road to Briagolong but its a lot slower going on dirt road.

You can camp deeper into the Alpine NP at Bryce Gorge carpark (1hr) or Howitt Track carpark (1:30hr) along Howitt Road or at Horseyard Flat (2hrs) along Moroka Road. All have pit toilets.

During summer time and dry weather, all of these roads are easily accessible by 2wd vehicles.  

Tamboritha Rd is usually well graded. Howitt Road can be rutted in parts and could be a bog risk in wet weather.

Howitt Road is closed over the winter months and opens around Melbourne Cup Day.
Expect snow on Tamboritha Rd over winter months past campsite #14.

If you visit any of these camp areas, please let me know of any updates as this information is now a few years old. 

Cheers

Howitt Trk - Alpine NP - VIC

Walk:  The Mt. Howitt Walk

The Crosscut Saw

Distance/Type:  Hike 12km / Return

Terrain/Rating:  Undulating terrain followed by a slightly uphill ridge track. Medium.

Start / Finish Time:  11:40am / 2:40pm  (3 Hrs)

Start / Finish Location:  Howitt Trk Carpark.

Trip Summary: 
Walk from the carpark, along a disused 4wd track for about 1 hour before reaching Vallejo Gantner Hut/Macalister Springs . From the Springs the track works its way slightly uphill along a ridge to the AAWT. Follow the AAWT track left over Howitts Plain up to Mt Howitt..
Head back the same way to the carpark.

Trip Details:
There are many ways to access Mt Howitt but via Howitt Rd is definitely the easiest.
The Mt Howitt carpark is a further 20 minutes along Howitt Rd from the Bryce Gorge carpark. 

The carpark has picnic tables and a pit toilet and plenty of flat area to camp.
The track to Mt Howitt starts through the gap in the fence. 

Howitt Track start.

As with most walks in the Alpine National Park there is the obligatory intentions book to sign at the start.

The first half hour of the walk is typical alpine surroundings for the area, going through a few cycles of snowgum forests and plains. The path is easy to follow.

About 4km (50 mins) in, reaching a fork in the track, you can take the left branch direct route to Vallejo Gantner hut (10-15mins) or  head straight ahead & take the alternative slightly longer route. 

With this walk I've taken the longer (20-25min) scenic route which bypasses the hut and joins the track about 100m past the hut at Macalister Springs.

Longer scenic alternative track to the right.

The bypass track is rather faint at times.  If you lose the track try to retrace your steps or if you reach the gorge edge just head left along it.  Within 20-25 mins you will rejoin the main track as it narrows its way back onto the main track further on at Macalister Springs.  (See Map below)

Alternative camping area with views of Crosscut Saw.

Along this track there is a pretty non-official campsite with nice views of the Crosscut Saw and beyond.
It is only 5-10 mins to walk to the hut, toilet and water source from the springs if required, from here.

Heading back down to the main track at Macalister Springs.

The bypass track joins the main track at Macalister Springs which is just down from the hut and has a nice campfire area. Always treat the water from these springs.

Macalister Springs.

Once back on the main track at the springs turn right and head along the ridge towards the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT). This is a well-treed slightly uphill narrow ridge track and takes about 15 mins to reach the AAWT junction, which has a marker.

Track along the ridge.

This is a lovely part of the walk with spectacular views of Crosscut Saw and Mt Speculation on your right.

View of Crosscut Saw.

At the AAWT junction we head left and walk across the Howitt Plains for 10 mins before heading up the slope to Mt Howitt. 
In early spring there may still be remnants of snow on the eastern edge of the plains.

On the AAWT heading up to Mt Howitt.

I've hiked twice to Mt. Howitt & for some reason I've been swamped with blowflies each time.

Both times have been warmish weather, so I'd suggest taking insect repellant with you have low insect tolerance.

View from Mt. Howitt.

The view from Mt. Howitt is spectacular with views of Crosscut Saw and Mt Speculation along the AAWT track to the East.   Head back the same way you came to Macalister Springs.
Continuing on along the main track you reach the majestic Vallejo Gantner Hut.

Vallejo Gantner Hut.

There is a fireplace inside and it has multiple levels of  space to sleep if needed in emergencies.
There is also plenty of flat area for tenting around the hut.

A special mention to the nearby toilets sitting on the southern bank here. They have a perspex window and open out to views over the valley. Probably the most spectacular view you'll see sitting on a wilderness loo in Australia. 

Howitt Track toilet.

Head up the main track, back past the track junction and within a hour you are back at the car park.

Remember to sign out of the intentions book. :)

Track Map:

Bryce Gorge Circuit - Alpine NP - VIC

Walk:  Bryce Gorge Circuit

Distance/Type:  Hike 8km / Return

Terrain/Rating:  Slight undulating terrain. Creek beds and cliffside walk. Easy.

Start / Finish Time:  9:15am  / 11:15am

Start / Finish Location:  Bryce Gorge Carpark.

Track Map:

Trip Summary: 
Nice easy 2 hour circuit walk following the creek valley to the Bryce gorge for views of Piemans and Conglomerate waterfalls.
Head up along the Conglomerate River then across plains and past Guys Hut back to the carpark.

Trip Details:
Driving up from the Wellington River campsite area the road changes to dirt just after the Wellington River bridge / Lake Tali Karng track. Heading up Tamboritha Road I thought we were going to have a overcast day ahead but as I found out 10 minutes later it was just low level morning fog.
(Click on images to enlarge)

Heading up Tamboritha Rd just after Wellington River crossing.

It took about 40 minutes to get to Arbuckle Junction.  Here you turn left and head up Howitt Road.

Arbuckle Junction.

You'll pass the Snowy Range airstrip and within 20 minutes you'll be at the Bryce Gorge carpark. It has picnic tables and a pit toilet.
As with most walks in the Alpine National Park there is the obligatory intentions book to sign at the start of the track.

Bryce Gorge Track start.

After 100 metres or so you come to the circuit intersection. You can either head left and do the walk clockwise which heads to Guys Hut first or anti-clockwise via the righthand path via to the waterfalls which is the way I chose.

Guys Hut left, Waterfalls right.

Veer right and the track takes you north along the Piemans creek valley for a few minutes before heading down and crossing Piemans creek and continuing along on the opposite bank.

Piemans Creek crossing in the distance.

The track continues along the Piemans Creek for 5 or so minutes before veering away and up as it gets closer to the gorge cliff edge.

Piemans Creek.

There are two fenced viewing platforms of the Piemans Falls.

Piemans Falls Lookout # 2

 I've read that there is supposedly another non-official viewing area further down the cliff but not being particularly fond of heights I wasn't willing to test the theory.

Piemans Falls

From the second lookout the path heads inland and upwards for a few minutes through forest before veering back to the gorge and opening up to the Gonglomerate Falls Lookout.

Conglomorate Falls.

A few minutes around from the lookout is a lovely treed area that has views of the gorge and falls and would be a nice place for lunch or to set up camp.

Lunch Spot

A few minutes further on we reach the Conglomerate River at the top of Conglomerate Falls.  Theres no real safe view of the lower falls from here as its a shear drop covered with bushes.

View of Bryce Gorge

The track now heads inland along the river for about 10 minutes.  There is some quite deep small pools right next to the track along here. 

Conglomerate River pond.

The track continues on before reaching a creek where it heads left and along its bank for 100m before crossing over a wooden plank bridge to the opposite side.
The track now heads over a plain for a few hundred meters before merging with the Wonnangatta Valley Track.  This track was signed as closed due to storm damage.
We continue on for another 5 minutes through the forest before reaching Guys Hut.
The hut is in quite good condition and during winter would be handy place to stay if caught in bad weather/snowy conditions.


Guys Hut.

Piemans creek flows right past the hut and there is a nice camping spot near the campfire area.
Its only a 10 minute walk back to the carpark (and toilet) across the valley from here. 
If you do this walk remember to sign off in the intentions book.