Alpine National Park

The Alpine National Park covers around six thousand square kilometres of the Victorian high country, taking in Mount Bogong at 1,986 metres, the state's highest, along with the Bogong High Plains, the Bluff, Mount Feathertop and the razorback ridges between them. It protects snow gum woodland, alpine herbfields, sphagnum bogs and the mountain cattlemen's huts that survive from a grazing era that ended in 2005. The Australian Alps Walking Track crosses it on the way from Walhalla to Canberra, and shorter classics include the Razorback to Feathertop and the circuit around Mount Bogong. Bushfires in 2003, 2006 and 2020 burnt large areas and killed much of the old snow gum forest.

What you actually see

• Mount Bogong - Victoria's highest peak and its steep approach ridges.
• The Bogong High Plains - open snow plains, herbfields and cattlemen's huts.
• The Razorback - the ridge walk to Mount Feathertop.
• The fire-scarred snow gums - dead and regenerating forest across the tops.

When to go

December to March for walking, when the snow has gone and the wildflowers are out; June to September the high country is under snow and used for ski touring. Weather changes fast at altitude and snow can fall in any month.

Honest expectations

Many access roads are unsealed and closed seasonally, some from June to November. There is no phone coverage across most of the park. Exposure on the ridges is serious and walkers have died in summer storms. Fire damage to the snow gum forests is extensive and confronting.

Nearby

Falls Creek and Hotham are within the park; Bright and Omeo are the main base towns.