Tuesday 5/04/2022 Mount Buffalo Road (at 700m) – The Big Walk – Mackeys Lookout – Marriott’s Lookout – Reeds Lookout – Wilkinsons Lookout – Pulpit Rock Lookout – Falls Lookout – Bents Lookout – The Gorge Carpark
Mount Buffalo National Park, VICTORIA
Taungurung Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
With our travelling companions Beth and Pablo needing to head home after lunch, Sue and I grabbed the opportunity to walk The Big Track one way. Pablo having raced over it’s full length on Sunday, suggested we skip the less interesting lower section which we did.
Max elevation: 1357 m
Total climbing: 1251 m
Total descent: -614 m
Average speed: 3.51 km/h
Total time: 04:04:51
We were dropped off on Mount Buffalo Road where The Big Walk first crosses it at around the 700m elevation mark. At this point the trees are a bit taller than at higher altitude so the surrounds felt quite different to ou last couple of days at higher altitude. The track itself is well graded and is a fair bit shorter than the road, crossing over it at three points.
The earthy forest lined trail from 700m transformed after the next crossover to Mackeys Lookout. Here the mountain bares it’s granite base in large slab like inclines. These are steep enough that National Parks have built a path that criss crosses the smooth bare rock. This path is a build up of large and smaller rocks and gravel in a couple of spots with it’s lower side as tall as it is wide. The walking grade is still comfortable as it is not too steep.
Further up some soil reappears, announcing itself with the return of forest. The big zig-zag nearing the top also helps in make for a more gradual gradient than it would hav been if the track went straight up the slope.
Built up track near Mackeys Lookout
Along the highest section of the track are a number of side tracks off to various lookouts, each with its own unique outlook down below across P zzz and beyond. The lookouts are named Reeds Lookout, Wilkinsons Lookout, Pulpit Rock Lookout , Falls Lookout, Bents Lookout. I finished this walk at The Gorge Carpark after suffering some Achilles’ Tendon pain. Whilst I walked very slowly to the last lookouts and back to the carpark, Sue walked ahead back to the car at Lake Catani. She still beat me back to The Gorge Carpark.
The Mount Buffalo National Park Visitor’s Guide states
The Big Walk 11.3km, 4-5 hours one way
The longest walk on Mount Buffalo, this track climbs from the park entrance to the Gorge Day Visitor Area. The walk highlights the unique biodiversity and geology of Mount Buffalo and provides
plenty of opportunities to rest and enjoy superb view of the Australian Alps. There are opportunities along the Mount Buffalo Road to start or finish the walk.
Information on National Parks signage along the way
THE BIG WALK
The Big Walk – 11.3km, 5 to 6 hours one way
Depending to the Park Entrance on Eurobin Creek The Big Walk drops
1000m in only 9km. It follows sections of the original horse route known as
‘Stakers Track’, cut in the 1890’s.
Dramatic views of The Gorge and the Australian Alps can be seen from several lookouts along the way.
One of Mount Buffalo’s endemic plants, Buffalo Sallow Wattle, grows
in the exposed rocky areas between the Gorge and Mackeys Lookout. It is readily identified by it’s thick leathery lime green leaves and long pale yellow flowers.
The local flora, fauna, geology, history and some other walks (ChatGPT)
Flora: The park is home to a variety of plant species, including alpine and subalpine ecosystems, wildflowers, and eucalyptus forests. The alpine and subalpine areas are characterized by low-growing shrubs and herbs, as well as snow gums, which are adapted to survive in the harsh, cold conditions of the high elevations. The wildflowers found in the park are also unique and diverse, with some species flowering in spring and summer, while others bloom in the fall. The eucalyptus forests found in the park are also home to a variety of other plant species, including ferns, mosses, and lichens.
Fauna: The park is home to a diverse range of animals, including kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, and possums. The park is also home to a number of marsupials, such as the sugar glider and the mountain pygmy possum. The park is also known for its birdlife, with over 180 species of birds recorded in the park, including the rare and endangered Pilotbird and Powerful Owl. The park is also home to a variety of reptiles and amphibians, as well as a number of fish species that inhabit the park’s streams and rivers.
Geology: The park’s rugged terrain is the result of millions of years of erosion and weathering, which have shaped the park’s rock formations and soils. The park is home to a variety of rock types, including granite, sandstone, and shale. The granite rock formations found in the park are some of the oldest in Victoria, and they have been shaped by weathering and erosion into a variety of unique and interesting forms. The park is also home to a number of unique geological features, such as The Horn, a rocky peak that towers over the park. The park also has a variety of soil types, including podzolic soils, that are commonly found in the alpine and subalpine areas of the park.
History: The park has a long history of Indigenous occupation, dating back thousands of years. The local Indigenous people, the Dhudhuroa, have lived in the area for thousands of years, and the park is home to a number of sacred sites and cultural artefacts that are important to them. These sites include rock art, scarred trees, and ceremonial grounds.
The Indigenous people of the area have a deep spiritual connection to the land and its natural features. They have long used the park’s resources for food, medicine, and cultural practices. The park’s plants and animals have played a significant role in their culture, and many species have spiritual significance to them.
European settlers arrived in the area in the mid-19th century, and the park was used for logging and grazing in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This brought significant changes to the area, and had a negative impact on the Indigenous people and their way of life.
In recent years, efforts have been made to acknowledge and preserve the Indigenous history and culture of the area. The park has established partnerships with local Indigenous groups and has worked to incorporate Indigenous perspectives and knowledge into the management of the park. The park also offers interpretive programs and ranger-led tours that highlight the Indigenous history and culture of the area.
Some of the best walks in the park include:
1. The Horn Walk: This walk takes you to the summit of Mount Buffalo’s highest peak, The Horn. The trail is steep and challenging, but the views from the top are spectacular and well worth the effort. The walk is about 2km return and takes around 1 hour to complete.
2. The Gorge Walk: This is an easy and popular walk that takes you through the beautiful Gorge Creek valley. The trail follows the creek and passes through a variety of different habitats, including rainforest, fern gullies, and rocky outcrops. The walk is about 2.5 km return and takes around 1 hour to complete.
3. The Sentinel Walk: This walk takes you to the base of the Sentinel, one of the park’s most impressive rock formations. The trail is steep and rocky, but the views of the Sentinel and the surrounding landscape are breathtaking. The walk is about 3km return and takes around 2 hours to complete.
4. The Eurobin Falls Walk: This walk takes you to the base of Eurobin Falls, a beautiful waterfall that cascades down the mountain. The trail is relatively easy and takes you through a variety of different habitats, including rainforest and eucalyptus forest. The walk is about 4 km return and takes around 2 hours to complete.
5. The Lookout Walk: This walk takes you to the summit of Mount Buffalo’s second highest peak, The Lookout. The trail is steep and challenging, but the views from the top are spectacular and well worth the effort. The walk is about 5km return and takes around 3 hours to complete.
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