Howitt road access

[ricknsue]

Just wondering if anyone knows if there is a gate on the Howitt road, as I'm putting in a resupply at Mac Springs? I have contacted Parks, but no response yet. I am aware the road is a no go until 02/11, just want to be sure I can access the area on the 02/11.
We want to start walking from Tharwa on the 6/11 so we get back by Christmas. We are both nearing 60yo so it will be a fairly relaxed pace.
Many thanks.

[Baeng72]

The GetLost Moroka Map shows a gate just past the Kelly Lane intersection ( a few kms past Arbuckle Junction).
I've not been up Howitt road yet, so caveats and all that.
The gate would be open on 2nd of November, unless the road was damaged by rain/snow over winter, then it might not be open until that's sorted.
But it was a pretty low snow winter, so....I wonder if even Parks have checked it out yet?

gate

[Lophophaps]

It would be a long hard day but bicycles from the gate to Howitt car park and then to the hut may be possible. https://graphhopper.com/maps/?point=-37 ... +Satellite
The gates on the way to Speculation, King Billy and The Knobs may be open. A food drop in The Barries may be possible. It's a long way in for food drops. Water at Viking Saddle may be a fair way down.

[Baeng72]

It would be a long hard day but bicycles from the gate to Howitt car park and then to the hut may be possible. https://graphhopper.com/maps/?point=-37 ... +Satellite
The gates on the way to Speculation King Billy and The Knobs may be open. A food drop in The Barries may be possible. It's a long way in for food drops. Water at Viking Saddle may be a fair way down.

Correct me if I'm wrong here...
To do a food drop near Mt. Speculation, you'd need to get onto Spec. Road, either from Circuit road, or Cobbler Lake road.
Parks lists the gate at Cobbler Lake road will open on 2nd of Nov. https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/-/media/project/pv/main/parks/documents/get-into-nature/safety-in-nature/seasonal-road-closures/seasonal-road-closures-2023/seasonal-road-closure-list-2023.pdf?la=en&rev=2b137934f2fe4525ae878e2fe9b02987&hash=C659EE4D51E609230A8DE5A1157382AF952D9ECB

I was walking from the gate near Lake Cobbler to Mt. Koonika a week ago, and that track is a bit full on from about 1.5 to 4km from the gate.
It looks like some culverts/metal drainage pipe has been removed in a few places and left large dips behind which a serious 4WD could manage,though in one at least one spot, there are tracks where vehicles have gone off track to avoid the dip.
I've not been down Spec. road from Circuit road to the intersection of Cobbler Lake road, so no idea, but I've read it's OK-ish to King Hut area, then 4WD only after that. Obviously, Circuit road needs to be open for this way, but that happens just before Cup day I think.

[ricknsue]

Thanks for that map info, I'll try and ring parks today again as you may be right. With the low/ negligable snow levels remaining the gate may already be open.
Cheers

[paidal_chalne_vala]

The Howitt Plains car park to Mt. Howitt walking track and the Zeka Spur foot track ( overgrown! ) are scheduled to be cleared in late January 2025 by a party of volunteers from BTAC in conjunction with Parks Victoria staff.
This working bee was postponed last summer due to bushfire risks. One hopes this work can be completed this January .

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I will be driving up the Howitt road next Friday. I shall report back about the road surface from The Wellington River bridge onwards
and what sort of things 2 WD people might need to watch out for.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

During the 2025 Jan. long weekend ( survival/ Invasion day ? ) I drove up to The Howitt Plains car park from Licola.
IMHO
The road has become utterly marginal for any
2wd urban sedan once you go beyond the Bryce's gorge car park.

IMHO I cannot recommend driving up there in a 2 wd city sedan.
You will need clearance, power to 4 wheels and highway tyres won't cut it. Moreover do not drive up that road with your tyres fully inflated and
watch your speed. 40 kph is fast enough.
I saw the aftermath of two tonka toys 4 WDs having a head on collision near Bennison Lookout on the Tamboritha road.
I think going too fast and some long weekend libations caused that accident.
The Tow trucks were summoned and I passed them as they drove up the Wellington River valley and I was returning to Licola .
The Tamboritha Road up to Arbuckle junction
was quite good.
That much should be fine for a 2 WD but even still there were
some rough spots.

The surface has been churned up by a bulldozer quite recently. The Parks Vic. staff member from Heyfield at the BTAC Track clearing working bee for the Mt.Howitt
walking track said the Howitt road surface was even worse until the Bulldozer came up to deal with the Caledonia River bushfires. While
it was in the area it purportedly " improved " the Howitt road.
I was driving a 2003 Toyota RAV 4 with All terrain Tyres, AWD with limited slip differential and 4WD off road shock absorbers on the rear wheels.
My car handled it fine but the surface was dusty , loose, rough , rocky and some of the ascending / descending pinches would be sketchy at best in a
city 2 wd car. The bumps and rocks require traction , not braking and at some points I was in the lowest gear I
had to crawl over fields of
boulders the size of grapefruits or bigger.
Of course your mileage may vary but having recently
tried to take my SUV up the Granite Flat Spur track on Mt Bogong and without Low Range gears where upon
I was forced to turn around , I will say
I know what my car can and
cannot do and it is not to do with experience or driver abilities.