Mt HOWITT

[gisborne612]

I am thinking of walking up to Mt HOWITT from Howitt Rd via Macalister Springs. Which is the best /quickest way to drive up from Melbourne? Any other tips or things to note?

[robl]

It is not clear in which month you are thinking of going. I have a recollection of locked gates between 15/06 and 15/10. (which could mean a ski or a long walk)
I remember the approach through Licola as being the best way. But in recent times this route may not have been passable, the route through Briagolong being OK. Maybe others could add something.

Contact Parks Victoria.

[north-north-west]

There is only one way to access the Howitt CarPark unless you have a 4WD. Take the Princes Freeway to Traralgon, then head inland to Licola where you turn right just before the bridge and head up the Tamboritha Road. Take the left fork at the Junction (it's signposted) and keep going until you reach the Car Park - which will take a little while as it's not the best bit of gravel in the country.
The walk from the car park to Macallister Springs takes about 40 minutes, an hour or so if you take the loop around the Wonnongatta Spur cliffs - which is worth the extra time and effort. From the Springs it's about another hour across Macallister Saddle (with extra time to appreciate the stunning views of Speculation, the Viking/Razor Wilderness and the Terrible Hollow) and up to Howitt itself. West Peak is only five minutes further on. If you're a quick walker you have time to do at least the first bit of the Crosscut Saw as well.

There is 4WD access via a number of routes, including the Bluff/King Billy Tracks, but they are all closed from just after the upcoming long weekend until after Cup Day.
Howitt Road is also closed at Kelly's Lane during the same period, so you'd better get up there soon or you'll have to leave it until November.

I was on Howitt on the weekend, myself - went up Helicopter Spur, over Picture Point and Magdala, camped on Big Hill to truly appreciate the winter's first snowfall (only a dusting, but still grouse), then down via Stanley's Name Spur on Sunday. It's a brilliant area.

[Earwig]

If you want a longer hike there are some great two and three day walks from the west - Stanley's Name Spur, Howitt Spur and Helicopter Spur all lead up from the Howqua River Valley and are great walks into the Howitt, Cross Cut Saw, Mt Magdela area. An easier drive too - but then I live near Mansfield .

[north-north-west]

Trouble is, the access for all those is from the Upper Howqua Camp, easiest access for which is via Bindaree Road from the Mt Stirling Circuit Road. And last Friday when I went down there, they had been doing what they term 'roadworks' and what any reasonable person would call 'dumping a pile of muddy dirt and scarpering' on Bindaree.
Even with a brand new set of Cooper STs and the beast in 4wd, I was going sideways through a lot of the corners. It's not for the faint-hearted. Or the 2wd. Unless they've progressed to actually compacting the new dirt, and also managed to somehow dry it out.

It's a weird time of year to be doing that, though. Most of that new material will be washed away with this rain, and the rest will disappear with the thaw come next Spring. Daft.

[johnw]

...Even with a brand new set of Cooper STs and the beast in 4wd, I was going sideways through a lot of the corners...

How do you find the Coopers? I 'm onto a second set on my ageing XJ Cherokee. ATs the first time, currently ATRs. Got over 70,000km from the first set. Good value.

[north-north-west]

As I said, they're brand new, so I'm still to learn just how good they are. So far they seem better than the Goodrich tyres that were on the beast when I bought it , which only lasted 40,000km of not particularly rough driving. I figure if I can get 60,000 out of the STs I'll be doing well, as I'm rather hard on tyres, being addicted to a Tasmanian style of driving.

[volcboy]

The road to Mt Howitt from Licola is in the following link.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&sour ... 23911&z=12

I've driven the road in a 2WD on more than one occasion - it is fine, as long as you have some clearance and are careful about fallen rocks that may rip into your oil sump (long story). There are gates on the road, and there would be plenty of snow at the moment. There are gates (2?) are supposedly closed from the start of May until late September, but I have been in during these times and found the gates closed but unlocked.

If you are coming from Melbourne, I would suggest driving and camping at the Tamboritha campsite just north of Licola, then driving up in the morning to do the walk to Mt Howitt in a day. Check to see whether this campsite is currently open - I haven't been there since the fires. A very good overnight walk is from Mt Howitt to Mt Speculation and return across the Crosscut Saw and Mt Buggery if you have the time.

Enjoy

[Biggles]

It would be good if there was a straightforward way to find out if the road north of Licola is actually open, or closed (as it is often believed to be from the first weekend in June). Nobody seems to know for sure until you get to Licola and beyond. The road is a little rough and stony but fine for stock chariots. 4WDs sometimes come hurtling around the bends thinking nobody is ahead of them —!

[north-north-west]

The Vic Parks website usually has up to date info on road closures, but although Tamboritha Road is usually open the locked gate on the Howitt Road at Kelly's Lane is a standard over winter - and a missing lock is more likely to be the work of visitors with boltcutters than a legitimate opening. And if your car is beyond the gate when the signs say the road is closed, you can cop a fair fine. Not really worth chancing it.
And that's apart from trying to drive as far as the Howitt carpark over snow. I've walked over eight foot drifts along that road in early spring.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I AM looking at climbing Mt Howit over the Labour Day weekend in March 2012 . How is the road from Licola now? I hear the powers that be have been fixing it so it has some potholes and is not all potholes .
I guess if I drive up from Melb. via Licola early on the Sat. I should be at macalister springs by say 3 or 4 pm.
I plan to climb Mt Howitt on the Sunday & drive back on the day off on Monday via Bryce's gorge for a quick walk around that track. It seems doable as long as the weather is kind. The conditions up there can turn to *&%$#! very quickly.

[Cline]

I was up that way about 3 weeks ago. The road from Licola to Howitt Car Park is fine for 2WD cars and has been recently graded. From the Mornington Peninsula it took us about 4.5 hours. Note that if the weather comes in and conditions turn wet and muddy a 4WD will be handy!

[DB24]

I'm planning on going up this way this weekend too, and am wondering if there's any good camping sites along the Wonnangatta river near the Zeta track? The plan is to start from the Howitt carpark, walk north and spend the night at Mt. Speculation, then continue on and go down along the Wonnangatta river spending the night somewhere around the Zeta track, then back to the car.
This is where i'm hoping to stay.

Camping area

VICMAP Mt Howitt.JPG (189.96 KiB) Viewed 28514 times

Cheers

[bernieq]

camping sites along the Wonnangatta river near the Zeta track

Yep, quite a few options along the river, on both sides. I've camped with 7 people (5 tents) at (GDA94) 772878 but there are plenty of other possibilities as you travel down the river towards Zeka Tk.

Campsite on the Wonnangatta River (GDA94 55 E477265 N5887812)

More interesting than a long slog up the Zeka Track is to go up the spur that starts at (GDA94) 760877 (the spur that goes up to spot height 1402m). From memory (Jan 2011), you'll find the initial climb out of the river quite steep but beyond that it is quite straight-forward.

The spur (it's considerably shorter than the Tk :) meets Zeka Tk in the saddle with spot height 1388m (GDA94 - 739855)

[DB24]

Yep, quite a few options along the river, on both sides.

More interesting than a long slog up the Zeka Track is to go up the spur

Great thanks for that, I figured there would be plenty of good spots but first hand experience is highly valued!

Will definately check that spur out too, looks like a great little shortcut.

[JamesMc]

Expect a lot of blackberries if you follow the river. Leather chaps might be a good idea.

JamesMc

[wildlight]

Hi DB24

All the best with the walk. It is our "feel fit" option for this weekend. I am just getting over a round of intense pain (still got some) in the left foot. If we don't do that howitt/spec/viking/carpark walk, we'll wander over to Spec, back to Howitt, than swing to Hell's Window for a night. Either way, the Mrs and I will look out for you. We both carry blue osprey packs and hope to stay at Maccy Springs carpark tonight, white Barina, Easton Kilo tent.

Safe Steps to All for the weekend!

WildLight

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I have just come back from the Labour day long weekend based for 2 nights at MacAlister spring. I climbed Mt Howitt and the cross cut saw in one day . The whole area is amazingly rugged and beautiful. I shall return.The weather was good but rather cold at night and early in the mornings.
My G/f and I also stopped at Dimmicks lookout on the way home.That was really grand!.
Overall the road up to the Mt Howiit carpark from Arbuckle junction was quite good but it was rather dusty and somewhat corrugated in places due to the recent heavy rains.
I thought the Howitt plains were amazing too.The road near the airstrip is situated at 1620 M.

[zafissa]

Hi All,

I'm new to the forum and sort of new to Australia as well (an avid bushwalker though) - I'm thinking of taking a few newbies up to do the Bryce Gorge Circuit walk on Sunday this long weekend to get them started off. I was wondering if there is anything I need to bear in mind (I read through the post regards locked gates etc)...also is it sign posted at the start of the walk - also I'll be driving a 2WD (with decent ground clearance) - will this be ok?

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be starting a new thread but please let me know if I do...

Thanks!

[dplanet]

camping sites along the Wonnangatta river near the Zeta track

Yep, quite a few options along the river, on both sides. I've camped with 7 people (5 tents) at (GDA94) 772878 but there are plenty of other possibilities as you travel down the river towards Zeka Tk.

The attachment DSCN6088.JPG is no longer available

More interesting than a long slog up the Zeka Track is to go up the spur that starts at (GDA94) 760877 (the spur that goes up to spot height 1402m). From memory (Jan 2011), you'll find the initial climb out of the river quite steep but beyond that it is quite straight-forward.

The spur (it's considerably shorter than the Tk meets Zeka Tk in the saddle with spot height 1388m (GDA94 - 739855)

Count me in.

[DB24]

I'm thinking of going back up here for the cup long weekend. Looking at driving up the Mt Buller way and doing a 3 day walk that involves the crosscut spur. Any recommendation on a route? How is the road to the upper Howqua road campground for a 2WD car?

Cheers

[wildernesswanderer]

I'm going up this way around the 22nd December, if your at the springs, how long does it take to walk to Mt Spec across the cross cut, I seem to read about half a day, is this correct.

[north-north-west]

I'm thinking of going back up here for the cup long weekend. Looking at driving up the Mt Buller way and doing a 3 day walk that involves the crosscut spur. Any recommendation on a route? How is the road to the upper Howqua road campground for a 2WD car?

Unless they've changed the dates, you can't get to the Upper Howqua Camp until December. Bluff Link Road is currently impassable from just below the 16Mile Jeep Track turnoff, and the Stirling Circuit Road is usually closed through November to allow for roadworks. Check with VicParks first in case they've changed the opening date.
Once the road is open, however, it is usually 2WDable, although it can be very slow going as the steeper upper section of Bindaree Rd is prone to corrugations and washouts.

As for your walk, my favourite route is up Helicopter Spur, over Magdala and Big Hill to Howitt, along the Crosscut to Buggery and down Queen's Spur. Or you can descend earlier, via Stanley's Name Spur, which is the side track just before the high point of the Crosscut. Or you can do it in reverse, with a sidetrip to Speculation and descending Howitt Spur from Howitt West Peak.

[north-north-west]

I'm going up this way around the 22nd December, if your at the springs, how long does it take to walk to Mt Spec across the cross cut, I seem to read about half a day, is this correct.

It depends. If you're like me and spend most of your time lollgagging at the views, taking photos and communing with the Wedgies, it can take a full day. But it's really just a half day walk.

[wildernesswanderer]

Cool, it will take us the full day then

[madmacca]

And trust me, those views are seriously lollygaggable!

[Kinsayder]

Is the Helicopter Spur really that difficult to discern? I'm thinking about heading over to try the circuit from the Upper Howqua Camping Area in a few weeks time.

[byrnesy8]

In places it has hard to recognize the track. Where it is difficult to find you skirt around the north side and work your way back to the spur line where it is practical. There is a lot of scree and lose rocks in some sections.

[Out_Walking]

Is the Helicopter Spur really that difficult to discern?

I was up there earlier this year and found the route up was easy to find. I took the old vehicle track (a bit overgrown, but not too bad) that began just behind the toilet block in the Upper Howqua Camping Area. Once on that old road it's a matter of just heading up and tackling the three rock bands. I hate advertising blog posts on here, but I did a post on the Helicopter Spur which might help if you're interested.

http://www.hikingfiasco.com/2012/02/hel ... indow.html

[Kinsayder]

Excellent. It sounds pretty doable. Is November pretty hot and dry for it? To say that I'm weak when it's hot would be a massive understatement.

I have also just noticed the Parks Victoria website states "Bluff Link Road and the Upper Howqua Camping Area in the Alpine National Park will remain closed after seasonal closure openings on 1 November 2012 until flood recovery works are completed." That appears to me to be a no go then, am I reading it right? I hope not!

I'm just reading your blog now, Greg. Great stuff. Some fantastic photographs, great topic and a nice turn of phrase. Very readable! Thank you.