Hattah Lakes 2025

Getting there

Hattah-Kulkyne NP is about 450 km from Melbourne CBD off the Calder Hwy (A79), between Ouyen and Mildura. It is 35 km north of Ouyen and 74 km south of Mildura.

 

It took more than 6 hours drive including a stop at Bendigo for dinner. I spent an overnight in tent at Hattah North Roadhouse. PT bus stop is also located here.

 

I had had a plan of pack carrying for 3 days and 2 nights walk, but it was abandoned. There was no pressure of booking campsites; hence, I wanted to take it easy just by doing day walks.

 

Mournpall Lake Loop  9.5 km, about 3 hours.

It starts at the entrance of Lake Mournpall camping area where there is a signpost showing the 9.0 km Mournpall Lake Walk. It is a well-marked track with orange triangle markers.

GPS route taken on the walk and 

the sandy ridge track after crossing Mournpall Track near the start.

 

 North around Lake Konardin

 

However, the last few track markers were not obvious and the foot path became harder to follow. I started the walk late and so I was walking into the sun which got straight into my eyes slowing me down. I was unsure if I had to leave the track beside the dune on the right and follow the lake shore. I had no time to play around. I trusted in the handheld GPS and the compass. 

 

I continued on trying to locate the next orange marker and I was happy to spot a toilet and nearby was a vehicle parked next to a tent. This site was about 200 m east of the camping area entrance, where the lake loop walk started. My car and tent were also right there.  

 

Now, I can understand the comment about the track from one of the park staff I had met outside the park office in the morning, that there could be a bit of the problem to find the markers near the end of the loop walk when the track emerges at the campground.

It was a pleasant evening. I cooked and had dinner in the dark with a head torch on. It was so peaceful here. The satellites reception was good and I was able to send a message to my contact via phone after the meal. 

 

My neighbour, a couple, who travelled with their Vista camper, were from Geelong and I was welcomed to look at its internal built in the morning before they left for the drive to Lake Hattah, which is about 10 km south of Lake Mournpall.

 

A side trip to check out the area for a plan of future walks.

I arrived at Lake Hattah camping area too early, hence, I could not find a reasonable camping spot. All shelter sites for vehicles with small tents were still occupied. Hattah camping area was rather busy and it was less wild compared to Lake Mournpall. A few visitors were cooking their breakfasts.  Few others showed their interest in bird watching.  There were a few vans near the lake side, but my previous neighbours' Vista was not seen here.

 

Finally, I found a spot.  After having tent up, checking the day pack for the walk and eating breakfast, I set out for Bugle Ridge and Brockie Tks Loop Walk.

 

The start of the track is between Little Hattah Lake in the north and Lake Hattah in the south.  There is a signpost of the Bugle Track.

 

  

A rather nice start of the Bugle Track.

The rest of the Bugle track is mostly sandy. In fact, the Bugle and Brokie loop walk was on a vehicle track, Authority Vehicle Only (AVO). I was unwell on this day; therefore, I was rather slow and kept to the track. If you have the time and are well equipped with navigation gear such as a handheld GPS, a mobile phone with pre-loaded maps and tracks, etc., there are some opportunities for off track walking included: 

1/ that starts from the junction of the Brockie Walking Track and Nip Nip Track, and

2/ Off the Brockie Track after the Hattah Nature Drive junction by following the Lake Hattah shore in the south.

 

 

 GPS route of the Bugle and Brockie Tracks Loop 

 

 

 Lake Hattah from the lake south. Birders would love it.

 

Having felt unwelI, I did not stop to watch the local birds. I tried to get back early to reunite with the tent and the car. The sunset show put on in the late afternoon was not bad. It was windy and cool in the evening, chilly at night, and freezing in the early morning. I did not sleep well that night if memory serves me correctly.

Mt Fainters South

The Drive: Bright (B500) - Mt Beauty (C531) - Falls Creek - Pretty Valley Road (unsealed) - Pretty Valley Hut / Campground - Pretty Valley Pondage (around 7.5 km from Falls Creek Village).

The Start: Pretty Valley Pondage at Pretty Valley Road End. Limited parking here. No facilities. 

It is recommended to park at Pretty Valley Campground with a drop loo. 

 

 

Looking northeast with view of the camping area from Pretty Valley Pondage parking area (L)

 Looking north with view of Mt Mckay, Tower Access Track, and Mckay Creek Fire Track (R)

 

It was cold and windy and I did not bother to boil water for tea. I had a quick bite while doing the final packing for an overnight walk. Two fly-fishing men just got back for their lunch and I did not hesitate to come over and have a chat to find out if there was water at Tawonga Huts/Campground. I was rather surprised that they had never been to the huts.

 

By midday, I was ready to leave. It was an easy 4 km walk to the Tawonga huts / Campground. I stopped at the Park Victoria Information sign about the track: how far, how long, etc. There was a gate at the crossing and I followed the Fainter Fire Trail to the west.

 

 

Looking back after walking across the pondage: the road in, the parking area, the information sign, the MVO gate, the snow poles, and the Fainter Fire Trail that I was on.

 

Look north from the trail from right to left: the road in, the parking area, and Mt Mckay Summit Rd.

 

 

 

The junction of Fainter Fire Trail and the footpad to Pole 333 on Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing (37 km, 3 days), part of the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT) long distance (650 km) multi-day walk, which starts from Wahalla and ends at Canberra.

 

There were a few hikers on the trail. A couple were on the way back to the pondage and the solo walker who just overtook me. I was pleased to know that there was creek water at the campground. 

 

The 1 km track down Tawonga Huts Camping Area

 

Arrived at the huts with a large camping area early enough to look around. The first thing was to check out the creek water if it was clean and safe enough for drinking without treatment. Also, nearby was the signpost for the start of tomorrow's walk. The next task was trying to locate a loo. Then, it was a short visit to the huts, the two of which can be used to provide shelters in case of bad weather and/or to keep cross-country skiers warm. 

So far so good, I walked back to the campsite and pitched up the tent. It was not windy and the ground was soft and so it was easy to have it up in minutes.

A tentsite with a view. I had to be quick for the first photograph of the Flame Robin and seemingly she was happy to pose. A big thank you and please come back. You are always welcome. She came back and tried to get my food from me. I knew what you wanted, mate and here you were ..

 

 

Tawonga campsite with Mt Jaithmathang Ridge in the background (L), Mt Mckay (R)

 

Room with a view from the camping area.

 

From L to R: Bogong High Plains, Mt Fainter, and Mt Mckay

It was lucky that I had the place to myself. The camera was kept busy all the evening. It was very cold outside after the sun went down and I decided to cook and have dinner with the head torch in the small 

hut, in which I also had breakfast the next day.

 

Fainter Fire Trail after passing Mt Jaithmathang foot track.

Crossing a stream with water flowing down Tawonga Hut Creek.

 

Starting off, I made the mistake of walking down the Fainter Fire Trail rather than taking the turn at the start of the walk up Mt Jaithmathang, 1852m as planned. I failed to take the loop walk tackling the Mt Jaithmathang ridge then heading east down Fainter Fire Trail, at which there were two options available included: 1/ do Fainter South or 2/ return to Tawonga huts. The decision would depend on how much time I had remaining.

 

Poor me. I was too lazy to take out the map and have a look at it at the signpost. I could have taken the turn off and walked a little further to see how the Jaithmathang footpad looked like. I wonder why I did not because it was possible that Fainter Fire Track was more of a single track and so inviting that I kept going on and on. 

 

Above (R) is where water can be refilled, if you are continuing to walk north towards Mt Fainter South, 1861m.

 

Heading towards Little Plain 

Mt Mckay Summit to the east 

Mt Feathertop to the west

I had a late lunch at Salt Camp Creek. Collect water here if you plan to camp at Mt Fainter South, 1861m. I did not make it to the summit and it seems an easy climb and I wished I had my camping gear with me

 

I was not alone on the trail. When I was having a break with an oat slice and a drink, a local on his mountain bike rode past. He was on his way to Mt Beauty where he lives. I admired him for doing so because the trail was rather rocky and narrow in some parts.

Wild flower (Hoary Sunray) and snow gum

I returned by the same route.

Unlike yesterday when I had the place to myself, the campground became a tent city this evening. There was a large school group and few of the students were very annoying. 

 

I was so lucky with yesterday's sunset photos. It was worth spending the time moving around for photography when given the opportunity. After a quick dinner and a refresh, I called it the day. There was a warning about a change in the weather for tomorrow in the late afternoon and I had to be out on the road before the change came.

 

 Mt Jaithmathang from Fainter Fire Trail 

On the walk out by returning on the same route I walked in, another school group was heading in. A small sized group compared to the large one at the huts. A quick warning was passed on: 'be prepared, stormy and wet day/s ahead'. We all had a laugh. 

About to reunite with the car. Yup, she was still there.

Pretty Valley, Rocky Knobs 1780 m, Bogong High Plain ..

 

 

Last view from the parking area. The two fly-fishing men are still here and hope they have had some luck with the fishing. After a safety check for the drive back up the steep hill, the car was on the road again.

I had a quick stop at this junction for a photograph that will be useful for a hiking plan in the future. It is the junction of Pretty Valley Road and Pretty Valley Track, which is around 1 km from the Pretty Valley Pondage parking area. Also, nearby is Pretty Valley Campground around 250 m further along the road. There is a drop toilet, but no other facilities and it is free to camp there.

 

Summing up The walk I actually did: 

Fainter Fire Trail - Tawonga Huts - Little Plain - Mt Fainter South (almost) - Return by the same route.

It was an enjoyable pack-carrying hike with a gentle ascent and stunning panoramic views.

 

Suggestion: Avoid walking / hiking / camping over a long weekend and during school holidays if you want to avoid crowds.

Back to top / Short walk to Fainter Falls

Mt Feathertop via The Razorback / Mt Bogong Circuit 

Great Alpine Rd & Bogong High Plains Rd

 Dinner Plain - Hotham Heights - Harrietville - Smoko

Bright CBD & Surrounds: 

To Porepunka 4km; Myrtleford 28km.

To Harrietville 23km; Mt Beauty 25km; Falls Creek 52km; Mt Hotham 65km; Dinner Plain 72km.

Dinner Plain

Mt Hotham, Mt Feathertop, and Bogong High Plain.

 

 

I passed up the turn-off for The Twins Walk, because I tried to catch up with the fine forecast for the drive along the winding road to Harrietville, I gave it a miss and will try it sometime in the near future. 

 

It was also very busy on the long weekend and so it was good to arrive at the Smoko campground early to claim a spot. The campground is off the Great Alpine Road, several kilometres north of Harrietville and camping is free. 

 

A quite nice camping spot. More than a dozen of different types of camping vehicles were already at the campground. 

 

Both ends of the campground river bank were occupied and so I chose the quiet middle for a dip, refreshing after few days up in the mountains and snow fields.

 

 FYI about half price at Parks Victoria campgrounds for the next two years.

My previous light weight hiking tent has been used for car camping for quite a while. It takes about 5 minutes to pitch it up on grassy ground. I love my light weight hiking chair which is also easy and quick to put it up and take it down. It was rather expensive but it was worth the purchase.

Smoko - Bright - Tawonga 

Half of day spent in Bright: 

• a stop at a petrol station for a refill, 
• Visitor Info Centre for Walks & Trails Guide and where to stay for the night.
• Some fresh fruits and vegies for a day or two.
• Bakery for a bite.
  

The lookout over Mt Beauty Valley and Bogong Village 

 

 

It was rather quiet here at Tawonga Holiday Park after the long weekend. There was a heavy rain forecast for the late afternoon and so I tried to have the tent up as soon as possible. It was too expensive for one person to stay indoors.

 

It was not a happy evening for me here. The reason was that I could not get the car close enough to the BBQ shelter or the camp kitchen for preparing dinner and eating it when it was pouring down outside.

It also rained through the night and it was lucky that it stopped by the early morning. After taking the tent down and left it dry, I moved the car close to a table nearby and got things ready for the check out at 10.00 am.

 

Tawonga - Mt Beauty 

An Active Camper was seen at the Visitor Info Centre Carpark, Mt Beauty. This photo was taken because I was interested in its design.

Bogong High Plains Rd - Bogong Village - FallsCreek - Pretty Valley Rd/Pondage

Fainter Falls: Start at the parking area on Bogong High Plains Road, 1.7 km south of Bogong Village.

Distance / time: 1.5 km, 30 min

Return the same way

Fainter Falls Walking Track along side Pretty Valley Creek

 Overlooking Pretty Valley Creek from viewing platform

Back to top  

Mt Fainter South (almost)

Dinner Plain  Walking Tracks