Dzung Nguyen's Blog: Dinner Plain

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

Mt Fainter South (almost)

Dinner Plain Walking Tracks

Dinner Plain

Dinner Plain is a nice little snow village that also offers a great location for outdoor adventurers in Summer. The alpine village of Dinner Plain is located 13 km southeast of Hotham Village, just about 20 minutes for a slow driver like mine.

There was a huge construction project outside the Visitor Info Centre and I had a quick stop to pick up an official walk guide for the Dinner Plain area. I arrived at the planned destination and it was lucky to find a suitable spot for my little car camping tent, a previous light weight hiking tent that is easy and fast to pitch.

Day shelter Carpark

My neighbour's 4WD with a rooftop, a perfect arrangement for two.

It was early enough for a walking tour around the ski resort.

A short walk to Mt Loch Summit

Montane Walking Track, Precipice Plain Lookout and Carmichael Falls

Mt Tabletop WT (Square Mount)

Distance: 10 km return. Grade: medium

Track: marked by orange triangular markers

Map: See the Dinner Plain Tracks & Trails map in the Montane WT, Precipice Plain Lookout, and Carmichael Falls Walk blog.

Start / End: JB Plain Hut / Walk-In Campground about 100 m off Great Alpine Road (B500) and

about 1.5 km west of Dinner Plain Village.

Access to a drop loo. BYO water.

JB Plain Hut with campground.

Path across the plains for 0.5 km.

Crossing the snowgum woodland.

Mt Tabletop from the track

The plateau. Watch out for snakes on a sunny day.

Return by the same route.

I returned early enough to take a short walk up to Dead Timber Hill Lookout (about 30 minutes return with a break or two and photos). The start is on the other side of the road and opposite to the car park. The track is signposted.

Mt Feathertop from Dead Timber Hill Lookout.

Well worth a climb

What a view!

I returned by the same route.

But, you could continue on this track, Dead Timber Hill WT and walk east for about 1.5 km which will take you to the start of Room with a View Walking Track (easy, 3 km return).