Dzung Nguyen's Blog: Harrietville

25 May 2025

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

Mt Feathertop via The Razorback

For a long time I had not been to the Mt Feathertop area. If correct, my last trip up there would had been about one and a half decade ago. After having a look at the Bureau of Meteorlogy's website and knowing that there was a fine forecast for the next few days in the high country, and the possibility of the last chance for walking before winter, I was eager to pack and leave.

I had not walked for a while and was unfit; therefore, I chose a pack carrying walk to Mt Feathertop via The Razorback. The other two access tracks to the summit include the Bungalow Spur and North West Spur.

Closest Service Town: Bright (Visitor Info Centre, petrol stations, bakeries, shops and an outdoor store) is about 322 km from Melbourne. About 24 km after Bright is Harrietville, a small town with a handful of options ..

Recommended Map: Bogong Alpine Area 1:50 000

The Razorback

Start/End: Diamantina Hut parking area, Great Alpine Road, and about 1 km west of Mt Hotham Visitor Day Shelter (with flush loos). At the time of writing, half of the building is for walkers/hikers with tickets Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing (trekking 37 kms, 3 days).

There is no car park at the start. On a fine day in Springs and Summer, parked cars can be seen on both sides of the Great Alpine Road. Visitors need to be well-prepared on windy, cold and freezing days. There is a log book at the start for just in case of emergency/search and rescue such as getting lost or fire.

The open ridge above the treeline

Walk Info

Head off north on the ridge. The track is signposted at track junctions. Walk along the Razorback ridge with good views on a fine day.

the Federation Hut/Feathertop junction

About 0.5 km before Federation Hut (with two drop loos and a water tank), leave the main track and take the track to the summit.

View of the ridgeline of The Razorback sunset from the hut/campground with walkers/campers seemingly looking comfortable in their light weight hiking chairs. It was rather crowded and busy over the long weekend with good weather.

Walk Options

• A long day walk: 10.3 km in and 10.3 km return. Plus, 700 m walk up to Mt Feathertop summit and then walk 700 m back down. Another 500 m to the Federation Hut if in need of water refill and / or a loo break. An early start is suggested.

• An overnight pack carrying: pack with all your overnight gear including tent + sleeping bag + food (dinner + breakie + lunch + snacks) and water for the walk-in, etc.

To get to the summit in the day, it is suggested you make an early start. Walk to the hut, pitch the tent, get some rest, have an arvo tea, and then tackle the summit for the sunset (if lucky).

• Day One: Walk in 10 km to the hut / camping area and set up tent.

Day Two: Up to the summit and back down the camp.

Day Three: Walk out, return by the same route.

Note on the walk out: about 1 km south to Big Dipper (from 1714 m, ref Map), there was the low route option if you want to avoid the high route to the junction of The Razorback and Bon Accord Spur.

The summit track