Description
Mount Stirling is an area used during winter for cross-country skiing and is therefore quite mountainous. There is a loop road running around the mountain and during summer it would be possible to drive a 2WD car around the mountain (check
road conditions first), but after any rain or snow the road turns to 4WD only and is closed as part of the seasonal road closures in
Victoria, generally from the day after the Queen's Birthday long weekend until November.
The advantage of having a 4WD is the ability to perform a number of diversions away from the loop road across the top of the mountain. Visiting
places such as Craig’s Hut, famous for it's appearance in the great Australian movie, ‘The Man From Snowy River’. Walking around the back of the hut or even inside, you quickly realise that this is definitely just a prop. The good people from the
Mansfield 4WD Club and CFA 4WD Club maintain the hut.
The trip to
the summit of Mount Stirling is also a worthwhile diversion, which can be reached by following the 4WD track past Craig’s Hut. If the
weather is kind you will be rewarded with magnificent views of the surrounding countryside and of the skiing village at Mount Buller.
Other possible diversions from the area are down to Kings Hut, or Pineapple Flat (on the Northern side) or Binderee Falls and Pykes Flat, on the southern side. Both of these make excellent extensions to the trek and allow you to continue on travelling through the high country to other areas.
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Mount Stirling 
From: Mansfield
To: Mansfield
Distance: 147.66 km
Average Speed: 40.75 km/hr
Travel Time: 3 hours 37 mins
Using the Map
Our treks have a moving map facility, to take a virtual tour click on the Play button in the Moving map control (see Moving Map help)
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Speed (5 secs)
Live Tracking
Auto Refresh (1 min, next 60 secs)
Permits
Throughout winter, you must pay an entry fee to access Mount Stirling as you pass through the gates at Mirimbah. The single payment covers entry to both Mount Stirling and Mount Buller, providing you with an easy way to see each mountain. The
gate entry fee is only charged during the winter season, not in summer.
If you visit Mount Stirling just for the day it will cost $30 per vehicle (seating up to seven people) to enter the area. If you camp overnight you will be charged an additional fee - $6 per night through the week and $12 per night on weekends. Season passes are available, as are reduced bike and pedestrian fees.
Things to See & Do
Craig's Hut - VIC
‘Craig’s Hut’ was situated in the Alpine National Park in the Victorian highlands about 60kms east of Mansfield on a small knoll on an open spur 1455m above sea level. It was built especially for the film ‘The Man from Snowy River’ in 1981 and provides grand views in all directions. It was called Craig’s Hut after Jim Craig who was the lead actor in the film and played by Tom Burlinson.
You will see the huts of the Victorian High Country such as
Craig's Hut and with any luck, snow is possible from May and early June.
Preparation
Fuel Supplies & Usage
 | Mansfield |
Diesel | 4cyl 21 litres |
ULP | 4cyl 24 litres |
LPG | 4cyl 30 litres |
| 6cyl 23 litres | 6cyl 27 litres | 6cyl 26 litres |
| 8cyl 23 litres | 8cyl 24 litres | |
Usage is averaged from
TrekFuel (* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.
Note: Fuel is only available at Mirimbah during the winter season. During the summer season there may not be any fuel or supplies after
Mansfield.
Best Time To Visit
Generally Summer and Autumn would be the best time to travel as seasonal track closures may exist June to November due to snow. Please check with authorities.
Closest Climatic Station
Lake Eildon
Distance from Trek Mid Point 25.29km SW
| | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Mean Max. °C |
28.5 | 28.9 | 25.6 | 20.8 |
16.1 | 12.5 | 11.9 | 13.6 |
16.4 | 19.6 | 23.1 | 26.2 |
| Mean Min. °C |
12.5 | 12.6 | 10.4 | 7.8 |
5.9 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 4.2 |
5.6 | 7.2 | 9.1 | 10.8 |
| Mean Rain mm |
46.2 | 41.3 | 51.5 | 60.2 |
79.3 | 94.3 | 93.5 | 99.8 |
82.5 | 80.2 | 66.6 | 55.8 |
Best time to travel Ok time to travel Travel NOT recommended
Camp Sites & Accommodation
Camping in this area is just a matter of finding a nice place to pitch a tent or a swag. Good areas are available in either Pykes Flat or the Kings Hut/Pineapple Flat area. Due to the mountainous terrain there is only limited
places available on Mount Stirling, but if the
weather is fine these should be sufficient.
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.