Mount Stirling
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Mount Stirling

Difficulty: Trek rating 2 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 2 of 5 - Click for details   Suitable for: 4WD AWD 
This is a great little trek through the heart of the high country taking in Mount Stirling and the excellent diversions from the loop road that tracks around the mountain.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesMansfield
Trek
FinishMansfield
Distance147.66 kmMinimum Days1
Average Speed40.75 km/hrDriving Time3 hr 37 min
Article By: Paul Mery & Moggs   Updated: 16 Jan 2008
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 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.

 Interactive Route Map

MansfieldMount Buller Rd & Buttercup RdButtercupButtercup Creek Camping AreasTomahawk HutTomahawk GapMount No 3Refuge Mount No. 3 HutBus HutKing HutPeters CornerCraig's HutClear Hills HutThe MonumentMount StirlingHowqua Gap HutTelephone Box JunctionMirimbahSawmill SettlementHowqua Track turnoffMerrijigMount Buller Rd & Buttercup RdMansfield
Mansfield
Great town with excellent eating places and nice 'feel' about it. The pub meals are excellent. Try the wood fired pizzas. More 4x4's per kilomter than anywhere I have been in Oz :-)
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Position: 146.0885ºE   37.0520ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Mount Buller Rd & Buttercup Rd
Distance: 14.46km
Average Speed: 86.78km/h
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 146.2198ºE   37.1002ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Buttercup
Distance: 7.15km
Average Speed: 46.04km/h
Buttercup
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Place Name
Position: 146.2916ºE   37.0739ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Buttercup Creek Camping Areas
Distance: 6.37km
Average Speed: 34.89km/h
Buttercup Creek Camping Areas
Large free camping areas with toilets.
Features: Camp Free
Position: 146.3407ºE   37.0678ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Tomahawk Hut
Distance: 8.68km
Average Speed: 31.24km/h
Tomahawk Hut
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 146.4101ºE   37.0410ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Tomahawk Gap
Distance: 0.12km
Average Speed: 20.79km/h
Tomahawk Gap
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Pass,Gap
Position: 146.4121ºE   37.0387ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Mount No 3
Distance: 5.39km
Average Speed: 24.13km/h
Mount No 3
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Mountain,Peak,Hill
Position: 146.4267ºE   37.0555ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Refuge Mount No. 3 Hut
Distance: 1.15km
Average Speed: 24.95km/h
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 146.4189ºE   37.0641ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Bus Hut
Distance: 4.51km
Average Speed: 28.27km/h
Bus Hut
Hut
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 146.4401ºE   37.0895ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: King Hut
Distance: 26.51km
Average Speed: 30.36km/h
King Hut
The first slab hut here was built by Jim Hearn in about 1943, and regularly used by other cattlemen and later by bushwalkers. The replacement was built in the early 1950's as a weatherboard hut.
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 146.5734ºE   37.0883ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Peters Corner
Distance: 9.83km
Average Speed: 31.69km/h
Features: Place Name
Position: 146.5551ºE   37.1017ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Craig's Hut
Distance: 6.4km
Average Speed: 32.75km/h
Craig's Hut
‘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.
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 146.5323ºE   37.1078ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Clear Hills Hut
Distance: 0.23km
Average Speed: 9.25km/h
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 146.5298ºE   37.1101ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: The Monument
Distance: 1.32km
Average Speed: 15.44km/h
The Monument
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Mountain,Peak,Hill
Position: 146.5259ºE   37.1173ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Mount Stirling
Distance: 2.97km
Average Speed: 15.06km/h
Features: Mountain,Peak,Hill
Position: 146.4987ºE   37.1258ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Howqua Gap Hut
Distance: 4.35km
Average Speed: 13.8km/h
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 146.4923ºE   37.1424ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Telephone Box Junction
Distance: 6.22km
Average Speed: 39.02km/h
Telephone Box Junction
End of road during Winter. Ski trail starts here.
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn OffPoint of Interest
Position: 146.4642ºE   37.1132ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Mirimbah
Distance: 9.96km
Average Speed: 45.44km/h
Mirimbah
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceToilet Food,Shopping Resort,Motel
Position: 146.3983ºE   37.1101ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Sawmill Settlement
Distance: 3.29km
Average Speed: 43.02km/h
Features: Populated PlaceWater Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Resort,Motel
Position: 146.3669ºE   37.1048ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Howqua Track turnoff
Distance: 8.19km
Average Speed: 76.73km/h
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 146.2793ºE   37.1120ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Merrijig
Distance: 2.25km
Average Speed: 76.96km/h
Merrijig
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceToilet Food,Shopping Resort,Motel
Position: 146.2630ºE   37.1022ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Mount Buller Rd & Buttercup Rd
Distance: 3.82km
Average Speed: 83.03km/h
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 146.2198ºE   37.1002ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Mansfield
Distance: 14.46km
Average Speed: 86.78km/h
Mansfield
Great town with excellent eating places and nice 'feel' about it. The pub meals are excellent. Try the wood fired pizzas. More 4x4's per kilomter than anywhere I have been in Oz :-)
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Position: 146.0885ºE   37.0520ºS (GDA 94)

Route Control

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 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

King Hut - VIC   RatingRatingRatingRating
Point of Interest 
The first slab hut here was built by Jim Hearn in about 1943, and regularly used by other cattlemen and later by bushwalkers. The replacement was built in the early 1950's as a weatherboard hut.
Craig's Hut - VIC   
Point of Interest 
‘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.
Bus Hut - VIC   
Point of Interest 
Hut
Telephone Box Junction - VIC   
Junction,Intersection,Turn Off Point of Interest
End of road during Winter. Ski trail starts here.
Tomahawk Hut - VIC   
Point of Interest 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Mount No 3 - VIC   
Mountain,Peak,Hill 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
The Monument - VIC   
Mountain,Peak,Hill 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
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

Fuel SymbolMansfield Diesel4cyl 21 litres ULP4cyl 24 litres LPG4cyl 30 litres
6cyl 23 litres6cyl 27 litres6cyl 26 litres
8cyl 24 litres8cyl 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

Mount Buller
Distance from Trek Mid Point 10.87km SE
 JanFebMarAprMayJun JulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C 16.817.114.110.0 6.43.21.72.2 4.98.211.914.6
Mean Min. °C 8.48.86.43.7 1.1-1.2-2.5-2.3 -0.61.14.36.0
Mean Rain mm 70.665.674.0106.5 141.9160.7172.7159.6 156.2152.8124.291.4
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Mansfield, Mirimbah, Sawmill Settlement, Merrijig

 Camp Sites & Accomodation

Mansfield - VIC   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Great town with excellent eating places and nice 'feel' about it. The pub meals are excellent. Try the wood fired pizzas. More 4x4's per kilomter than anywhere I have been in Oz :-)
Buttercup Creek Camping Areas - VIC   
Camp Free 
Large free camping areas with toilets.
Mirimbah - VIC   
Populated Place Toilet Food,Shopping Resort,Motel
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Merrijig - VIC   
Populated Place Toilet Food,Shopping Resort,Motel
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
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.

 Driving Directions

Time
Direction
Distance
Mansfield to Mount Buller Rd & Buttercup Rd 14.46 km SE 115° 9 min
Mount Buller Rd & Buttercup Rd to Buttercup 7.15 km NE 65° 9 min
Buttercup to Buttercup Creek Camping Areas 6.37 km E 81° 10 min
Buttercup Creek Camping Areas to Tomahawk Hut 8.68 km NE 64° 16 min
Tomahawk Hut to Tomahawk Gap 0.12 km NE 35°
Tomahawk Gap to Mount No 3 5.39 km SE 145° 13 min
Mount No 3 to Refuge Mount No. 3 Hut 1.15 km SW 216° 2 min
Refuge Mount No. 3 Hut to Bus Hut 4.51 km SE 146° 9 min
Bus Hut to King Hut 26.51 km E 89° 52 min
King Hut to Peters Corner 9.83 km SW 228° 18 min
Peters Corner to Craig's Hut 6.4 km W 251° 11 min
Craig's Hut to Clear Hills Hut 0.23 km SW 221° 1 min
Clear Hills Hut to The Monument 1.32 km SW 203° 5 min
The Monument to Mount Stirling 2.97 km W 249° 11 min
Mount Stirling to Howqua Gap Hut 4.35 km S 197° 18 min
Howqua Gap Hut to Telephone Box Junction 6.22 km NW 322° 9 min
Telephone Box Junction to Mirimbah 9.96 km W 273° 13 min
Mirimbah to Sawmill Settlement 3.29 km W 282° 4 min
Sawmill Settlement to Howqua Track turnoff 8.19 km W 264° 6 min
Howqua Track turnoff to Merrijig 2.25 km NW 307° 1 min
Merrijig to Mount Buller Rd & Buttercup Rd 3.82 km W 273° 2 min
Mount Buller Rd & Buttercup Rd to Mansfield 14.46 km NW 295° 9 min
Mansfield to Mansfield 147.66 km     3 hr 37 min
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.

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What Others have Posted

OldPaj : 22 Feb 08 16:14
I believe that the Summit Trail over Mt Stirling is now closed, with...

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