Bluff Creek Nature Trail is a 4km, grade 3 Return hike located in Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park Victoria. The hike should take approximately 2hrs to complete.

Summary

The Bluff Creek Nature Trail links the Bluff Creek visitor area with Bluff Falls and can be walked in either direction. For much of its route the track follows closely beside Bluff Creek through moist, ferny gullies and tall stands of Blue Gum trees. Interpretative panels along the way provide information on features of interest. Walking conditions are generally good although the section nearest the falls is steep in places. From Bluff Falls, either retrace your steps or return to the picnic area along the road and Wombat Track.

Camping

Basic visitor facilities are located at Bluff Creek, near the main entrance to the park, and also at Blue Gum Camp, Hinces Creek and Pine Mountain.

Getting there

The park is located approximately 120 km east of Albury-Wodonga and 25 km northwest of Corryong. It lies between the Murray Valley Highway and the Murray River. Access to many popular visitor areas is from the all-weather Cudgewa Bluff Road, which passes through the park and is a pleasant scenic drive.

From Corryong, take Parish Lane from the western side of town (signposted to the National Park). Not far out of town, Parish Lane becomes the Briggs Gap Road, and provides a scenic start to the day, with the bitumen leading over the range from Corryong to the Cudgewa Creek Valley.

Follow Briggs Gap Road through to the C548 (the Cudgewa – Tintaldra Road, about 12km from town) and turn right, following the valley floor route through to the Cudgewa North Road, going off to the left. This is signposted to the National Park, and leads through cleared farmland to another signposted turn-off (also to the left) indicating that Cudgewa Bluff Falls are about six kilometres away.

If you are driving to the base of the Falls, then you need to continue along the access track (past the Bluff Creek area), following this winding track for about 2.5km, past the Blue Gums camping area (much smaller than the Bluff Creek area, with a creek to cross before gaining access) to the small car park about 200m from the Falls. Note that the camping area at Blue Gums, and the car park referred to here, are not suitable for caravans or large motorhomes (there is inadequate space to turn around).

About the region

The Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park is a national park in the Hume region of Victoria, Australia. The 18400ha national park is situated approximately northeast of Melbourne and east of Albury-Wodonga. The park stretches between Walwa Creek in the north-west and Cudgewa Creek in the southeast , both tributaries of the Murray River. There you will find Pine Mountain, one of the largest monoliths in the southern hemisphere, which is 1.5 times the size of Uluru. Another peak is Mount Burrowye.

Tips

The park has limited permanent water sources – carry adequate drinking water when walking.
Walking conditions can be rough and rocky areas slippery when wet – wear sturdy footwear.
Cliffs and rocky bluffs occur within the park – be alert near the edge and look out for falling rocks.
Remote walking tracks may be poorly defined – carry an adequate map and compass or GPS.
Longer walking tracks require a good level of fitness and experience