Length: 6km
Duration: 2.5hrs
Grade: 3
Style: Circuit
Start: Lake Catani Campground
End: Lake Catani Campground

Location: Mount Buffalo National Park
Closest Town: Porepunkah
Distance from CBD: 336km
State: VIC
Latitude: -36.72657033
Longitude: 146.8225895

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Mount Buffalo National Park...

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Horse Riding

Chalwell Galleries is a 6km, grade 3 circuit hike, located in Mount Buffalo, Victoria. The hike should take approximately 2.5hrs to complete.

Hike Summary

The Chalwell Galleries are a granite outcrop with magnificent views of the Buckland valley and out towards Mount Bogong, the highest mountain in Victoria as well as the NSW Alps. The galleries are named after Ernie Chalwell, the stable master at the Buffalo Chalet in the 1940s and 1950s.

A short fun trip, this trail begins at the Lake Catani Campground. The track passes through the galleries which are a jumble of large granite rocks and boulders forming impressive passages. This is where your scrambling skills are put to the test, as you navigate your way through some tight squeezes and narrow fissures between two large boulders and other impressive rock formations. This steep section is a little challenging, (more suitable for kids older than 8) but you will feel like superstars after making it to the other side where the view of the Buckland Valley is a special surprise at the end.

Camping

Rocky Creek Campground is open during winter but the walk into the campsites is longer because the Reservoir Road closes. Therefore, campers need to be well prepared for Alpine areas and prepared for a long walk/ski.Water is available from the nearby creek.This campground offers unpowered sites and a pit toilet. Fires are prohibited (fuel stoves only). The campground has a capacity of two people per site and a maximum capacity of 10 people (children are charged as adults).

Advanced bookings and payment are required. You can book online or call Parks Victoria on 13 1963.

About the region

An all-seasons national park, Mount Buffalo has sheer cliffs, imposing granite tors, tumbling waterfalls, snow gums and stunning wildflowers. First reserved in 1898, the 31,000 hectare park contains vegetation and fauna adapted to extremes of weather, as a result of its sub-alpine location. As you drive and walk throughout the park, you will see evidence of the recent fires, but you will also see the vivid colours as species begin to regenerate. There is plenty of wildlife to see including Lyrebirds, Eastern Rosellas, Wombats and Swamp Wallabies. Many animals can be seen along the main tourist road so please drive carefully, especially at dawn and dusk.

Getting there

Drive towards Bright via Hume Highway, Wangaratta and Myrtleford. Take the turn off to Mount Buffalo near Porepunkah. Drive up to the Buffalo plateau, continue past the road to the chalet and drive until you see the Parks Office on your right. Follow the signs off the Mount Buffalo Tourist Road (C535) to Lake Catani Campground and the Lakeside Day Visitor Area. Lake Catani Campground is open from the beginning of November until the end of April.

Tips

Great fun for the whole family.
Some tricky sections but with encouragement and enthusiasm the whole family will make it through.
Once through the galleries the track is an easy descent to the car park.