Mount St Gwinear to Mount Whitelaw is a 25.2km, grade 4 hike located in the Baw Baw National Park, Victoria. The hike should take around 9 hrs to complete.

Length: 25.2km

Duration: 9 hrs

Grade: 4

Style: Return

Start: Mount St Gwinear carpark

End: Mount St Gwinear carpark

Location: Baw Baw National Park

Closest town: Rawson

Victoria

From state capital: 197km

Longitude: 146.3318046927452

Latitude: -37.840754168331294

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Hike overview

Mount St Gwinear is a mountain in Victoria, Australia, located at the north-east end of the Baw Baw National Park in the Gippsland high country. The walk via the summit of Mount St Gwinear to Mount Whitelaw winds through heathland and Snow Gum forest. The magnificent views, stretching across the valleys of the Thomson and Aberfeldy Rivers and into the Victorian Alps, are a perfect reward. From Mount St Gwinear follow the trail west until intersecting the Australian Alps Walking Trail. Follow the trail North West across the plateau until you reach Mount Whitelaw near the start of the Thomson River.

Overnight hike for kids

This makes an excellent overnight hike for kids and a good introduction to the Victorian Alps. Each day is not too long and while the terrain is undulating there are not a lot of big climbs. Camping is staggered along the plateau and at the Whitelaw Hut Ruins where there is only a chimney remaining. There were plenty of nice spots for tents and the nearby creek for fresh water.

Route and GPX file

Total distance: 25224 m
Max elevation: 1567 m
Min elevation: 1300 m
Total climbing: 878 m
Total descent: -879 m

Download file: Mount St Gwinear to Mount Whitelaw.gpx

Trail features

Rough Trail
Alpine Region
Scenic Viewpoints

Trail location

Getting there

The main access to the plateau is from the Mount Erica and St Gwinear carparks along signposted roads off the Thomson Valley Road, north of Erica. The Baw Baw Alpine Resort which adjoins the park can be reached from the Princes Highway at Drouin by following the Mount Baw Baw Tourist Road.

The St Gwinear car park is just over one hour's drive from the Latrobe Valley or three hours from Melbourne via Erica. Roads are sealed apart from the last section of thirteen kilometres along the Thomson Valley and Mount St Gwinear roads. The road is regularly cleared of snow but is often icy or slushy.

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Access conditions

2WD Access
Gravel Road
Winding Road
Large Car Park
Public Toilets

Gallery

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About the region

Spectacular year round, Baw Baw National Park covers a substantial part of the Baw Baw Plateau. As the snow melts see the hills come alive with vivid wildflower displays. Explore the wonderland of geological formations and walk or snowshoe one of the many trails that criss-cross through tangled snowgum forests.

Walk a section of the Australian Alps Walking Track and discover Mushroom Rocks, a maze of giant granite tors rising from the forest. Head to Mount St Gwinear. Snowshoe, toboggan or cross-country ski one of the many trails that criss-cross the twisted snowgum forests.

Walk the same trails in spring and see the Baw Baw Plateau come alive with a vivid display of wildflowers.

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Reviews

0 Reviews on “Mount St Gwinear to Mount Whitelaw (25.2km)”

Overall rating

Darren Edwards

Awesome hike

24/03/2022, 05:19

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Dean Herman

Just finished this hike today, was a long day but totally amazing. Couple of things I noted: heath is over-growing much of the AAWT beyond Phillack Saddle. Keep a close eye on the trail. There is also an alternate start via the viewing platform trail that links up to the main path. It’s quicker and more interesting. The low path to the east of Mt St Gwinear has the best views over the Thompson river valley, it’s good to use on the way down if you don’t want to go up and over the summit again and there were still patches of snow still, which was heaps of fun.

11/01/2019, 01:47

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