A lovely short walk that you can do from Myrtleford itself. Great views of the town, Mt Buffalo and up the Ovens Valley to Mts Hotham & Feathertop. There is a well marked track near some of the old gold mining equipment. Head up the hill and at the first fork take the left track. There is plenty of side trips to view some points of interest from the gold mining days or a memorial to Hume & Hovell.
The track starts at Percy Reserve, just near an old ore crusher where it heads up hill. Shortly after the track branches left and right. This is the start of the loop you will hike. Take the left track where you soon come to a memorial to the early European explorers Hume and Hovell who travelled this way in 1824.
As you make your way up the track there is mine shafts and entrances. The concrete basin was an early town water supply. You eventually see a sign on a spur up to the lookout. It's only 100m and the views of the town and up the King Valley as far as the alps and Mt Buffalo in particular are excellent.
Retrace your steps to the main track and head down the Spur track. It swings away from town for a while before a sharp turn back to follow the contour of the hill back to where you joined the loop near the start.
There are a number of short side tracks not shown on this GPX file but like the rest of the track they are well signposted. By taking these excursions you could add up to another 2 km to the trip.
Grade 3 (Moderate) - Walks for Most Fitness Levels: Grade 3 on the
AWTGS represents moderate walking tracks. These are ideal for walkers with some fitness who are comfortable with some hills and uneven terrain. While suitable for most ages, some bushwalking experience is recommended to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Tracks may have short, steep hill sections, a rough surface, and many steps. The total distance of a Grade 3 walk can be up to 20 kilometers.
- A good track for the whole year.
- Only real risk is old mine shafts but the track is perfectly safe and easy to follow. You'd have to be trying hard to get lost!
Total distance: 3164 m
Max elevation: 368 m
Min elevation: 221 m
Total climbing: 208 m
Total descent: -208 m
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Jones Reserve is on the main road heading from Myrtleford towards Bright. Still within the 60km zone you'll see Jones Reserve and the Murray to the Mountains bike trail on the left. Plenty of parking along the road.
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Myrtleford, situated in the Ovens Valley, approximately 330 kilometres north-east of Melbourne, Victoria, offers a charming blend of rural tranquillity and outdoor adventure. Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and with Mount Buffalo as a dramatic backdrop, the town invites exploration on foot or by bicycle.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of walks and hikes in the surrounding area, with Reform Hill providing a popular vantage point for panoramic views of the town and valley. Myrtleford's history is intertwined with its natural environment, as evidenced by the Phoenix Tree and the Big Tree, significant landmarks for both Indigenous and European communities.
The town also features several parks, including Apex Park, Jubilee Park, Rotary Park, Jaycees Park, and Cundy Park, offering recreational spaces for locals and visitors alike. The patchwork of tobacco and hop fields, combined with pine plantations, creates a distinctive visual landscape.
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Mount Buffalo National Park
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Mount Buffalo National Park
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Mount Buffalo National Park
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