Tali Karng, Sentinels, Wellington River Circuit (50km)

Combining all the highlights of the Victorian alps including expansive plains, epic views, lush forests and Victoria's only natural alpine lake, this 4-night (5-day) walk is ideal for hikers with some overnight experience looking to extend to multi-day walks. Highly adaptable, hikers can choose their own adventure, but the recommended route slowly builds in difficulty and challenge. Camp can be made by early to mid-afternoon, leaving ample time for relaxing and soaking in nature.  The first and last days are short enough to permit travel to/from Melbourne, providing an exceptional high-country experience over five days.

Suggested Itinerary

Suggested times are based on the author's experience at a slow/moderate walking pace and include breaks. Individual results may vary.

Day 1 (8.3km, 2-3 hours)
Beginning at McFarlane Saddle carpark, fill in the intentions book and head out along the well-marked trail into Wellington Plain. The trail meanders alongside expansive fens and can be quite damp in places. Conditions on the plain can change quickly and walkers must be prepared for blazing sun and fierce winds. At the 6km mark, Moroka Gap Track heads off to the left. Walkers can leave their packs and head up to bag Mt Wellington (not shown on GPX file). Otherwise, continue south to Nyimba campsite. This is a large, open site with a toilet and rainwater tank. If the tank is dry, a seasonal creek is 50m to the west and Nigothoruk Creek 400m to the east (with a steep climb). Water from both these sources must be treated. If Nyimba campsite is full (or noisy), alternatives include Old Riggalls Hut site (400m west) and a sheltered site 100m past Nigothoruk Creek.

Day 2 (12-14km, 7-8 hours)
Day 2 is a day walk to the Sentinels. Leaving your camp set up, turn left leaving Nyimba to head east along Millers Hut Track. Cross the creek and continue to Millers Hut. Rejoin the track behind the hut and pass through open woodland and regenerating forest with sections of multi-directional spectacular views. Roughly 3km past the hut, keep to the right as Gable End track heads off to the left (south) across the plain - ruins of the old sign can be seen. It's another 1.5km to the Sentinels, where you can enjoy a leisurely lunch absorbing the expansive views and listening to the call of the birds and frogs echoing across the rocks. If you choose to make your way to the cliff edge, walk carefully and gently through the delicate fens which surround them. There is no path up to the Sentinels proper and the views from the saddle are just as good, with the added ability to admire the rocky formations themselves.

Return via the same route to Millers Hut. If time and energy allow, Taylors Lookout is a 2km round trip along the road and provides excellent views of the Sentinels. Return to the campsite for the night.

Day 3 (10.6km, 6hrs)
Pack up camp and follow the signs from Nyimba to Tali Karng along Gillios Track, keeping left at the junction with Riggalls Spur track. While the track itself is distinct, it is rapidly becoming overgrown as the forest regenerates from bushfires. There are many fallen trees to contend with and the track becomes increasingly steeper until you reach the lake itself (4.2km). After an optional dip in Victoria's deepest natural lake, follow an at times indistinct track anticlockwise around the lake, following signs for 400m to Clive Lanigan Track (Riggalls Spur / Wellington River) by keeping left at the junction with Echo Point track. Cross the campsite to leave the lake and enter the wonderfully named Valley of Destruction, formed by the same landslide which created the lake itself. The clear but rocky track drops steeply into a world of lush, fern-filled forest, where the first trickles of the Wellington River weave together with the chorus of birdsong. Continue through the valley to a large unsigned campsite, where the path becomes a 4WD track heading uphill. This track winds through recently burnt forest providing a fascinating insight into forest regeneration. 6km after leaving the lake, keep right at the intersection with the management track and right again 200m to descend steeply to a beautiful forest campsite adjacent to the river. Make sure you have repellent for the mozzies and enjoy a peaceful night in the valley.

Day 4 (9km, 5-6hrs)
Take a hearty breakfast and fill up on water before crossing Wellington River to head up Riggalls Spur. There is no water between the river and Nyimba and the climb is long, steep and at times exposed. The track climbs steadily with your effort rewarded with dramatic views improving with each step. Undulating over several steep hills as the spur winds steadily upwards, follow the track for 5km to the junction with Echo Point Track. A small clearing just past this junction is a nice spot for a break. Continue upwards, climbing over many fallen trees and pausing to take in the views at your back, before returning to Nyimba campsite (or stopping at Old Riggalls Hut site).

Day 5 (8.3km 2-3 hours)
Return to McFarlane Saddle via Wellington Plains. Sign out the intentions book and try to stay strong as you contemplate your inevitable return to reality.

Optional adjustments

• The Sentinels day trip (day 2) can be omitted, reducing the walk to three nights, or completed at the other end of the trip. The suggested itinerary however uses this trip to build fitness for the day 4 climb.
• There is no reliable water source on the walk to the Sentinels: walkers should carry enough water for the entire day.
• Day 3 can also be completed as a day trip by taking Echo Point Track to join Riggalls Spur track and back to Nyimba. This would remove a day/night from the walk.
• Walkers experienced with navigation and off-track walking can attempt the Spion Kopje trail to return to Wellington Plains. This trail is shown on maps but is no longer signposted. There are some markers on trees however the track is indistinct and should not be attempted in low visibility.  The trail begins just after Old Riggalls Hut site (coming from Nyimba) and the posts from the old sign can be seen.