Summary

The Mount Cobbler Plateau Circuit hike commences at the junction of Speculation Road and King Basin Road and follows Speculation Road through numerous gullies before reaching the plateau and a trail junction. Turn left onto Little Cobbler Road and after around 800m you will reach the junction of Cobbler Lake Track. Follow this track for approximately 4km and you will reach Lake Cobbler and your camping ground for the night.

From Lake Cobbler there is a walking track to the nearby Dandongadale Falls, which drops 255 metres (837 ft) from the plateau and is the highest waterfall in Victoria. This is a short walk of approximately 2km return.

From Lake Cobbler, follow the Mount Cobbler Walking Track west for approximately 3km to a trail junction. Turning north (right) it is a short, moderate and steep 1.5km climb to the summit. From here you can enjoy amazing views of the surrounding peaks include Mount Typo to the north-east, Mount Koonika and Mount Speculation to the south-east, and Mount Stirling to the south-west.

After leaving the summit follow the trail back to the junction and continue heading south for approximately 5.5km until you again reach the junction of Little Cobbler Road and the Cobbler Lake Track. Follow Little Cobbler Road in a southerly direction. After about 700m you will reach the Speculation Road junction. The track on your right is the track you ascended via. Pass Speculation Road and keep heading south for another 450m and you will reach Muesli Spur Track on your right.

Descend along Speculation Road (described hike) or via Muesli Spur back to the trail head and your car.

About the Region

Mount Cobbler is a mountain located in the Alpine National Park to the east of Mansfield in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. Its summit rises to 1,628 metres (5,341 ft) above sea level. The peak and surrounding Cobbler land system are composed of sedimentary rocks (conglomerate, red sandstone, silt-stone and shale), dating to the Lower Carboniferous period, some 359 to 318 million years ago.

Day 1: 14.5km

Day 2: 13.0km

Camping at the Start

Camping is available close to the trail head at the following locations.

• Speculation Road: There is a small campsite along Speculation Road (possible 4WD) on the King River approximately 3.6km from Stirling Circuit Road.
• King Hut: Camping area on the King River Track (4WD only). King Hut is perched on the western edge of the park, about 35 km east of Mt Stirling. The dramatic 4WD-access route follows the King River Track for 7 km from the junction with Speculation Rd, which is itself reached via a turn-off on Circuit Rd about 6 km east of the Craig’s Hut turn-off. The hut itself is in excellent condition, having been recently rebuilt.
• The overnight campsite can be found on an open saddle at the junction of the Mount Cobbler Walking Track and a foot trail heading north-south at the top of the plateau. This is a large camp site suitable for around 5-6 tents.

Water

Water can be procured near the trail head from the King River or Lake Cobbler at the end of day 1. Water should always be treated before drinking.

Getting there

From Mansfield, travel along Mt Buller Road for approximately 32km until you reach the toll gate at Mirimbah (you will need to pay an entry fee during winter). Once you’ve passed through the gates, turn left into Stirling Road (2WD) and keep going until you reach Telephone Box Junction (TBJ). Between Mirimbah and TBJ is approximately 8km of unsealed road. Turn right at the junction and follow the Stirling Circuit Road (2WD) for a further 16.5km where you will find Speculation Road (possible 4WD) on your right. Turn onto Speculation Road and travel 8.8km to the junction of King Basin (4WD) and Speculation Roads. This is the trail head.

During winter, vehicles are not permitted to go any further than TBJ, and all 2-wheel drives must carry chains when travelling to this point. The roads beyond TBJ open from Melbourne Cup weekend (first or second week of November). Call Parks Victoria to confirm that the road will be open as fallen trees may also cause road closure. In summer, all vehicles can continue further via The Circuit Road. The Circuit Road winds throughout the various sub-alpine and alpine forests around Mt Stirling. It is a gravel road but still accessible by 2-wheel drive vehicles.

Be Prepared

This hike requires that you have a sufficient level of equipment (in good working order), fitness and self-reliance. We reserve the right for the hike leader to decline participants who are not adequately prepared at any time before the hike has commenced. We will be asking questions about your clothing, food, water and pack at the start of the hike so please do not turn up unprepared. It is vital that you take personal responsibility for ensuring you are prepared! If you are not sure, contact the hike leader prior to the hike.

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