Length: 19.8km
Duration: 7hrs
Grade: 4
Style: Circuit
Start: Brocks Road
End: Brocks Road

Location: Alpine National Park
Closest Town: Mansfield
Distance from CBD: 275km
State: VIC
Latitude: -37.2594635
Longitude: 146.4657031

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Mount McDonald and The Nobs is a 19.8km, grade 4 circuit hike, located in Alpine National Park, Victoria. The hike should take approximately 7hrs to complete.

Hike Summary

The Mount McDonald and The Nobs hike summits Mount McDonald which lies at the heart of one of the wildest and least known regions deep within the Alpine National Park. Sandwiched between the remote Macalister and Jamieson Rivers, its rarely visited summit offers hikers a genuine sense of escape. The rugged north ridge provides a direct steep climb to the summit.

Mount MacDonald is a 1,402 m mountain peak near Mansfield, Victoria, Australia. Based on peakery data, it ranks as the 17th highest mountain in Victoria and the 82nd highest mountain in Australia. The nearest peaks are Mount Magdala, Mount Skene, Mount Buller, Mount Howitt, Mount Tamboritha, and Mount Cobbler.

Be Prepared

This hike requires that you have a sufficient level of equipment (in good working order), fitness and self-reliance.

About the region

The Alpine National Park is a national park located in the Central Highlands and Alpine regions of Victoria, Australia. The 646,000-hectare national park is located northeast of Melbourne. It is the largest National Park in Victoria, and covers much of the higher areas of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria, including Victoria's highest point, Mount Bogong at 1,986 metres and the associated subalpine woodland and grassland of the Bogong High Plains. The park's north-eastern boundary is along the border with New South Wales, where it abuts the Kosciuszko National Park.

Getting there

From Mansfield, continue along the Mount Buller Road for 19.5km to Merijig, then a further 2km to the Howqua Track turnoff on the right. Follow the unsealed Howqua Track for 16.5km to Sheepyard Flat. Continue through the flat and along Brocks Road (which becomes a bit rougher) for 19.5km to Eight Mile Gap. Turn right and descend the steep winding road to the banks of the Jamieson River. Continue a further 800m to park in the clearing next to the river, about 200m before reaching the Low Saddle Road turnoff.

Camping at Sheepyard Flat on the first night and heading to the start point will ensure you get an early start. Return to Sheepyard Flat on the last night to camp is you are feeling tired.