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Length: 25.2km
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Duration: 9hrs
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Grade: 4
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Style: Return
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Start: Mt St Gwinear carpark
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End: Mt St Gwinear carpark
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Location: Alpine National Park
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Closest Town: Amor
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Distance from CBD: 197km
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State: VIC
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Latitude: -37.834516
Longitude: 146.322488
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Select items to indicate conditions for access to the trail.


2WD Access


4WD Access


Public Transport


Bitumen Road


Gravel Road


Steep Road


Winding Road


Speed Bumps


Vehicle Ford


Entry Fee


Large Car Park


Small Car Park


Accessible Parking


Accessible Toilet


Public Toilets


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Picnic Shelter


Picnic Table


BBQ Facilities


Campfire Pit


Camping Area
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Alpine National Park...
Select items to indicate features found along the trail.


Concrete Path


Timber Boardwalk


Gravel Path


Sandy Trail


Rough Trail


Undefined Trail


Prams & Strollers


Manual Wheelchair


Motorised Wheelchair


Bicycle Trail


Mountain Bike Trail


Historic Rail Trail


Dog Friendly


Urban Walk


Coast & Beach


Historic Lighthouse


Waterfalls & Lakes


Rainforest Walk


Goldfields & Mining


Heritage Walk


Aboriginal Art


Alpine Region


Alpine Huts


Exposed Ledges


Rock Scrambling


Steep Terrain


Bush Bashing


River Crossings


Scenic Viewpoints


Well Marked


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Fishing Spots


Swimming Spots


Overnight Campsites


Trail Running


Horse Riding
Hike Summary
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.
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
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 Mt St Gwinear roads. The road is regularly cleared of snow but is often icy or slushy.
GPX File
Max elevation: 1567 m
Min elevation: 1300 m
Total climbing: 878 m
Total descent: -879 m
Hikes Nearby
2 thoughts on “Mount St Gwinear to Mount Whitelaw (25.2km)”
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Awesome hike
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.