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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
Keep the Trail Access info current...
2WD Access
Gravel Road
Winding Road
Large Car Park
Public Toilets
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
Keep the Trail Features current...
Rough Trail
Alpine Region
Scenic Viewpoints
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
Mount St Gwinear to Mount Whitelaw is a 25.2km, grade 4 Return hike located in Alpine National Park Victoria. The hike should take approximately 9hrs to complete.
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.
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.
Max elevation: 1567 m
Min elevation: 1300 m
Total climbing: 878 m
Total descent: -879 m
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.