Mount St Gwinear to Mount Whitelaw (25.2km)

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.

 

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