Trip Report – Old Mount Ned Overlook Track rediscovered

Key highlights: The Old Mount Ned Overlook Track is a 1.5-hour hike from Anglers Rest Campground in Victoria, offering some of the best views in the region. The trail, marked by pink tape and cut brush, involves an initial uphill climb followed by a ridge walk to the summit of Mt Ned. Hikers are advised to carry a first aid kit, water, sunscreen, and to be vigilant for snakes; they should also be prepared for steep and gentle angles throughout the hike.

Trip Report by Friends of the Mitta – March 2018

One of the best viewpoints in Victoria

Old Mount Ned Overlook Track is a super cool 1 and a half hour hike up from the Anglers Rest Campground to one of the best viewpoints in Victoria.

From Anglers Rest Camp, walk towards the Duck, but don’t cross the wooden bridge over the Cobungra. There’s a track that heads upstream along the river-left bank just off the bridge abutment (your right-hand side as you’re walking).

Head up that horse track. It meanders uphill, then hits an old cart/car track and angles right. Follow it rightwards, watching for pink tape in the trees uphill, to your left. The horse track angles up and left off the old dirt road, take it. Just as the green poly water tanks (private property) become visible ahead, you’ll see some pink tape to your left/more steeply uphill. Follow those, heading due south by the compass, staying just left of a pile of broken rocks.

It’s hard to follow for a while, due to open country. GPS coordinates will be out soon. In the meantime, keep going up the steep-ish hill, staying more or less left. There will always be pink tape, and always be some cut brush to help find your way. If you’re crawling through brush, you’re off track. Very soon the track angles back right along the ridge, at which point the track is pretty obvious for the rest of the hike up the ridge to the summit of Mt Ned.

Take a first aid kit, water, sunscreen, etc. It takes from about an hour to about an hour and a half to the summit. If you don’t want to go all the way, there are a couple of rock outcrops along the way on your right that also provide great views. Watch for snakes. After the first steep ascent, it meanders between gentle angles and steep. Once at the top someone has left a rope with knots that you can climb into a crack, then across to the summit rocks. Another way is to go around that boulder, angle right, and crawl through a small hole in the rocks. You’ll figure it out. Fantastic views of Mt. Wills, Benambra, the Bundara River Valley, and the ridgeline that the Falls Creek road follows to the Bogong High Plains. Something cool to do with students or friends when in Anglers Rest. Cheers!

Getting There

Follow Google Maps from Melbourne to Anglers Rest Campground, Anglers Rest, Victoria, next to the Blue Duck Inn Hotel.

About the Author

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Darren Edwards is the founder of Trail Hiking Australia. With decades of hiking experience and as a search and rescue volunteer, he shares his passion for exploring Australia’s great outdoors safely.

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