Sunday Drive to Craig's Hut Mt Sterling

havachat

havachat

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Jan 23, 2013
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Location
near Healesville Victoria Australia
Car Year
2002
Car Model
Forester SG
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1.447 low range 4.44 diffs
Sunday Drive to Craig's Hut Mt Stirling

Last Sunday I took the trouble and strife to Craig's Hut for a day trip. Craig's hut was built on Mt Stirling as a set for the 1983 Australian film the Man from Snowy River. It is a replica of a high country cattlemens hut.

We left home at 10.30 am and headed up over the Spur to Mansfield arriving just after midday. We stopped at the Mansfield Produce Store for lunch. A good feed and not too expensive.

From Mansfield we headed out on the Mt Buller Road to Mirimbah at the base of Mt Buller and Mt Stirling. After going through the entry gates to the Alpine National park you turn left onto Mt Stirling Road and leave the black top on a rough 2dw track. At this point I aired down to 24psi and we headed up Mt Stirling to Telephone Box Junction.

At Telephone Box Junction we headed onto the Circuit Road (2wd track) to the left. Craig's Hut is about 20 km from here.

After winding along this road for approximately 17 km you turn right on to Clear Hills track which is a steep narrow 4wd track that takes you to Craig's Hut. The views from here are quite spectacular.

You need to watch out for oncoming traffic as Clear Hills track is quite narrow with washouts.

I will post some photos.

We then returned home via the same route.

A word of warning. You can continue along the Clear Hills track from Craig's Hut to the summit of Mt Stirling and onto Howqua Gap and then back onto the Circuit Road or to Mt Buller. Unless your car has lift I would not recommend it as this track is quite challenging once you leave Craig's hut.

This area has many interesting high country huts and Bindaree Falls are also well worth a look.

Earlier this year I went to Craig's Hut via King Basin Road with the Subaru 4wd Club. If you go this way be prepared for about 10 river crossings !
 
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An area I know well. I generally go up Clear Hills track, and down Monument track to make a loop of it rather than descending back down Clear Hills track.

If you do continue all the way along Clear Hills track, I've found the hardest section to be the ascent just before the Geelong Grammar School hut. Interestingly enough, this section of track is shown on the ski trail map as black diamond, whereas the rest of the track is only blue. I guess it's not just 4WDs that find this section difficult!
 
Looking forward to see a few pics of your trip havachat :)
From the sounds of it, I'm guessing you had a great time :raz:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Yeah, mate, I would also like to see some photos when you have the opportunity to upload/post some.

Glad that you had a nice outing :).
 
When we arrived in the car park there were quite a few Landcruisers and Patrols massively raised with over sized mud terrains on. You get this funny sideways look from them, as if to say what are you doing here :rotfl:
Some photos :raz:
A view of surrounding mountains

a view from the front verandah

Rear of Craig's hut

Fence around the hut

Craig's hut

My Subi in the car park

 
That looks really nice, HC :ebiggrin:.

Nice photos, thanks.
 
I gather from various reports that The Monument track is in pretty bad shape. I would check with the RMB before venturing down or up it.
I will be at the lodge at Mt Buller this weekend so I will enquire about it.
 
Nice pics :biggrin:

havachat said:
When we arrived in the car park there were quite a few Landcruisers and Patrols massively raised with over sized mud terrains on. You get this funny sideways look from them, as if to say what are you doing here :rotfl:
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Haha, yeah I got that too :rotfl:

A guy on horseback was impressed though, saying "you dont get many lifted Foresters" :biggrin:
 
havachat said:
I gather from various reports that The Monument track is in pretty bad shape. I would check with the RMB before venturing down or up it.
I will be at the lodge at Mt Buller this weekend so I will enquire about it.
Click to expand...

If you go there, don't forget the camera for pics/vids :iconwink:
 
I think Craig's Hut has to be the most frequented ORS destination.:cool: I think it was one of the first Trip Reports ever posted.:ebiggrin:

Wish I could pay a visit.:iconwink:
 
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