Mt Hotham is arguably the most attractive ski village in Australia and definitely one of the most popular.
During winter, it is a glitzy and fashion-conscious resort, combining great skiing and infamous après-ski entertainment. However, during the warmer months it’s also home to a variety of summer adventures and the perfect location to explore the Mt Hotham Alpine Resort and the surrounding Alpine National Park on foot.
Here is part two of our two-part feature on the best walks in the Hotham area (click on part one here).
The Huts Walk
Grade: Moderate/demanding
Time: 6-7 hours
Distance: 18km circuit
Start: The walk is accessible from the Great Alpine Road at the Alpine Crossing Trail Head, Loch car park or Davenport Access Track.
The historic huts of the high country occupy some of Australia’s prime real estate and many can only be reached by foot. The Huts Walk connects three of Hotham's significant historic huts, each representing an important role in the development of Hotham Alpine Resort. Spargo’s Hut is State Heritage registered and one of the oldest intact structures in the resort. It was built by prospector Bill Spargo and his brother Cecil in 1927-8 for Bill's prospecting and mining activities. Derrick Hut was built as a day shelter for ski tourers by the Wangaratta Ski Club in 1967 and is a memorial to Charles Derrick, a cross country skier who died in a blizzard in 1965. The original Silver Brumby Hut was built in 1992 as a temporary film prop for the Australian film The Silver Brumby, based on the famous novel by Elyne Mitchell. The present hut was built in 2006-7 as a replica of the original.
Brabralung Trail
Grade: Moderate
Time: 4 hours
Distance: 12km one way
Start: Starting from the General Store at Hotham Village, follow Davenport Drive south past Little Mount Higginbotham where the trail continues past Wire Plain and Whiskey Flat into the Alpine National Park.
This ancient mountain pathway runs parallel to the Great Alpine Road, linking the Hotham Resort to the Dinner Plain village. The trail features interpretive signs highlighting the Indigenous association with the high country. Brabralung is the Gunaikurnai name for the region of Gippsland. It means male, Berry Worcat (female), means ‘the people’. Panoramic views of the high country are found with numerous spots to rest and picnic along the way. Camping is permitted at JB Hut, a former cattlemen’s post with remnants of yards built in the 19th Century for catching wild horses. You may also see resident emus at JB Plain.
Mt Loch Summit Walk
Grade: Moderate
Time: 2-3 hours
Distance: 7km return
Start: The walk starts from Mt Loch car park, about 1km before Mt Hotham village on the Great Alpine Road.
The fourth highest mountain in Victoria, Mount Loch stands at 1887m in elevation. The Mt Loch summit trail (starts as a vehicle track) begins to the left of the water storage facility and heads towards the summit, which you can spot in the distance. The slopes to your right are part of the Mt Hotham ski resort, so you’ll see plenty of signage, ski runs and idle lifts. This breathtaking walk offers panoramic vistas of the High Country plains and perhaps the best vantage point to view Mt Feathertop. You know you’ve reached the summit (with rock cairn) when you’ve passed the fascinating columnar rock formation, a rocky outcrop that has formed an impressive rock wall.
Summit Walk
Grade: Easy/Moderate
Time: 1.5 hours
Distance: 2.5km return
Start: The route starts from the base of the Summit Trainer ski lift in the Hotham village.
This pleasant short walk is a good introduction to the Hotham area and allows hikers to get their bearings. From the Summit Trainer ski lift, the trail climbs up the grassy slope through the snow gums to the 1861m summit of Mt Hotham. On a clear day, Mt Buffalo, Mt Feathertop, and Mt Buller can be seen. The summit can also be reached via a track from Diamantina Hut.
Wonderland Trail and Christmas Hill Trail
Grade: Easy/Moderate
Time: 3 hours
Distance: 8km circuit
Start: Two access points are located at Mt Hotham Village on the Great Alpine Road (near Wire Plain).
A combination of linking trails, this route features Christmas Hill Lookout, Big Spur Picnic Point, Brandy Creek Mine Lookout and the Wonderland Trail. It provides a taste of the village’s rich diversity of Indigenous flora that exists within the resort, ranging from stunted shrubs, grasses, and herbs on the mountaintops, to the twisted and multi-coloured bark of snow gums within the subalpine woodlands. This loop is ideal for cross-country skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing.
Need to know
Weather: The mountainous areas of the Alpine National Park are very exposed, and visitors should be prepared for poor weather at any time, including rain, snow and strong winds (even in summer). Conditions can change extremely quickly. Do not go bushwalking or hiking on days that are rated severe, extreme or catastrophic. For more info on the Mount Hotham area visit mthotham.com.au