Thursday, December 17, 2009

Carmichael Falls, Alpine National Park, Dinner Plain region




The Carmichael Falls are in the Alpine National Park, about 385 km NE of Melbourne.

Access is from the unsigned 4WD Dinner Plain Track, which starts at the junction of the Hotham Walking Trail and the Great Alpine Road, adjacent to the Dinner Plain Village.

The signed Falls Track branches off from the Dinner Plain Track about 500 m from the Great Alpine Rd.

The Falls Track winds its way down the valley, through snowgum forest, reaching the well-constructed Falls Viewing Platform.

The Falls drop down a vertical cliff for about 50 m.

A side track of about 50 m off the Falls Track goes to the top of the falls.

The walking diatance is about 2 km return, but the track is steep in sections, with a series of S-bends, and formed steps.

We drove along the rocky and rutted Dinner Plain Track from the Great Alpine Road to a small open space next to a gate, at the start of the Falls Track.

This rough vehicle track crosses water run-off from a creek originating in the adjacent Dinner Plain Village area, and care is needed if using a 2WD. Best to leave the 2WD at the Great Alpine Rd and walk down the track to the Falls Track.

The Dinner Plain Track continues south for several km, traversing the Proserpine Plain. Nearby is Table Mountain, which may be seen from several vantage points.

With my mate Mick, the Falls Track was explored on Sunday December 13, 2009, having driven up from Bright to Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain, as part of our 250 km Alpine Discovery Tour. After the Falls, we continued on to Omeo, then on the Mitta Mitta Rd, passing Angler's Rest, then along the newly sealed Bogong High Plains Rd to Falls Creek, then to Mt Beauty and back to Bright. That was a spectacular Alps Circuit Traverse, mostly in glorious sunny weather!

See the complete set of Pictures of our visit!

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