Wonnangatta Valley
Overview
This tour covers the best of what Victoria’s High Country has to offer. The Alpine National Park is Victoria’s largest, protecting the state’s highest peaks and diverse alpine environment. The Wonnangatta Valley area in the southern section of the Alpine National Park is a legendary part of Victoria’s High Country, offering some of the best mountain tracks in the country. It provides a demanding 4WD adventure playground with steep ascents and descents, significant water crossings and plenty of low-range work as we traverse the iconic “must do” tracks of the high country. The tour will also pass through the Dargo High Plains area which hosts one of the high country’s best known 4WD tracks, Blue Rag Range Track. This tour offers a 4WD challenge complemented by spectacular scenery, breathtaking views from cliff-top lookouts, crystal clear mountain streams, diverse wildlife, clear night skies, high country huts, and the ruins and mines of gold mining towns, in a true high country setting.
Duration: 6 days, 5 nights
Start: Mansfield, Vic | Finish: Bright, Vic
Drivers: Suitable for all levels of off-road driving experience. The high country tracks will challenge and excite experienced off-road drivers. For those new to off-road driving, the advice and tuition provided by our experienced guides will ensure you are progressively prepared to safely tackle even the most difficult sections of the tour.
Vehicles: Vehicles require a raised clearance, dual range and all-terrain or mud-terrain tyres. An extended breather kit for critical drivetrain components is highly recommended due to potentially deep water crossings. A snorkel is recommended. You will need to carry enough fuel for 375km range (factor in low range and the terrain) as it will be at least 340km between fuel stops. Recommendations: 4 cylinder diesels, 85L; V8 diesels, 100L; any petrol, 135L.
Camping: All 4x4 Explore tours are suitable for tents, swags, etc. This tour is not suitable for any form of trailer or caravan due to the nature of the tracks on the route.
Overview
This tour covers the best of what Victoria’s High Country has to offer. The Alpine National Park is Victoria’s largest, protecting the state’s highest peaks and diverse alpine environment. The Wonnangatta Valley area in the southern section of the Alpine National Park is a legendary part of Victoria’s High Country, offering some of the best mountain tracks in the country. It provides a demanding 4WD adventure playground with steep ascents and descents, significant water crossings and plenty of low-range work as we traverse the iconic “must do” tracks of the high country. The tour will also pass through the Dargo High Plains area which hosts one of the high country’s best known 4WD tracks, Blue Rag Range Track. This tour offers a 4WD challenge complemented by spectacular scenery, breathtaking views from cliff-top lookouts, crystal clear mountain streams, diverse wildlife, clear night skies, high country huts, and the ruins and mines of gold mining towns, in a true high country setting.
Duration: 6 days, 5 nights
Start: Mansfield, Vic | Finish: Bright, Vic
Drivers: Suitable for all levels of off-road driving experience. The high country tracks will challenge and excite experienced off-road drivers. For those new to off-road driving, the advice and tuition provided by our experienced guides will ensure you are progressively prepared to safely tackle even the most difficult sections of the tour.
Vehicles: Vehicles require a raised clearance, dual range and all-terrain or mud-terrain tyres. An extended breather kit for critical drivetrain components is highly recommended due to potentially deep water crossings. A snorkel is recommended. You will need to carry enough fuel for 375km range (factor in low range and the terrain) as it will be at least 340km between fuel stops. Recommendations: 4 cylinder diesels, 85L; V8 diesels, 100L; any petrol, 135L.
Camping: All 4x4 Explore tours are suitable for tents, swags, etc. This tour is not suitable for any form of trailer or caravan due to the nature of the tracks on the route.
Overview
This tour covers the best of what Victoria’s High Country has to offer. The Alpine National Park is Victoria’s largest, protecting the state’s highest peaks and diverse alpine environment. The Wonnangatta Valley area in the southern section of the Alpine National Park is a legendary part of Victoria’s High Country, offering some of the best mountain tracks in the country. It provides a demanding 4WD adventure playground with steep ascents and descents, significant water crossings and plenty of low-range work as we traverse the iconic “must do” tracks of the high country. The tour will also pass through the Dargo High Plains area which hosts one of the high country’s best known 4WD tracks, Blue Rag Range Track. This tour offers a 4WD challenge complemented by spectacular scenery, breathtaking views from cliff-top lookouts, crystal clear mountain streams, diverse wildlife, clear night skies, high country huts, and the ruins and mines of gold mining towns, in a true high country setting.
Duration: 6 days, 5 nights
Start: Mansfield, Vic | Finish: Bright, Vic
Drivers: Suitable for all levels of off-road driving experience. The high country tracks will challenge and excite experienced off-road drivers. For those new to off-road driving, the advice and tuition provided by our experienced guides will ensure you are progressively prepared to safely tackle even the most difficult sections of the tour.
Vehicles: Vehicles require a raised clearance, dual range and all-terrain or mud-terrain tyres. An extended breather kit for critical drivetrain components is highly recommended due to potentially deep water crossings. A snorkel is recommended. You will need to carry enough fuel for 375km range (factor in low range and the terrain) as it will be at least 340km between fuel stops. Recommendations: 4 cylinder diesels, 85L; V8 diesels, 100L; any petrol, 135L.
Camping: All 4x4 Explore tours are suitable for tents, swags, etc. This tour is not suitable for any form of trailer or caravan due to the nature of the tracks on the route.
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The tour will visit several historical huts including Howqua Gap Hut, Bluff Hut, Lovicks Hut, and the iconic Craigs Hut of The Man From Snowy River fame, which was built as the set for the 1982 film.
The route weaves its way around the Wonnangatta Valley area, we will see crystal clear mountain streams and waterfalls and tick off “must do” tracks such as the Monument, King Billy, Zeka Spur, Herne Spur, Cynthia Range, Basalt South and Bulltown Spur. As we travel the Crooked River Track, we will cross Crooked River some 25 times.
We will camp at Wonnangatta Station and explore the old homestead and cemetery. We will also visit the historic Grant area which flourished with the gold rush in the 1860s, and there will be time to explore an old gold mine, the old town and cemetery.
As our tour heads north into the Dargo High Plains area we will establish our last camp at a little known gem with spectacular views, before tackling our last iconic high country track, Blue Rag Range.
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The tour commences at Mansfield, Victoria at 3:00pm on Day 1. Depending where you are travelling from, we could arrange to link up in Gundagai, Wodonga or another convenient place. We will take the opportunity to refuel in Mansfield before heading east towards Mount Buller and making our first camp. The next day we will visit several of the many huts around this part of Victoria’s High Country, including the iconic Craigs Hut of “The Man From Snowy River” fame, which was built as the set for the 1982 film.
Over the next few days we will weave our way around the Wonnangatta Valley area, ticking off “must do” tracks such as The Monument, Zeka Spur, Herne Spur, Crooked River, Basalt South and Bulltown Spur. As we travel the Crooked River Track, we will cross Crooked River some 25 times! We will also visit the historic Grant area which flourished with the gold rush in the 1860s, and there will be time to explore an old gold mine, the old town and cemetery. As our tour heads north into the Dargo High Plains area we will establish our last camp at a little known gem with spectacular views and the bonus of mobile phone reception. Day 6 will see us tackle our last iconic high country track, Blue Rag Range, before we head down the mountain to our release point in Bright by 2:00pm, where you will be able to refuel before heading home. All but our last camp have drop toilets, and you will be able to make use of other drop toilets we will pass on our route. You will need to bring your own water for drinking and cooking.
Having done this tour and explored the southern section of the Alpine National Park, you will want to experience the northern section too and conquer the steep slopes of Mt Pinnibar, so have a look at our Davies Plain tour. You could also expand your 4WD experience from mountains to desert with one of our Simpson Desert tours.
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Our Wonnangatta Valley tour is offered at the start and of each year due to seasonal road closures. Upcoming dates are:
2024:
Sun 1 - Fri 6 December 2024: book by 24 November 2024
Sun 15 - Fri 20 December 2024: book by 8 December 2024
2025:
Sun 5 - Fri 10 January 2025: book by 29 December 2024
Sun 16 - Fri 21 February 2025: book by 9 February 2025
Sun 30 November - Fri 5 December 2025: book by 21 November 2025
Sun 14 - Fri 19 December 2025: book by 5 December 2025
Bookings
Book and pay online now, or contact us if you wish to pay by bank transfer or arrange to pay a deposit now to reserve your place and the balance six weeks before your tour departs.
You may also contact us to discuss a group booking, to propose alternate tour arrangements if our scheduled tours are not quite what you are after, or to discuss a custom private or corporate tour.
Please read our Terms of Service before booking.
“★★★★★ Five star rating. This was my second trip with these guys, awesome experience and very professional. Fid (Shane) led great drives through some beautiful country and tested us all to our limits. Even when I thought the terrain and track was too difficult, Fid’s experience and calm explanation/instruction of what to do and how to handle each stage made the drive so enjoyable and I was able to overcome my hesitance and saw/enjoyed spectacular scenery that I would have otherwise missed. Shane and his team relate to all ages and abilities and made both my 17yo daughter and 10yo son feel very welcome and included in the trip. I feel so much more confident after what I learned and can’t wait for the next opportunity to camp with these guys again. Thanks Shane and team!!”
“★★★★★ Five star rating. We spent Easter in the Victorian High Country with 4x4 Explore, hosted by Shane and Heather. We had a fantastic time, exposed to challenging tracks, unlocking breathtaking views. Shane and Heather’s organisation was spot on, with interesting historical information on the Wonnangatta Valley and Grant gold mining area. Although some of the driving was challenging, we felt safe and in control the entire weekend, due to Shane and Heather’s preparation and guidance. I would thoroughly recommend these guys if you are after a guided 4x4 experience.”
“★★★★★ Five star rating. Have just returned from an extremely well run trip into the Victorian High Country. Fid is a natural leader, who is able to support all skill levels and provide knowledge and advice on a wide variety of topics - from tyre and suspension advice, to recovery techniques (he ran a couple of informal sessions on use of winches, snatch straps etc. that left us all much more confident in our ability). He even cooked a couple of (to die for) dampers sharing his technique with all. I highly recommend a trip with 4x4 Explore, knowing that Fid will bring it all together himself - you won’t get a ‘rostered trip lead’ from a larger company.”
“★★★★★ Five star rating. What a fabulous Easter break we had in the VHC. Thanks Shane and Heather for your expertise and guidance. It gave us so much confidence and can’t wait to get out there again.”