Pretty Valley ~ Mt Jim Circuit Walk, Alpine National Park - March 2021

Conditions were a little bleak up on the Bogong High Plains today.

On all my walks across the Bogong High Plains I've never got around to climbing the rather diminutive Mt Jim, either the weather has been less than favourable or I've been fixated on getting to a spot further down the track. With Sam and I enjoying the good life in Falls Creek for a couple of days I figured that the time was right to check out this little mountain. It wasn't all sweetness and light today though, waking up in Falls Creek this morning I could see that the cloud was almost down to the village level which didn't bode well for my walk. After a relaxing breakfast it was around 9:00 am when I eventually headed off up to Pretty Valley, the visibility in the mountains was still bugger all however there was also a fairly significant rain event which was predicted to come through in the mid afternoon and there is only one thing worse than a walk up here with no visibility... yeah you guessed it, a walk with no visibility in the rain!

I parked up near the horse yards / camping area today.

Not having been to Pretty Valley before I parked the ute up at the camping area this morning although in hindsight I could of parked down at the dam wall and saved a couple of hundred metres of walking. Setting off into the gloom (yes, the cloud was still down) I dropped a 100 metres or so down towards Pretty Valley Pondage before swinging south along the Cope Saddle Track. Sections of this walk are along closed 4wd management tracks and the Cope Saddle Track was one of those, although with only around 100 metres of visibility this morning it didn't really matter that I was walking a 4wd track. There is a snow pole line heading along here leading out to Cope Saddle Hut and it was possible to follow the pole line a couple of spots and short cut a bit of meandering along the 4wd track.

Setting off across the High Plains I enjoyed the Snowgums materialising out of the mist.

Easy going along Cope Saddle Track this morning.

I shortcut a few of the meandering on the 4wd track by following the snow pole line.

A Bogong High Plains Snowgum.

Dropping back down to re-join the Cope Saddle Track.

The Bogong High Plains can be a bleak spot.

Like I said... bleak.

With the bright red roofed Cop Hut emerging out of the mist I left the 4wd track and picked up the Australian Alps Walking Track as it climbed the gentle flanks of Mt Bundara. The AAWT along here is following the Hotham to Bogong numbered snow pole line so getting lost would be fairly hard even in poor visibility, although a winter blizzard could push the limits. Mt Bundara has a copse of mature Snowgums on it's summit and I always enjoy checking out these majestic trees, even in todays misty conditions they grabbed my attention. Climbing a little further the AAWT crested a gentle and very broad saddle and suddenly I had Mt Jim in front of me, and in even better news the little summit was largely clear of cloud.

The small Cope Saddle Hut has just come into view.

I joined up with the AAWT at Cope Saddle and headed west for awhile.

I was climbing the gentle slopes of Mt Bundara now.

These Snowgums on Mt Bundara are always worth a stop.

The little Red Robins kept me company this morning.

Looking down towards the start of the Cope West Aqueduct from the AAWT.

The mist has lifted from Mt Jim.

Climbing a bit further up the AAWT I picked a spot that looked like I'd get an easy walk through the scrub and set off to climb Mr Jim. As far as off piste walking goes the climb of Mt Jim was a pretty easy walk although there are still a few issues to be aware of. The first issue is if you leave the AAWT too early and make a bee line for the summit of Mr Jim you could find yourself crossing some very boggy ground - I climbed a fair way up to pass above the damp stuff at the head off a broad gully and avoid most of the sphagnum moss areas thankfully. Another issue is that the final few metres to the trig is up some loose rock, you may pick up a pad here though. The third issue is that the basalt rock is reputed to play havoc with walkers compasses up on Mr Jim, although even with the variable visibility today there was no real need to break out the compass as the navigation was pretty strait forward. Once on the broad summit of Mt Jim I meandered around the rocky summit little taking in the best views, the Razorback, Mt Lock and even Mt Feathertop all peeking through the cloud on occasion. It's not just the long range views that are a feature from this centrally located mountain though, once again the gnarly twisted Snowgums are a feature up here too - or maybe it's just me who gets so enthused about these old trees!

I managed to avoid most of the swampy ground on my climb of Mr Jim.

Heading across country towards Mt Jim.

Climbing up the flank of Mt Jim.

There are some very nice gnarly old Snowgums up on Mt Jim.

A lone walker striding out along the AAWT - taken from my lofty perch up on Mt Jim.

The summit of Mt Jim is a flat plateau - this is the view through the Snowgums eastwards.

Mt Jim

I got some glimpses across to The Razorback from Mt Jim.

Mt Feathertop even teased me a bit while I was up on Mt Jim.

After half an hour enjoying Mt Jim I grabbed my pack and set off again. I was now dropping back down to once again meet up with the AAWT, this time I was aiming to meet the AAWT at pole number 333, the spot where both the Westons Hut Track and the Tawonga Huts Track branch off the AAWT. I actually joined the AAWT a couple of poles from the intersection today. After chatting to some Parks Vic volunteers for awhile who were our renewing some Hotham to Falls Track signage at pole 333 I set off north west towards Tawonga Huts. This section of track has some stunning views in good weather and I was lucky today that the cloud lifted enough that I was able to get some nice glimpses across towards Mt Feathertop and also north along the range towards The Jaithmathangs and The Fainters. After some great walking my track (and snow pole line) dropped down onto the Fainter Track and I made the shortish side trip down to check out Tawonga Huts.

Contemplating the rest of the day as I got ready to head off from Mt Jim.

Dropping off Mt Jim down onto the High Plains.

The Bogong High Plains, Alpine National Park.

I'd left the AAWT now and was heading across towards Tawonga Huts.

Mt Feathertop

I'm about to join up with the Fainter Fire Track.

Tawonga Huts are a ramshackle collection of old cattleman's huts and the spot is a popular camping spot for walkers. Arriving at the huts today there were some more Parks Vic volunteers out doing a bit of a clean up but no walkers camping here yet, although it was just after lunchtime. After poking around the huts for awhile I left the volunteers to their work and set off on the last leg of my walk back to the ute. Leaving the huts I retraced my route back up Fainter Track and after avoiding my inward route from the AAWT I climbed up to a high point overlooking the Pretty Valley Pondage, passing a substantial memorial to an old cattleman who worked the High Plains for decades. 

Tawonga Huts is a collection of small huts that was sometimes known as The Village by the old cattleman.

Tawonga Huts is a very popular camp for walkers now days.

Stopping to admire the scenery on the climb out of Tawonga Huts.

Looking back across to The Jaithmathangs on the climb away from Tawonga Huts.

The old cattleman's cairn above Tawonga Huts is a handy navigation aid as well as a poignant memorial. 

It looked like the weather was still holding for me this afternoon which was a good thing as when I passed over the high point on Fainter Track I suddenly had a vista that not only included the lakes but also the 4wd track snaking its way into the distance up the hill on the other side of the valley, I wasn't expecting that! Still with Fainter Track making for fairly easy and quick walking it wasn't very long before I was shuffling my way over the Pretty Valley Pondage Wall. After chatting to some horse riders (yes, I do a lot of chatting) I shuffled off up the far side of the valley, passing my outward route along Cope Saddle Track I was soon back at the ute in camping area, somewhat ironically in the sun! 

Cresting the high point on Fainter Fire Track I could see my track climbing the far side of the valley.

Pretty Valley Pondage.

Pretty Valley Pondage.

The Dirt.

According to my GPS I walked around 17.3 kilometres and climbed around 494 metres on what I'd call a medium grade walk. This walk follows a combination of mostly closed 4wd tracks, sections of walking track (including a bit of the AAWT) and an off track section. With the exception of the off track climb and descent of Mt Jim the going is all pretty strait forward on this stroll as far as the navigation goes, even the climb of Mt Jim is pretty straight forward in clear conditions. I used the notes and map out of Glen Van Der Knijff's book Victoria's Bogong High Plains book along with an old Bogong Alpine Area Vicmap and Rooftop's Bright - Dartmouth Adventure Map.

Relevant Posts.

Little Plain to Cope Creek, Bogong High Plains Circuit, Alpine National Park, 2019.

Mt Hotham to Cope Hut, AAWT, Alpine National Park, 2017.

I had one last climb up Fainter Fire Track...

... before I arrived back at the ute.

Limeburners Bay Walk, Hovells Creek Reserve - January 2021

There is a nice boardwalk section on this walk.

Heading home from a trip out west today I found myself with a few hours to spare, so not wanting to miss an opportunity to go for a walk I decided to drop into the Hovells Creek Reserve at Corio and check things out. Now the last time that I'd visited Corio was many, many decades ago with my old man in his truck. Yes, Corio is generally more well known for its heavy industrial sites than it is for nature and bushwalking. Still, as anyone who drops by my blog would probably already suspect, I quite enjoy doing walks that are a little off the radar and this little stroll was definitely off my radar.

The Trailhead is well signposted.

I was only going as far as the Mangrove Boardwalk this afternoon.

So... leaving the ute at the large car park at the end of Forshore Road I grabbed my pack and set off to explore this side of Limeburners Bay a little. Initially this afternoon I meandered my way north along a sealed shared path that mostly contours a little up above the waterline. The views from my track back towards the yachts at the Corio Bay Yacht Club bobbing in the blue water being particularly good. I was also enjoying the views off the track down to the salt marshes that line this side of Limeburners Bay, the colourful salt tolerant plants that live in the environments always come up good in photographs - particularly under a bright blue sky like I was enjoying this afternoon. After ten minutes or so the track arrived a stile that would of allowed my to get over the fence and onto a side track, although with the stile having an open gate beside it I took the easier option as I headed up to check out the decaying ruins of an old settlers homestead. 

The walk starts from the car park above the Corio Bay Yacht Club.

The Hovells Creek Trail skirting around Limeburners Bay.

Limeburners Bay.

Limeburners Bay.

The Hovells Creek Trail.

I made the short side trip to check out this old homestead.

Retracing the hundred metres or so from the old homestead back down to the main track I continued on my walk along the shoreline of Limeburners Bay. I was now shuffling my way towards the spot where Hovells Creek enters Limeburners Bay, a spot that is easily identified by the Mangroves lining the bay at that point. Reaching another track junction I now left the main shared sealed shared path and headed out along what is the best section of this little stroll, a boardwalk that meanders it's way through the Mangroves and out to Hovells Creek. Now while I really enjoyed this bit of my my stroll it wasn't all sweetness and light, being a Mangrove mud flat meant that the sandflies (midges) were pretty horrific and the lack of a breeze wasn't helping the situation. The boardwalk is an out and back job and it finishes at a small platform over Hovells Creek which I guess would make a good spot for a bit of fishing if it weren't for the bloody sandflies (check on the legalities of fishing here first though). 

Back on the main track I continued towards Hovells Creek.

There is a substantial amount of birdlife on Limeburners Bay. 

I left the Hovells Creek Trail here and dropped down to the Mangroves.

Limeburners Bay birdlife from the boardwalk.

There are some nice views towards the You Yangs along here.

After hopping around taking a photo upstream along Hovells Creek towards the distant You Yangs with one hand, while swatting away the swarms of biting insects with the other, I headed off back along the boardwalk on a fighting retreat. I was now basically retracing my outward route back to the ute and as usual on these retrace type walks I was relying a bit on the change of direction to add a bit of a different perspective. The main change of perspective that I had on my return walk was that of the Geelong skyline looming over the water of Corio Bay in the distance... well that and the Petro Chemical Stacks of Corio looming in the middle distance.

Hovells Creek.

Hovells Creek Reserve.

That's Geelong across Corio Bay in the distance.

Hovells Creek Reserve.

Salt Marsh, Hovells Creek Reserve.

After retracing my way almost back to the ute I decided to change things up bit by walking the salt marsh flats for the last few hundred metres. Just after crossing the last gully on the shared path I passed though a gate and dropped down to water level before heading south for a couple of hundred metres towards a small sand spit. I was a little dubious that the ground here would be firm enough to support my substantial bulk as I had visions of me sinking knee deep into stinking black mud, however thankfully my fears were unfounded (this time!) and I was easily able to negotiate this short section. After getting off the soft damp section I arrived onto a very pretty little sand spit that protruded out into the blue water of Limeburners Bay, now if I closed my eyes and used every ounce of my well developed Feral imagination I could almost imagine I was walking somewhere tropical here... yeah, almost! With no Pina Coladas on offer here though I shuffled my way off the sand spit back to the ute and headed for the Lara BP Service Centre on the M1 for my refreshments, who'd want to be on a tropical island anyway?!

Limeburners Bay.

Heading back along the Hovells Creek Trail and the walk was almost over... yes, it's a short stroll.

I dropped down to the waterline here and walked the salt marsh out to the small sand spit.

Sand spit, Limeburners Bay.

The Dirt.

According to the GPS I walked 4.3 kilometres and climbed 34 metres on this very easy stroll. This walk should be doable for wheelchairs and strollers if you give the short homestead side track a miss (it's pretty average anyway) and stay on the shared path at the end and not drop down onto the salt marsh. As I've mentioned above I like these kind of obscure walks and this one pretty well fits the bill, now more often than not obscure could really be interchanged for crap however in this case the walk was actually pretty good. I particularly like the hardy salt tolerant vegetation that ekes out an existence in these spots and the boardwalk section through the Mangroves made for a comfortable way to get up close and personal. I found this stroll in Julie Mundy' book Best Walks of Geelong, the Bellarine and the Brisbane Ranges and I used those notes and map along with my GPS topos today.

Relevant Posts. 

Big Rock Walk, You Yangs Regional Park, 2019.

You Yangs Walk, You Yangs Regional Park, 2016.

If I really, really used all my imagination I could almost be in the tropics..?

The Corio Bay Yacht Club from the end of the spit.

Limeburners Bay.