Camping with your horse in the Bogong High Plains

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    Camping with your horse in the Bogong High Plains

    Alpine National Park

    Howqua Hills Historic Area

    Horse yards can be reserved in advance during the season. No fees apply.
    Reserve a Horse Yard
    The Bogong High Plains in the Alpine National Park protect pristine mountains, offering a unique horse riding experience during the summer season between 1st December and 30th of April, making it a very popular choice for horseriding.

    The most popular horse camps are Pretty Valley, Langfords West and Diamantina horse yards. These are ideal locations where riders can yard their horses close to camping areas and explore the High Plains from. These camping areas offer campsites, fire places and basic toilet facilities. Diamantina Yards in the West Kiewa offer low elevation riding and access to the Bogong High Plains via Westons Spur.

    Horse camps are also available at Fitzgerald Hut, Kelly Hut, Mc Namara Hut Dinner Plain on Youngs Hut Track, Tawonga Huts, Bogong Jack Saddle Hut, and Camp Valley/Cleve Cole Hut (access only via Long Spur and, NO access to Mt. Bogong summit, no riding past Cleve Cole Hut). These sites don’t include yards (temporary yards permitted).

    Parks Victoria has constructed yards at Pretty Valley, Langfords West and in the West Kiewa which can be booked using this page. We recommend bookings even if you have less than 5 horses due to high demand. No portable yards are permitted at this site.

    The maximum number of horses which can be booked depend on the size of the yards available and are 20 horses for Pretty Valley yards, 10 horses for Langford West yards and 15 horses for Diamantina Yards in the West Kiewa.

    For day rides and at remote sites, where no yards are provided (dispersed camping), the maximum number of horses is 20 (including riders and packhorses).
    Permits are required for any horseriding parties larger than 5 horses (day and overnight riding), please call the office to arrange your permit.

    Things to do in the area

     
    Two women sit beside the ephemeral Paradise Falls located near the headwaters of the King River in the Alpine National Park.

    Paradise Falls

    Paradise Falls cascade 31 metres and are most spectacular in spring, early summer or after rain. The walk to the viewing platform is a well‐made stepped track perfect for all ability levels.
    A woman hikes to the top of Mt Cobbler with spectacular views of the High Country in the background.

    Mount Cobbler Walk

    Enjoy a beautiful walk to Mount Cobbler and take in amazing views from the top of the mountain. The track is relatively steep and recommended for physically fit walkers.
    Two women ride horses along a dirt path in the You Yangs Regional Park.

    Horse riding

    Explore the landscape on horseback to appreciate the solitude and peace of the natural environment. Victoria's parks offer a variety of horse riding experiences.

    How to get there

    Camping with your horse in the Bogong High Plains

    Bogong High Plains
    Toilets

    When you're there

    The most popular horse camps are Pretty Valley, Langfords West and Diamantina horse yards. These are ideal locations where riders can yard their horses close to camping areas and explore the High Plains from. These camping areas offer campsites, fire places and basic toilet facilities. Diamantina Yards in the West Kiewa offer low elevation riding and access to the Bogong High Plains via Westons Spur.

    Horse camps are also available at Fitzgerald Hut, Kelly Hut, Mc Namara Hut Dinner Plain on Youngs Hut Track, Tawonga Huts, Bogong Jack Saddle Hut, and Camp Valley/Cleve Cole Hut (access only via Long Spur and, NO access to Mt. Bogong summit, no riding past Cleve Cole Hut). These sites don’t include yards (temporary yards permitted).

    Horse Yard Bookings

    Horse Riding Season: 1 December – 30 April inclusive.
    Bookings for the riding season will open on the 1 July each year.

    Yards can be booked in advance, no fees apply.

    Check availability

    Need to know

    Camping with your horse in the Bogong High Plains

    Change of Conditions

    Nature being nature, sometimes conditions can change at short notice. It’s a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates.

    • Alpine National Park

      Track closures - Alpine National Park (Eastern Alps)

      The following tracks in the Alpine NP (Omeo Management Area) are currently closed to all vehicles while condition assessments and repairs are being undertaken:
       
      Ingeegoodbee Track
      Cobberas Track
      MacFarlanes Flat Track

      Partial track closure - Besford Track, Alpine NP

      A severely water damaged section of Besford Track, within the Alpine National Park north of Benambra, is closed to all vehicles. There is no through access for vehicles on Besford Track between the Benambra-Corryong Road and Deep Creek Track.

      Early seasonal road closures 2022

      The following roads in the Alpine National Park are subject to early seasonal road closures.

      From 1 May 2022: Golden Ridge Track (Map 34D), King Spur Track (Map 34D), Long Spur Track (Map 34D), Shepherds Creek Track (Map 34D), and Kelly Lane (Map 34I).

      From 7 May 2022: Davies Plain Track (Maps 34F and 34G), and Kings Plain Track (Map 34F).

      From 16 May 2022: Bluff Track (Map 34A).

      See Map 34A: Alpine National Park (West A), Map 34D: Alpine National Park (Central), Map 34F: Alpine National Park (North East), Map 34G: Alpine National Park (East), and Map 34I: Alpine National Park (South West) for locations of the closures.

      Visit the seasonal road closures page for more information.

      Track Closure

      Mount Wellington and Moroka Range Tracks are closed due to four-wheel drive track maintenance works.

      Foothills & Southern Alps 4WD Track Maintenance


      Extensive roading maintenance work has commenced across vast areas of the Southern Alps. Works are occurring on various tracks in State Forest and the Alpine National Park north of Licola and will continue while conditions allow. We wish to inform visitors that the four-wheel drive network remains open, but you may encounter delays. Please contact the Heyfield Office for specific local information as machines will be moving throughout the landscape.

    • Notices Affecting Multiple Parks

      Deer Control (ground shooting) operation underway

      Deer control is being undertaken in this park from October 2021 to June 2022. Some localised access restrictions may apply. Find out more about this program. 

      Seasonal road closures 2022

      Some roads in this park are subject to seasonal road closures. Seasonal road closures generally operate from after the long weekend in June through to the end of October, but may be extended due to seasonal conditions. Visit the seasonal road closures page for maps and more information.

    • Frys Flat Camping Area (Howqua Hills Historic Area, Howqua River Heritage River)

      Vehicle access to Frys Flat Horse Yards

      The Howqua Hills Track between Sheepyard Flat South and Frys Flat currently requires 4WD capability and may not be suitable for the use of floats and trailers to transport horses into this area.  It is recommended that visitors inspect the track prior to crossing to ensure that they are comfortable with the condition of the track and have the ability to cross safely. 

      Parks Victoria are currently negotiating various approvals and permits required to undertake the necessary repair and maintenance to restore this section of track. 

      If you still wish to book and camp at Fry’s Flat with your horse, there are alternate methods of accessing the area.  You can:

      • Walk/ride horses in from Howqua Hills track (100-200m)
      • Walk/ride horse in from Martin/Fern or Spring street (across the river)

      Alternative camping areas with vehicle-accessible horse yards available for booking nearby are also found at: 

      • Tunnel Bend, Howqua Hills Historic Area (up to 10 horses, dogs permitted).
      • 7-mile Flat, Alpine National Park (up to 20 horses, no dogs permitted)
      • King River Hut, Alpine National Park (up to 20 horses, no dogs permitted)
      • Lovicks Hut (up to 20 horses, no dogs permitted) 

      For further information, please contact the Mansfield office on 03 5733 1200 and ask to speak to one of the PV Rangers. 

     
    Two hikers reach the summit of Mount Nelse at Bogong High Plains
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