Enjoy a picnic with a view at The Horn before climbing to the highest point in Mount Buffalo National Park and surveying the folded mountains of the Great Dividing Range stretching into the distance. The Horn is the perfect place to enjoy a sunset or sunrise within an easy drive of the beautiful Alpine town of Bright.
Perched on top of granite cliffs at the edge of the Mount Buffalo plateau, The Horn is a unique landscape. Dotted here and there among the great boulders are the twisted, sun-bleached trunks of Snow Gums that have succumbed to bushfires over the years. A stone lookout shelter perched precariously atop the cliff overlooks all of this as well as the surrounding mountains far below.
Bring your lunch and enjoy the Alpine scene from the comfort of a table at The Horn Picnic Area. The picnic area isn't actually at the top of The Horn. You can access the summit via a short walk (45 minutes return).
This is also a popular place to watch a sunset. If you're lucky you might see little Australian Kestrels diving on Bogong Moths in the failing light. Otherwise, just enjoy the solitude of this mountain peak far above the worries of civilisation.
Bring your lunch and enjoy the Alpine scene from the comfort of a table at The Horn Picnic Area. The picnic area isn't actually at the top of The Horn. You can access the summit via a short walk (45 minutes return).
This is also a popular place to watch a sunset. If you're lucky you might see little Australian Kestrels diving on Bogong Moths in the failing light. Otherwise, just enjoy the solitude of this mountain peak far above the worries of civilisation.
Things to do
Ladies Bath and Eurobin Falls
At Ladies Bath Falls, water cascades into a perfectly clear pool of water, while at Upper and Lower Eurobin Falls, Crystal Creek spills spectacularly over a formidable granite escarpment.
Lake Catani Campground
Discover magnificent waterfalls and remote alpine landscapes while camping within beautiful Snow Gum woodlands beside Lake Catani in Mount Buffalo National Park.
The Gorge and Mount Buffalo Chalet
Home to historic Mount Buffalo Chalet, the Gorge is perched on 200m sheer cliffs and commands fantastic views over the Alps.
How to get there
The Horn
Mount Buffalo is 325 kilometres (three and a half hours’ drive) northeast from Melbourne along the Hume Highway. Either take the Snow Road exit just before Wangaratta or continue along the highway to the Great Alpine Road (B500) exit. Watch out for native animals, especially early in the morning and at dusk. Take care driving during winter. The main road is often snow covered from McKinnons Corner through to Cresta Valley. Snow chains must be carried and fitted when and where directed by road signs during the declared snow season. Horn Road is unsealed and can become dusty and rough. It is closed during winter or following periods of heavy rain. Horn Road is not suitable for caravans.
When you're there
The Horn Picnic Area is located just below The Horn which is the highest point of Mount Buffalo at 1,723 metres. The views from the picnic area are superb, but a walk along the Horn Track, which starts from here, will take you to another lookout with 360 degree views of the plateau and Australian Alps. The trail is 800m or 45 minutes return. The nearest toilets to the Horn Picnic Area are located at Cathedral Saddle.
Need to know
The Horn
Accessibility
Visiting a park can be more of a challenge for people with disabilities, however in Victoria there are a wide range of facilities to help people of all abilities enjoy our wonderful parks around the state.
Assistance dogs are welcome in Parks Victoria parks and reserves. Entry requirements apply for parks and reserves that are usually dog prohibited, such as national parks.
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.
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Notices Affecting Multiple Sites
Reservoir Road CLOSED
Reservoir Road is closed to vehicle traffic due to a small section of the road that is very boggy. Recent rain has hampered our efforts to fix the road. The road will remain closed now until the end of winter. Reservoir Road is seasonally closed from the Thursday after the Kings Birthday Long Weekend until September 15 or until road conditions allow.
The closure of Reservoir Road adds an additional 3kms each way for walks to Mt McLeod, Rocky Creek, Eagle Point and Og Gog & McGog.Parking is available at the junction of Reservoir Road and Mt Buffalo Road near the Vic Roads depot.Snow Report
Mt Buffalo National Park Snow, Road and Weather Daily Report
Time: 08.30hrs Date: Saturday 10th June 2023Current conditionsFresh snowSnow coverTemperatureDingo Dell Visitor CentreRain in the last 24hrs 2mmNo snow cover1°@ Mt Buffalo Park OfficeDingo Dell Café open 10am to 4.00pmeach day of the Kings Birthday long weekend (Saturday to Monday)TobogganingStatusConditionDingo Dell – elevation 1420mClosedNo snowCresta Valley - elevation 1480mClosedNo SnowSnowshoe Trails(Marked with snowshoe signs)StatusConditionClosedWalking onlyThe Hump – 1.5 kms returnClosedWalking onlySentinel – 1.5km returnClosedWalking onlyCresta Valley – 2kms returnClosedWalking onlyCross Country TrailsStatusLast Groomed (date)Beginners LoopNo snowBogong PlainNo snowHorn RoadNo snowVehicle chainsStatusTo be carriedYesCurrently being fittedNoWeather forecast for Falls Creek, Northeast (most like Mt Buffalo):Summary Max 1Snow showers. Chance of any rain: 80%Cloudy. High chance of snow showers. Winds northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h tending westerly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening.Sun protection not recommended, UV Index predicted to reach 2 [Low]View the Dingo Dell and Cresta Valley snowcams atMt Buffalo Weather StationThe Mt Buffalo Parks Victoria office has a new weather station on the roof (elevation 1320m). For current weather conditions and forecasting download the Davis WeatherLink app. Set Mt Buffalo Parks Office in your favourites. The Mt Porepunkah Fire Tower is the next closest Davis weather station to Mt Buffalo.Mt Buffalo Snow Reports are also posted on the Parks Victoria Mt Buffalo web page – click the tab ‘!This area has reported issues’. https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/mount-buffalo-national-park -
Mount Buffalo National Park
Planned aerial shooting operations targeting deer - Mount Buffalo NP
Parts of the Park will be closed during these dates while aerial shooting operations targeting deer are undertaken.14-18 November 202221-25 November 20228-12 May 202329 May-2 June 20235-9 June 2023See attached map for details.Attachments: Mt Buffalo Aerial Shooting Information (430KB)
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Notices Affecting Multiple Parks
Ground shooting operations targeting deer
Ground control operations targeting deer will be undertaken in these Parks and Reserves from December 2022 to December 2023.Alpine National Park (Bogong High Plains, Mount Bogong, Dinner Plain, Dargo High Plains, Foothills and Southern Alps)Buchan Caves ReserveBurrowa-Pine MountainCape Conran Coastal ParkCape Liptrap Coastal ParkCabbage Tree Creek Flora ReserveErrinundra National ParkLake Tyers State ParkLakes National ParkBaw Baw National ParkMount Buffalo National ParkMount Mittamatite Regional ParkMount Mitta Mitta Flora ReserveMount Lawson State ParkMount Granya State ParkMountain Creek Education AreaPheasant Creek Flora ReserveWabba Wilderness ParkWilsons Promontory National Park