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- Description:
About 2 hours drive,
160Km ENE of Melbourne. Mt St.Gwinear is on the north (or north-east)
side of the BawBaw plateau, close to Mt Baw Baw on the other side,
a comfortable XC day trip away .
Mt Baw Baw(see separate entry) is just
over 1500m high, and
is roughly centre south of the Baw Baw plateau. Eastern end is
Mt.Erica. Views north and east towards the
Mt.Hotham and Mt.Buffalo area.
No downhill facilities at St. Gwinear :-)
Easy parking, uncongested trails, toboggan run.
Ranger's office, First Aid room, day shelter and change rooms,
ski-hire/school. Good for XC: beginners, families, day trips
from Melbourne or Gippsland/Latrobe Valley.
- How to get there:
- By car:
Via Princes Hwy, from Melbourne or
from Central or East Gippsland, go via Moe to
Erica (Last pub, petrol. Good ski-hire) and on towards Thomson Dam.
Turn left (signposted) on to gravel road. Road is narrow in places,
and the wooden creek bridges can be treacherous in freezing conditions.
About 5-10 Km unsealed road to the Ticket
collection box. Another 10-15Km to the carpark.
Chains must be carried and fitted as instructed at Ticket Office.
- Dates:
Open around Queen's Birthday weekend. Finished usually by mid-September
(sometimes due to 'lack of interest' rather than snow). Ski hire
stops operating if no snow (call before you leave if you need to hire).
Baw Baw plateau often gets snow first when the cold fronts hit, as the
southernmost mainland spot over 1500m, but it rarely gets over a metre depth,
typically 20-30cm max and a week of rain or good weather sees it melt away
due to the lower altitude.
Often gets a dump of wet porridge (spring snow) in late August or early
September.
Check
Victorian school holidays for busy times.
- Nordic Trails:
Good beginners' and intermediate trails. There are two tracks up
to the summit "Bowl" area. The "walking track"(for summer) is
steeper but shorter. The road is better for beginners. It's
uphill all the way to get to the nice places, but remember
that makes it downhill all the way home to the carpark.
A delight in the right snow conditions, difficult when icy.
Marked trail(s) to Mt Baw Baw. Scope for off-track touring and
snow camping.
- Useful Phone Numbers:
- St.Gwinear Snow Report (03) 5165 3481
- Further Information (03) 5165 3204
- Ski and Snow Chain Hire:
- St Gwinear Ski Hire,
Main Rd, Erica 3825 ........ (03) 5165 3353
- Aussie Ski Centres,
72 George St, Morwell 3840 .. (03) 5134 2594
- Karls Mega Sports,
24 Princes Hwy, Traralgon 3844 (03) 5176 1912
- Mountain Designs,
Southside Central, Princes Hwy, Traralgon 3844 ...(03) 5174 4877
- Mt Baw Baw Snow Report Line .....................(03) 5165 1126
- Alpine Region Commission
[Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort Management Board] Mt Baw Baw Office
- Tourist Information ...(03) 5165 1136
- FAX ...................................... (03) 5165 1125
- Buln Buln Shire Council Road Maintenance
Quality Roads, Emergency Freecall .............. 1800 000720
- State Emergency Service Erica
- Emergency Number .............. (03) 5165 3281
- East Regional Headquarters (24 hours)
82 Moore St Moe 3825 .......... (03) 5126 1500
- Parks Victoria [Baw Baw National Park]
Parks Information & Emergency Calls ........... 13 1963
- Miscellaneous:
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