MountSamariaStatePark

VisitorGuide

Setintall,shadyeucalyptforest,MountSamariaStateParkoffersacool,quietretreatforwalking,campingandpicnicking.ExperienceavarietyofbreathtakingviewsovertheVictorianAlps,graniteoutcrops,andhistoricremains.

Howtogetthere

SuperbLyrebird

Naturalfeatures

Geologicalhistorydatesto500millionyearsagowiththedepositingofmarinesandsandsilt.Morerecentactivity(50millionyearsago)causedtheupliftsthatformtheridgesofthePark.

Thevariationinsoils,firehistoryandaltitudehascreateda wide rangeofhabitats.BeneaththemajesticBlueGumsandMountainGreyGum,themoistenvironmentsupportsadenseunderstoreyofwattles,dogwoodandbracken.Thedrierforestsofstringybarks,boxesandpeppermintsexposeanopenunderstoreyofhardyshrubsandtussockgrasses.Anarrayofwildflowersincludepeas,triggerplants,everlastingdaisies,milkmaidsandorchids.

MountSamariahostsavarietyofAustralianwildlifeincludingkangaroos,wallabies,wombats,echidnas,possumsandgliders,andthegraniterocksprovide warmhomesforavarietyoflizardsandsnakes.Thepark is alsoahavenformany

MountSamariaStateParkis130kmnorth-eastofMelbourne,28kmsouthofBenallaontheSamariaRoadviaSwanpool,and14kmnorthofMansfieldviatheWhitfieldRoad.Agravelroadtraversestherangefromnorthtosouthand,althoughsteepandrockyinplaces,isopenallyeartomostvehicles.

Thingstoseeanddo

Campingandpicnicking:SpringCreekSawmillandSamariaWelloffercampingandpicnickingfacilities.Walk-incampsitesareatWildDogFallsCreekandCamphoraandallsiteshavetoiletsandfireplaces.Creekwaterisavailableatmostsites,butsupplymaybelimitedduringdrierperiods.Supplyyourowndrinkingwater.

Advance booking and payment for camping required year round.

No fees apply to these campsites.

Walking:Theparkfeaturesarangeofwalkingtrackstoexperiencethesemi-remotenatureofthepark.Seemapforfurtherdetails.

Lookouts:ExperiencespectacularviewsfromMtSamariaSummit,RockyPointLookoutandWildDogCreekFalls.

Wildflowers:Duringspringandearlysummertheforestisalivewithbrilliantdisplaysofwildflowers.

birdsincludinglyrebirds,rosellasandthe

Wedge-tailedEagle.

Heritage

TheSamariarangeswereasourceoffoodforthelocalAboriginalcommunity.DuringtheEuropeansquattingerainthe1840s,muchoftheareawasheavilygrazed.

Blessedwithmagnificentstandsofmaturetrees,theSamariarangecameunderthescrutinyoftimbercutters,andinthe1920ssawalargescaletimberindustryinoperation.By1928,failingyieldsledtotheclosureof themillsandloggingbecameintermittentuntilanareaofabout7000hectareswasdeclaredasStateParkin1979.

SpringCreekSawmillruins,includingkilnsandmoundsofsawdust,canstillbefound.

July2015

FormoreinformationcalltheParksVictoriaInformationCentre

on131963orvisitourwebsiteat

MountSamariaStatePark

Recreational Facilities

0500 1000

1500

Highway Sealedroad Unsealedroad Vehicletrack

StatePark Otherpublicland Referencearea Waterbody

Boatramp Camping Campsite-Walkin Carpark

Lookout

Parkinformation Picnictable Toilets

METRE S

Cartography by Spatial Vision 2002 M/5155

Walkingtrack Gate

Fireplace

MELBOURNE*

To Benalla

Wangaratta

Benalla

Myrtleford

•Whitfield

MOUNTSAMARIASTATEPARK

•Mansfield

LimaSouth

Samaria Well

B300

To Wrightley

For further information

Mansfield Visitor Information Centre (Railway Station) Mansfield, Vic 3722

Tel: 5775 7000

BenallaVisitor Information Centre 14 MairStreet

Benalla, Vic 3672

Tel: 5762 1749

LakeNillahcootieDayVisitorArea

LAKE NILLAHCOOTIE

MountSamariaSummit953m

WildDogCreekFalls

SpringCreekSawmill

KilnRuin

Thompson's Mill

Caring for the environment

Help us look after your parks by remembering these guidelines:

Please take rubbish

MountSamariaWalks

(Distancesareoneway)

Wild Dog Falls & Lookout - 1.5km

From Mt. Samaria Road the track leads to the top of the waterfalls where you can enjoy views

Falls

Camphora Campsite

BLUERANGEREFERENCEAREA

(NoAccess)

home with you for

recycling or disposal

All plants, animals, archaeological sites and geographic features are

protected by law

Dogs and other pets are not permitted

Firearms are prohibited Light fires only in fire

places provided

No fires, including barbecues, may be lit

on a day of

TotalFireBan.

Mount Samaria is in the

NorthEastTotalFireBanDistrict

over Lake Nillahcootie and the Strathbogie Ranges.

Back Creek Falls - 1.5km

Agentlycascadingwaterfall,accessible from the start of the WilemanTrack off Mt Samaria Road.

Mt. Samaria Summit

At a height of 953m, the summit offers 360 degree views across theAlps and lowlands.

-4.8km (from Sawmill site) (Moderate to Steep)

To Mansfield

-2.5km circuit (from Mt. Samaria Rd)

(Steep)

Tramway Walk - 3.8km

Begin near the Spring Creek Sawmill site and follow the old timber tramway down to the remains of the Braking

BackCreekFalls

RockyPoint

Lookout•

BlueRangeCreekPicnicCampingArea

Vehicles, including

Station.

The Bald Hills

motor bikes, may only be used on formed open roads. Drivers must be licensed and vehicles registered and roadworthy

WilemanTrack - 7km

Links Back Creek and Wild Dog Creek Falls.Leavevehicleatthegatesateach end or return along the main road.