Discover the Mansfield area's beauty spots
- drive or walk to scenic and historical areas
- Jamieson tours
- places to ride your horse in State Parks in the Mansfield district
For further information, consult the following information sources:
1.Website of Parks Victoria www.parkweb.vic.gov.au.
The Parks Victoria website is the most reliable source of information for the State parks in the Mansfield area.
It gives you details of:
Change of Conditions , Things to Do , Facilities , Heritage , Looking After the Park , Precautions , How to Get There , Special Needs Access , Nearby Parks , Guided Activities , Publications
Use the site's Search facility and access printable publications regarding details and requirements of the parks.This information helps you get the best out of your local camping experience.
2. Parks Victoria Mansfield office via 13 1963 for further information.
3. Mansfield Visitor Information Centre
Railway Station Precinct, 167 Maroondah Highway, Mansfield
Telephone: 1800 039 049
Fax: (03) 5775 2518
Email: reservations@mansfield-mtbuller.com.au
Website: http://www.mansfield-mtbuller.com.au
to obtain Parks Victoria and other camping information.
Things to see:
Monument Highton Manor Lake Nillahcootie Goughs Bay Bonnie Doon Powers Lookout Mt. Samaria State Park Merrijig Howqua Hills Historia Area Howqua Other Activities
Monument
The centre of the roundabout at the intersection of High and Highett Streets, Mansfield features an imposing marble monument. It was erected in 1880 as a tribute to Constables Lonigan and Scanlon and Sergeant Kennedy, who were killed by Ned Kelly at Stringybark Creek, near Tolmie, in 1878. They are buried in the Mansfield Cemetery, which is situated at the end of Highett St.
Highton Manor - The imposing Highton Manor, in Highton Lane, was the town's first two storey brick home. Built in 1896, it features impressive stained-glass windows. Its original owner, Francis Highett, was a Victorian tennis champion. He was also a notable singer and he performed duets with Dame Nellie Melba and sang in St Paul's Cathedral in London. Highett was given to long bouts of solitary meditation in the tower, where he communicated with his family through a speaking tube, which remains in the Manor.
Highton Manor now offers a range of guest accommodation and is a functions venue.
top
Lake Nillahcootie - Sailing, fishing, canoeing and boating can be enjoyed on Lake Nillahcootie, and picnics and swimming are popular around the shores. Lake Nillahcootie is 20 km north of Mansfield, adjacent to the Midland Highway.
Goughs Bay - on Lake Eildon, is 20 km south of Mansfield, off the road to Jamieson. Nearby is the Delatite Arm Reserve. This is a good area for boating, water-skiing, fishing and camping.
Bonnie Doon is a small town of approximately 300 people, at the northern end of the lake, 21 km west of Mansfield, on the Maroondah Highway.
Various types of accommodation are available there. Ahh, the serenity!
top
Powers Lookout
Powers Lookout is situated off the Mansfield-Whitfield Road to the north-east of town, and offers spectacular scenery of the King River Valley. The name is derived from the fact that it was once a vantage point for bushranger Harry Power. A 15-year-old Ned Kelly was charged as being an accomplice of Power in 1870, but the charges were dismissed for want of evidence. Head north-east along the Mansfield-Whitfield Rd for 44 km and turn right onto the gravel road. The lookout is approximately km away.
Mt. Samaria State Park
Mt. Samaria State Park (7600 ha) is an attractive and forested semi-remote area, which encloses a rugged plateau to the north of Mansfield. It was long used by Aborigines prior to the grazing and logging practices of the European settlers. Wildlife is abundant, as are wildflowers in Spring. There are waterfalls, magnificent stands of trees, scenic views and abundant birdlife. Visitors can enjoy scenic walks and drives, picnics, camping, bushwalking and photography. Access can be gained by heading north along the Whitfield Rd for 10 km. At Bridge Creek, continue ahead instead of following the bitumen road veering right, towards Whitfield. After 4 km, take the turnoff on the right to Blue Range Rd.
For details ring the Department of Natural Resources on (03) 5761 1611 or Parks Victoria on 131 963. The park can also be accessed from the north.
top
Merrijig
Merrijig, 19 km south-east of Mansfield on the Mt Buller Rd, is a small town which has a resort complex. The area to the north of town was used in the filming of “The Man From Snowy River” and its sequel. A major rodeo is held there on the Labour Day weekend in March. A variety of accommodation options is available in the area including bed-and-breakfasts, guesthouses, cottages and cabins, and the resort.
There are picnic areas beside the Delatite River at Merrijig and further east on the Mt Buller Rd at Sawmill Settlement and Mirimbah.
Howqua Hills Historic Area
The Howqua Track heads south-east from Merrijig to the Howqua Hills Historic Area. The Howqua River was used as a major trade and war route across the Great Dividing Range for the Aborigines. They used the hard greenstone outcrops along the river for manufacturing spearheads, stone axes and cutting tools.
This land was taken up as part of the Howqua run by the Watson and Hunter Pastoral Company in the 1830s and it is still being used for grazing purposes.
Gold was discovered in the valley in the 1860s and a major reef was located the following decade. Three large companies were established and the township of Howqua was proclaimed in 1888. There was an hotel, a post office, some boarding houses, a blacksmith's and a butcher's. Mining ceased with the closure of the “Great Rand” in 1905 and the village was deserted. A number of relics remain from the gold-mining days. There is a brick chimney associated with a smelting furnace. Further east is a 100-metre tunnel which was cut through Tunnel Spur to bring water from the Howqua River to a 4-km water race. The race, which conveyed the water to an 18-metre waterwheel located near the chimney, can be seen above the road which links Tunnel Spur and the chimney.
Fry's Hut and Pickering Hut were both built by local bushman Fred Fry whose life formed the basis of Nevil Shute's novel “The Far Country”, which was later filmed in the area. They cannot be used for overnight camping. However, camping is permitted at Sheepyard Flat where shepherds yarded their sheep at night. Fry's Flat has summer access only and Davon's Flat is a day visitor and horse camping area with horse yards. The historic area is ideal for camping, bushwalking, fishing and horse riding.
top
Howqua
Howqua is not actually a town but rather a locality on the edge of Lake Eildon, near the junction of the lake and the Howqua River. It is a popular spot for waterskiing, boating and fishing. There is a caravan park with a general store, which also hires out houseboats. Other accommodation possibilities are also offered. There are boat-launching facilities on the lake 's edge.
Horse riding, Camel Treks, Water sports and Other Activities
The excellent alpine and lakeside scenery of the area lends itself to excellent trail riding and there are a number of outfits to cater to that .
Abseiling, mountain-bike riding, trekking, white-water rafting etc. can also be pursued.
Joy flights are available from the airport, high country 4WD tours are available from November to May, and trout-fishing tuition and camping trips are available as well.
Hot Air Ballooning is another popular thing to do.