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

    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).

    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 due to flood impact

      The following tracks are closed due to impact by storms and flood. Crews will assess and reopen when safe:The following tracks are closed due to impact by storms and flood. Crews will assess and reopen when safe:
      • Cobberas Track
      • Ingeegoodbee Track
      • Little Cobbler Track
      • McFarlines Flat Track

      Mt Pinnibar Track - deteriorated condition

      Mt Pinnibar Track between Walkers Road and Tom Groggin Track has deteriorated significantly following recent storm and flood events.
      Visitors are advised to consider alternate routes until repairs can be carried out.

      Early seasonal road closures 2023

      Early seasonal road closures apply to areas within and tracks bordering the Alpine National Park from 1 May 2023. See MapshareVic for locations of the closures. Visit the seasonal road closures page for more information.

      Alpine National Park- Planned aerial shooting operations targeting deer

      Parts of the Park will be closed during these dates while aerial shooting operations targeting deer are undertaken.

      Areas include Mt Bogong, Bogong High Plains, Dinner Plain, Dargo High Plains and Feathertop. 
       
      29 May-2 June 2023
      5-9 June 2023
       
      See attached map for more details. 

      Attachments: Alpine NP Aerial Shooting Information (685KB)

      Road Conditions – Howitt, Tamboritha and Moroka Roads.

      Howitt, Moroka and Tamboritha Roads in the Foothills and Southern Alps area of the Alpine National Park are currently recommended for all wheel drive and four wheel drive vehicles with sufficient clearance and appropriate tyres as move into the cooler months. Road maintenance works have been completed on sections the Howitt and Moroka Roads in summer 2023. Vehicles travelling on the Howitt, Tamboritha (unsealed section) and Moroka Roads require attention to variations of the surface condition. Allow more time for your journey and always drive to the conditions.

    • Notices Affecting Multiple Sites

      Mt Selwyn Road closure

      Mount Selwyn Road is closed between the intersections of Five Ways and Canyo Road between May 2023 till approximately December 2023 due to significant road works being undertaken on this section of road.

      Alternate routes are Dingo Creek Tk - Great Diving Range Tk - Mt Selwyn Rd, Selwyn Creek Rd - Great Driving Range Tk - Mt Selwyn Rd or Selwyn Creek Rd - Tea Tree Range Rd - Mt Selwyn Rd or Walshs Tk - East Buffalo Rd - West Humffray Rd - Selwyn Tk. - Please check seasonal road closures prior to departure as these might affect your vogue.

      In the interest of visitor safety this road is closed between May 2023 till approximately December 2023.

    • Davies Plain Hut & Camping Area (Alpine National Park)

      Early seasonal closure for Davies Plain Track and Kings Plain Track, Alpine National Park

      Kings Plain Track and Davies Plain Track between Buckwong Creek Camping Area (at Tom Groggin) and Charlies Creek Camping Area are seasonally closed to all vehicles from 1 May to 30 November inclusive. Sections of Davies Plain Track north of Buckwong Creek Camping Area (at Tom Groggin) and south of Charlies Creek Camping Area are seasonally closed to vehicles between the 2nd Thursday in June and the Thursday before Melbourne Cup day.

      Attachments: Davies Plain Track seasonal closure section_1 May - 30 Nov (258KB)

    • 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. These areas will remain open to visitors during operations.
       
      Alpine National Park (Bogong High Plains, Mount Bogong, Dinner Plain, Dargo High Plains, Foothills and Southern Alps)
      Buchan Caves Reserve
      Burrowa-Pine Mountain
      Cape Conran Coastal Park
      Cape Liptrap Coastal Park
      Cabbage Tree Creek Flora Reserve
      Errinundra National Park
      Lake Tyers State Park
      Lakes National Park
      Baw Baw National Park
      Mount Buffalo National Park
      Mount Mittamatite Regional Park
      Mount Mitta Mitta Flora Reserve
      Mount Lawson State Park
      Mount Granya State Park
      Mountain Creek Education Area
      Pheasant Creek Flora Reserve
      Wabba Wilderness Park
      Wilsons Promontory National Park

      For more information about deer control to protect biodiversity, please visit this link.

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