The Horn

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    The Horn

    Mount Buffalo National Park

    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.

    Things to do

     
    Water cascades down the granite rockface at Eurobin Falls.

    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.
    A campground host at Lake Catani talks to two visitors about the campsite.

    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.
    A group of abseilers descend into the Gorge at Mt Buffalo with views of the Bogong High Plains in the back ground.

    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.
    The Horn

    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.

    • Rocky Creek Hike-in Camping Area (Mount Buffalo National Park)

      Rocky Creek Remote Campsite Closed until late spring early summer

      The remote walk-in campsite at Rocky Creek will be closed until works can be undertaken to address fire-affected tree risks at the site as a result of the fires in summer 2020. Due to access difficulties over winter, work is likely to be completed by late spring or early summer. Visitors are still able to access the other remote walk-in campsite at Mt McLeod which was not impacted by fire.

    • Notices Affecting Multiple Parks

      Seasonal road closures 2020

      Some roads in this park are subject to seasonal road closures. Seasonal road closures generally operate after the long weekend in June through to the end of October, but may be extended due to seasonal conditions. View the list of 2020 seasonal road closures for details and check the corresponding map numbers with the seasonal road closure 2020 index map for locations of the closures or visit the seasonal road closures page for more information.

      Deer control operation underway

      Deer control is being undertaken in this park between September and December 2020. This operation poses no risk to visitor safety.

    • Dicksons Falls Nature Walk (Mount Buffalo National Park)

      Dicksons Falls and Back Wall tracks closed due to fire

      The fires during January this year burned through the area from The Horn to Cresta Valley.

      The Dicksons Falls and Back Wall tracks ere impacted and will remain closed to visitors until infrastructure destroyed by the fires is repaired, including bridges and signage.
      Visitors are asked to not use these walking tracks during this period.
      Visitors are able to access the nearby Horn and South Buffalo walking tracks but are asked to remain out of all other burned areas.

    • Mount Buffalo National Park

      Aerial shooting operation underway

      Parts of Mt Buffalo National Park, i.e. the area north west of the Mt Buffalo Tourist Road and the areas south of Cathedral Saddle, will be closed from Monday 21st to Friday 25th September (inclusive).

      This is to ensure safe implementation of an aerial shooting program targeting feral animals, to protect native species impacted by bushfires.

      Attachments: MtBuffaloNationalPark_change in conditions (484KB)

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