Victorian High Country (Wonnangatta / Dargo)

The Victorian High Country is a different kind of hard to the tropical crossings up north. Around Wonnangatta and Dargo the challenge is steep, greasy climbs, off-camber ruts and long days between fuel, all wrapped in some of the best mountain scenery in the country. Our team treats this as camper and 4WD territory, with the touring vans left down on the sealed approaches. ## Vans, campers and where each belongs The graded dirt roads into Dargo suit a capable off-road van in the dry, and Dargo makes a good base with a pub, fuel and a camp. The alpine tracks themselves are another matter. Billy Goat Bluff, Blue Rag Range and the run into Wonnangatta Station are for 4WDs and off-road camper trailers only, which is why we rate this a camper build rather than a full van trip. If you are weighing your setup against terrain like this, our [rig rating guide](/articles/can-my-van-do-this-rig-rating-explained) lays out the logic. ## Wonnangatta Station and the river The Wonnangatta Valley is the prize, a remote grassy basin ringed by peaks with the historic station site at its heart. Getting in means river crossings on the Wonnangatta and Dargo Rivers and tracks that turn slick with any rain, so most people come in via Talbotville and camp along the river flats. Craigs Hut, rebuilt after the fires and famous from the film, sits over on the Mount Stirling side and is an easier drive worth adding to the trip. ## Seasonal closures are the rule, not the exception This is the point most trip plans get wrong. Many High Country tracks sit inside the Alpine National Park and close over the colder months, typically from the June long weekend through to late spring, to protect wet tracks and for snow. Gates are locked and fines apply. Plan your run for the summer and autumn window and always check Parks Victoria for current closures before you commit, because the dates move with the seasons. ## Fuel, weather and self-reliance Fill up at Dargo or Mansfield and carry more than you think you need, as there is nothing between the two over the tops. Mountain weather turns fast, so pack for cold nights even in January, carry recovery gear and traction boards for the clay climbs, and take a satellite communicator because reception drops out across most of the range. A winch and a rated tree protector earn their keep on the wet descents, and a set of quality traction boards will get you out of most clay bogs without one. ## Making a trip of it Link the High Country into a longer loop with our touring plans, and browse [national parks](/parks) for camping around the Alpine and Dargo areas. It pairs well as the mountain leg of a broader [Big Lap](/itineraries/the-big-lap) for anyone chasing cooler country between the desert and the coast. Take it slowly, read the weather, and treat every wet descent with respect, because a track that was fine on the way up can be a very different animal after an afternoon storm.