Summary

The walk, the forest, the fauna, the flora, the fungi, the view, the joy. This is a beautiful 5.7km walk to the summit and back

Description

This dirt track is used by people driving vehicles to the summit exclusively for the view. However, walkers have the advantage of experiencing all the other pleasures the reserve has to offer along the way. The gradient increases to a steep rise near the summit. Driving part of the way is an option for a shorter walk.

At 799m, Mt Wombat Lookout offers an excellent 360 degree vista. There are views of Mt Buller, Waranga Basin and Goulburn Weir at Nagambie in the distance.

The summit is home to communications towers and a Forest Fire Management (FFM) Lookout. During fire season, a watchful eye is kept on the surrounding region. Make sure you don’t stand in the way of the fire spotters working in the tower. Mt Macedon, Mt Matlock and Mt Useful are other FFM Lookouts that can be seen from Mt Wombat.

A Trigonometric Point is also located at the summit. These typically consist of a black disc on four metal legs or a pillar, resembling a navigation beacon. Another disc is located directly below the centre point or on the pillar itself. Trig points are generally located on prominent points in the landscape. These points were useful to surveyors as reference points for measuring distance, direction and assisting in the creation of maps. For those involved with Geocaching Australia, the Mt Wombat trig point is a cache you can log on their website.

Sunrises and sunsets can be as impressive as you could wish for. Watching approaching storms is an awesome experience. Observing resident wedge tailed eagles riding thermals at their flight height is something special as well.

The Flora and Fauna Reserve offers many natural world delights. Messmate, bluegum and stringybark dominate the canopy. Seasonal changes make this a location worth exploring all year round. Summer can be harsh and dry; autumnal fungi displays add colour to shortening days; winter offers wet ferny hollows, falls, orchids, mosses, liverworts and lichens; spring sees native wildflowers appear in abundance. And don’t forget to keep your eyes open for the local wildlife.

There is even more to this fascinating reserve though. Woodland often gives way to massive walls of sheer granite rock face, jewel like baubles of solid stone litter the ground to complement weathered rock flakes in every shape and size you can imagine. Rocky prominences invite climbing. Huge boulders require skirting. Giant marbles appear tenuously fixed in position, looking like a gentle push should send the crashing to forest floors hundreds of metres below.

There’s a lot more to Mt Wombat than many think. Next visit, don’t just stop at the top, go a bit further afield. Mt Wombat is a wonderland in its own right.

Park at intersection of Mt Wombat Rd and Mt Wombat Lookout Rd

Restrictions
Pets not permitted.
No toilets
No potable water
No camping
No firearms
Take rubbish with you
Vehicles/motor bikes on formed roads only

9970 Views

Points of Interest

1. The track through the forest

Beginning at the bottom of Mt Wombat Lookout Rd, this dirt track takes you all the way to the top. It is a relatively easy walk through beautiful forest, but gets very steep near the summit.

2. The wildflowers

Spring sees new life emerge in the form of wildflower displays. The subtle beauty of indigenous species across the reserve will be appreciated by anyone with a botanical interest .

3. The moss and the lichen

Rock littered slopes, dark hollows and mountain altitudes combine to create an ideal environment for contrasting soft mosses of vivid green and paper textured green-grey lichens.

4. The fungi

Come autumn, the air is damp, the ground is wet and fallen timber decomposes into nurturing humus. Diverse species of fungi proliferate in this open woodland, adding colour to the forest floor.

5. The granite

Massive granite boulders sit poised on vast granite pavements throughout the reserve.

6. The view

Mt Wombat offers extraordinary 360 degree views extending from alpine Victoria to the northern plains.

7. The Fire Lookout

Perched high above the world, Mt Wombat Fire Lookout houses vigilant Forest Fire Management crew throughout the fire season.

8. The sunsets

Mt Wombat sunsets are famous for their colour and glory. For storm chasers, there is a whole new dimension to experience as brilliant light illuminates animated cloud banks to create dramatic displays

Features