explore-hotham

Trek 2 - Precipice Plain, Dogs Grave, Oriental Claims & Omeo

Trek 2 Dogs Grave

Precipice Plain, Dogs grave, oriental claims, omeo opt: kings cassilis mine, victoria falls

Trek 2 Dogs Grave Map

Precipice Plain, Dogs Grave, Oriental Claims, Omeo OPT: King Cassilis Mine, Victoria Falls.

Start The General Store

Head South on the Great Alpine Road heading towards Dinner Plain and Omeo.(Toilets inside the 24H Transit Lounge - Mt Hotham Resort Management Office)

9.8 km JB Plain Hut on Right

Stay on Great Alpine Road.

1.3 km Dinner Plain Track on Right

Turn right onto Dinner Plain Track, just before Dinner Plain Hut (on Left).CAUTION Track is difficult to see, if you miss the turn, continue to Dinner Plain turn-off and come back.NOTE – Engage your vehicle’s 4wd system if available.(Toilets available at Dinner Plain)

4.6 km Precipice Plain Lookout on Right

Park in the marked area and walk 100 m over flat ground to the edge of a cliff with great views west towards Mt Tabletop and Mt Blue Rag.CAUTION – Stay back from the cliff edge, as the ground can be unstable. Keep a close eye on any children.(Photo opportunity)

7.0 km Victoria River Track on Left

Turn left onto Victoria River Track.

2.4 km Black Sallee Lake on Right

Turn right to Black Sallee Picnic area.When you are ready return to Victoria River Track (turn left to return to Dinner Plain Track)

2.4 km Dinner Plain Track Junction

Turn left onto Dinner Plain Track.

19.2 km Birregun Road Intersection

Turn right onto Birrigun Road.

2.6 km Dogs Grave Track on Left

Turn left into Dogs Grave, 

350 m Dogs Grave Picnic Area

Take time to explore the area and pay tribute to a little mate. When you are ready return to Birrigun Road.(Picnic area with, tables, fire pits and toilets)

350 m Birrigun Road Junction

Turn right onto Birrigun Road. 

18.1 km Upper Livingston Road Intersection

Turn left onto Upper Livingston Road.

6.3 km Cassilis Road Intersection

Turn left onto Cassilis Road.OPTION – If you turn right onto Cassilis Road, then travel 12.7 km, you can explore the King Cassilis Mine ruins (return to Upper Livingston Road intersection when you’re ready).

7.3 km Great Alpine Road Intersection

Turn right onto Great Alpine Road.

250 m Oriental Claims Historic Area

Turn left into Oriental Claims Historic Area, keep right on the dirt and travelling 650m will take you to the Picnic Area and suspension footbridge.  The track to the left is a short 400 m drive to a lookout platform (worth the visit). When you’re ready return to the Great Alpine Road and turn left.(Picnic area with fire pit and toilets)

2.0 km Omeo Township

Explore the historic Omeo township.  When you are ready return to the Great Alpine Road and turn towards Mt Hotham.(Fuel, food, shops and toilets)

7.8 km Kosciusko Lookout on Right

Turn right into Kosciusko Lookout.  When you’re ready return to the Great Alpine Road and turn right towards Mt Hotham.(Picnic area and photo opportunity)

12.5 km Victoria Falls Track on Right

OPTION – Turn right onto Victoria Falls Track.CAUTION – Track is difficult to see, it is drops off the side of the road on a left hand bend, if you miss the turn, continue up the road and come back.(Refer to Precipice Plain Trip for Trek Notes)(Toilets through camping area 800 m from Great Alpine Road) 

22.6 km Dinner Plain on Left

Stay on Great Alpine Road.(Toilets available at Dinner Plain)

11.5 km The General Store Mt Hotham

This is the end of this journey! 

Dinner Plain Track  
Narrow track with minimal facility for overtaking/passing, containing ruts, water drainage mounds, uneven terrain, sharp turns, short steep descents and ascents.

Birregun and Upper Livingston Roads
Unsealed road, typically well maintained with overtaking/passing opportunities, containing sections of corrugations and/or potholes.

Victoria Falls Track
 
Formed dirt road with reasonable overtaking/passing opportunities, containing sections of corrugations, steep drop-offs, uneven terrain and potholes.

Precipice Plain, Dogs Grave, Oriental Claims, Omeo 
From tributes to the working bush dogs of the cattle graziers to the digging habits of gold miners, this well-paced trek giving you the option to delve a bit deeper into the history of the region, without having to take to extremes of 4WDriving.  The monument to ‘Boney’ the drover’s dog will reveal some of the hardships for man and beast in the remote corners.  A detour through the pretty Cassilis Valley will take you to the sites of ore treatment plants where quartz reef miners went to extremes to extract gold from complex ores.  Back on the Great Alpine Road on the way into Omeo, take time to walk amongst the towering cliffs of the Oriental Claims, where the hydraulic cannon of the alluvial miners blasted away millions of cubic metres of hillside between 1876 and 1904.  Take time at Omeo to wander the heritage landscape and absorb the atmosphere of a mountain township built on gold.