November 8 A wonder-filled, gorgeous, gorge-full day!

It was indeed a day of gorges cut through the landscape by either the Snowy or one of its tributaries. 

First we made a chance stop along the road when we spotted W-Tree Falls off to the left. We climbed over the safety railing and walked to the falls for a look see and I was soon looking for Streaked Rock-orchids. We searched around rocks and boulders but nary a one did we find but we did see other lovelies - leathery ferns and Violet Daisy bush. We were in the Mount Dawson-Plum Gully warm temperate rainforest. Quite lovely. The W-Tree creek - yes that is its name, flows into the Buchan River and eventually reaches the Snowy. 

Further upstream we pulled off the road to walk to the Tulloch Ard lookout (fascinating name which I think means the high hillock and evidently was the Clan MacKenzie's war cry and slogan). This overlooking the Snowy and in the Snowy River National Park. The NP is awe inspiring encompassing some of Victoria’s most rugged and remote country. 

Mountain Grey Gums, Messmates, pepper gum, wattles, bush pea, ferns and vines as you descend to the Tulloch Ard lookout

This mammoth tree is showing healthy regrowth. 

On the lower slopes where it is more exposed to drying winds and sun, Red and White Stringy barks, Silvertop Ash. 

The view of the river valley was breathtaking 

Burnt out forest on the other side of the valley

A steepish track took us down to a absolutely stupendous view - that’s right ‘down’ then we had to walk back UP! But we were ‘up’ for it - but only just. 

Sticky hops bush

Sweet mauve daisies nodded as we passed by on the track 

I love the myriad colours of the new growth 

These stems were the most beautiful shade of mauve

We heard a Rufus Whistler somewhere in the trees and called it closer by playing its call on my bird app (that’s been a real boon)  curious little  fellow (Lindsay’s pic)

Somewhat desiccated fungi growing on wombat poo. 

This blob is a Tubifera ferrugino slime mould and was growing on a burnt out tree stump. May not be pretty but everything has a purpose on the forest. 

A short walk close by took us to an old Mountain Grey Gum which was a giant - you can just see Lindsay’s head at the bottom of the pic.  But then it was back in the car to go further upstream to Little River Falls and Gorge, the deepest in Victoria. Tributaries like Little River, and Suggan Buggan, drop over the hard volcanic rock cliffs creating magnificent waterfalls and deep gorges. 

Little River falls were huge and thunderous 

Little River Gorge. After a steep descent - again! We came upon this view. It was breathtaking.  The gorge is 4km long and is up to 500m deep. On the right of the pic you can see where Wulgulmerang Creek plunges 300m down the gorge wall.

Some 400 million years ago when Australia was still part of Gondwana, this area saw intense and explosive volcanic activity.  The plateau you can see above the gorge is thought to be part of an ancient plain which was uplifted when Australia and Antarctica separated.

Steep drop!



Suggan Buggan mallee clinging to rock face as do some pretty flowers.

We have explored as many spots as we could actually get to along this mighty river which travels ~400 Km from the slopes of Mt Kosciusko to the sea at Marlo. Through gorges, churning rapids, places around Buchan where it has carved great caves and chambers in the rock, a place where there is evidence of human occupation dating back 20-30,000 years. We have seen wider, sometimes lazy places where other rivers and creeks join the Snowy on its way to the sea or meandered in long lazy loops. 

The places we have been are: MacKillops Bridge, Little River gorge and falls, Raymond Creek Falls (when I took my own fall - eek, fortunately with no permanent damage), Balley Hooley, Woods Point, and of course a number of points closer to the estuary. Sadly not for want of trying we couldn’t get in to Long Point, Basin Creek Falls. Managed to wander a little at Ash Saddle but couldn’t make it to Betts Creek where the creek join the Snowy. We didn’t do badly for all that.