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Mitchell River
National Park
Visitor Guide
Mitchell River National Park protects impressive river scenery, serene rainforest gullies,
rugged landscapes and significant occurrences of some of Victoria's more unusual vegetation
communities. From open forest to remote river gorges, the park is home to a vast array of
indigenous flora and fauna, some at the furthest extent of their range. The park is an exciting
destination for outdoor enthusiasts and boasts unspoilt natural beauty and remoteness.
Location and access
Car touring
Mitchell River National Park is 320 km east of
Melbourne and 25 km northwest of Bairnsdale.
The Mitchell River divides the park into two
sections, east and west.
A network of 2WD roads and 4WD tracks enable
visitors to enjoy a wide range of activities.
Unsealed 2WD roads provide access to the three
main recreational areas within the park; the Den of
Nargun, Billy Goat Bend and Angusvale. Car
touring by 4WD enables access to the more
remote regions of the park.
From the Princes Highway (west of Bairnsdale),
approach the western section of the park via
Lindenow or Fernbank along the Bairnsdale Dargo Road to Waller Road. The eastern section
is accessed via the Glenaladale Road and Weir
Lane.
Mitchell River is heritage listed and is part of a
260km system which flows from the Great
Dividing Range to the Gippsland Lakes. Home to
two threatened species of fish, the Australian
Grayling and Australian Bass; it is the largest free
flowing river in Victoria.
Welcome to Country
On Friday 22 October 2010 both the Federal
and State Governments formally recognised
the Gunaikurnai people as the Traditional
Owners of over 20 per cent of public land
within Gippsland and Eastern Victoria. The
Victorian Government and the Gunaikurnai
people formally signed Victoria's first
settlement agreement under the new
Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010. This
agreement involved the transfer of ten parks
and reserves to the Gunaikurnai as "Aboriginal
Title" which will be jointly managed in
conjunction with Parks Victoria.
Mitchell River National Park is one of the jointly
managed parks within Gippsland. This
agreement recognises the fact that the
Gunaikurnai people have always been
connected to their land and are the rightful
people who speak for that Country. These
parks and reserves are cultural landscapes
which are part of our living culture.
Walking
Den of Nargun Loop (5km, 1.5 hours return)
This walk features the Bluff Lookout with views of
the Mitchell River Gorge, deep green pockets of
warm temperate rainforest and Woolshed Creek.
As you walk through the rainforest gully, stepping
stones lead you into the Den itself. Tradition has it
the Nargun lives there; a fierce being, half human
and half stone. The best way to absorb the eerie
atmosphere of the Den of Nargun is from a safe
distance. The Gunai/Kurnai people and Parks
Victoria ask you to respect this special place by
not entering the cave.
Mitchell River Walking Track
(18 km one way)
This walk is best completed in two days, though
can be completed in a day for energetic walkers.
The walk starts at Angusvale and broadly follows
the Mitchell River as it winds its way down the
gorge. The entire walk offers some spectacular
views from the river to gorge top in a semi-remote
setting. Please take time to plan your walk and
always let someone know your trip intentions.
Old Weir Site (Glenaladale Weir)
Located at the end of Old Weir Track off Weir
Lane, a short walk takes you to a lookout that
offers views of what remains of the Old Weir Site.
The ruins of the Glenaladale Weir, constructed in
1881 are located at the junction of Stony Creek
and the Mitchell River. Stone for the weir was
quarried from the western side of the river.
Between 1891 and 1894 the weir was
substantially damaged by floods and has never
been repaired.
For more information call the Parks Victoria Information Centre on
13 1963 or visit our website at www.parks.vic.gov.au
For further information:
Parks Victoria
Information Centre
Call 13 1963
or visit our website at
www.parks.vic.gov.au
Park Office
574 Main Street
Bairnsdale VIC 3875
Ph 13 1963
Bairnsdale
Visitor Information Centre
240 Main Street
Bairnsdale VIC 3875
Ph (03) 5152 3444
Caring for the
environment
Help us look after your park
by following these guidelines:
Dogs and other pets are not
permitted
Please do not disturb or
remove any native plants or
rock formations
Vehicles, including trail bikes,
may only be driven or ridden
on formed roads open to the
public, and must be fully road
registered. Drivers and riders
must hold a current licence
No fires, including barbeques
may be lit on a day of Total
Fire Ban
This park is located within the
the East Gippsland Total Fire
Ban Districts.
Please take your rubbish
home
Do not pollute streams and
rivers with refuse, detergents,
or human waste
Use a portable stove instead
of lighting a fire
Generators are not permitted
Firearms are only permitted in
accordance with Hunting
Regulations
Visitors are advised to carry
their own supply of water and
firewood as these resources
may not always be available
Healthy Parks Healthy People
Visiting a park can improve
your health, mind, body and
soul. So, with over four million
hectares of parkland available
to Victorians, why not escape
to a park today!
Picnicking
The main picnic area is located at the Den of
Nargun Carpark in the natural surrounds of the
park. Toilets, picnic tables, gas barbecue and fire
places are provided. Billy Goat Bend is also a
popular picnic site with basic facilities. The Bend
affords panoramic views of the Mitchell River
Gorge and rapids. The spectacular rock slides that
form the natural amphitheatre and pockets of dry
rainforest can be enjoyed from the viewing
platform.
Camping
Campsites with easy car and river access are
located at Angusvale. To help protect the fragile
Heritage River environment camping is not
permitted within 50 metres of the water.
Dispersed camping is permitted within the park,
with several sites which allow for basic camping
along the walking track; Rock Creek, Mitchell
Road, Cobbannah Creek, Billy Goat Bend and
Woolshed Creek.
Canoeing and rafting
The river offers the canoeist short day trips or
extended touring through the tranquil pools and
turbulent rapids down to the Gippsland Lakes. It
provides challenging grade III and IV rapids with
the best times being July to December. A number
of licensed tour operators offer rafting activities
along the river. Please check river levels from the
Bureau of Meteorology before you leave.
Hunting
Restricted deer stalking is only permitted in
accordance with hunting regulations within the
eastern section of the Mitchell River National Park
between 15 February and 15 December. Hunting
is excluded from all of the western section and the
eastern section north of Hortons Track. Hunting is
not permitted on private property without
permission.
On horseback
Horseriding is permitted only on roads and vehicle
tracks open to the public. Horses are not
permitted to remain overnight in the park unless
prior approval has been obtained from the Ranger
in Charge. Horse riders are asked to apply the
horse rider’s code to ensure minimal impact.
A haven for flora
The park has special flora conservation values
with several significant communities and a number
of rare or threatened species of state and national
significance. Twenty regionally significant species
are also found here.
Giant Kanooka trees grow along the riverbank
amid a tangle of vines and ferns sprouting in
profusion. Within the moist gullies grow Sweet
Pittosporum, Lilly Pilly and Yellow-wood, their
trunks covered with ferns and mosses. On the
ridges above the river a drier forest of wattle and
eucalypt predominates.
A nationally endangered vegetation community,
dry grassy woodland exists in the northern part of
the park. Silver Top Ash occurs on the broad flat
ridge tops with gum and stringybark on the
sheltered slopes and drainage lines. Tall Manna
Gums occur along the watercourse of the Mitchell
River.
…and fauna
Twenty five species of mammals have been
recorded within the park, six are reported to be
rare or threatened in Victoria, including the Smoky
Mouse, Spot-tailed Quoll and the Common Bentwing Bat.
The park is home to the Peregrine Falcon with two
known breeding sites. Other birds to look out for
include the Glossy Black Cockatoo, Swift Parrot
and the Powerful Owl. Many other species of
reptiles including the Copper-tailed Skink and the
commonly sighted Lace Monitor (Goanna) also
inhabit the park.
From past to present
Two clans of the Gunaikurnai Tribe inhabited the
park; the Brabuwooloong east of the Mitchell River
and the Brayakooloong to the west.
The Den of Nargun is one of many places of great
cultural significance to the Gunaikurnai people,
especially Aboriginal women.
The park holds a rich cultural history which tells of
conflict between different tribes as well as
Europeans, dreaming stories, journeys, food
gathering and community life. For more
information about the local Aboriginal history
contact the Krowathunkoolong Keeping Place at
37-53 Dalmahoy Street, Bairnsdale 3975. Phone
03 5152 1891.
In 1857 gold was discovered in the foothills. The
alluvial fields along the Mitchell River and its
tributaries were worked from the late 1850s to
early last century. Reef mining began in the area
in the 1860s.
Australian Paper Manufacturers Ltd donated
143ha to the State in 1963 to preserve the
environment. Glenaladale National Park was
formed and massive additions made in 1986 to
create Mitchell River National Park.
The southern most occurrence of dry rainforest
with its dominant species of Kurrajong is found on
the rocky slopes of the Mitchell River Gorge.
Warm temperate rainforest is found flourishing
within the moist gullies.
August 2012
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