Alpine National Park Park

Address: Alpine National Park, Victoria, Australia (park headquarters and access points vary; consult Parks Victoria)

Website: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/alpine-national-park

Hours: Park open year-round; specific facilities and visitor centres have seasonal hours

Admission: Park entry free; fees may apply for certain campgrounds or permission-based activities

Alpine National Park is a large protected area in the Australian state of Victoria that conserves alpine and subalpine landscapes of the Australian Alps. Its most notable natural fact is that it contains Victoria’s highest mountain, Mount Bogong (1,986 metres).

The park offers extensive walking and backcountry routes across the Bogong High Plains, with alpine heath and grassland ecosystems and summer wildflower displays. In winter the park includes developed ski areas and resort access, with downhill skiing available at nearby centres.

Key visitor facilities and access points cluster around high-elevation resorts and villages that provide lift access, accommodation and trailheads for both winter sports and summer hiking. Routes range from day walks to multi-day alpine traverses.

Protected to conserve alpine environments and water catchments, the park was established in the 20th century and has been managed for both conservation and recreation. Land use has included pastoral grazing on the high plains, which has declined as conservation measures expanded.

The park occupies much of Victoria’s high country in the northeast of the state, inland from the southern coast of Australia and several hours’ drive northeast of Melbourne, with access from regional towns and mountain resorts.

• Seasonal contrast: Summer offers extensive hiking on the Bogong High Plains and alpine wildflower displays, while winter supports downhill skiing at developed resorts within the park.
• Highest peak: The park contains Victoria’s highest peak, Mount Bogong at 1,986 metres, which is the primary destination for long-distance hikers in the region.

What to See#

• Mount Bogong: The highest peak in Victoria at 1,986 metres, forming the park’s northern high ground and a focal point for summer hiking routes on the Bogong High Plains.
• Mount Hotham: A high-elevation resort area within the park that operates as a winter ski centre and summer walking base, with developed facilities for visitors.
• Falls Creek: One of Victoria’s main alpine ski resorts located within the park boundary, offering downhill skiing in winter and alpine walking in summer.

The park has multiple entry points. From Melbourne, drive along the Hume Freeway (M31) towards Bright or the Omeo Highway to access eastern sections. Public transport is limited - driving is the most practical way to reach trailheads and hut areas.

• Plan routes well in advance: Alpine National Park is large and trailheads are remote; some popular walks require four-wheel-drive access.
• Autumn (April-May) provides striking colours and fewer crowds; spring snowmelt opens high-country walks but check conditions.
• If aiming for snow-country hikes, hire a guide or check local conditions - alpine weather can change suddenly.