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e Mount Samaria State ParkVisitor Guide

Set in tall, shady eucalypt forest, Mount Samaria State Park offers a cool,

quiet retreat for walking, camping and picnicking. Experience a variety of

breathtaking views over the Victorian Alps, granite outcrops, and historic

remains.

How to get there

Superb Lyrebird

Natural featuresGeological history dates to 500 million years ago with the depositing of marine sands and silt. More recent activity (50 million years ago) caused the uplifts that form the ridges of the Park.

The variation in soils, fire history and altitude has created a wide range of habitats. Beneath the majestic Blue Gums and Mountain Grey Gum, the moist environment supports a dense understorey of wattles, dogwood and bracken. The drier forests of stringybarks, boxes and peppermints expose an open understorey of hardy shrubs and tussock grasses. An array of wildflowers include peas, trigger plants, everlasting daisies, milkmaids and orchids.

Mount Samaria hosts a variety of Australian wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, echidnas, possums and gliders, and the granite rocks provide warm homes for a variety of lizards and snakes. The park is also a haven for many

Mount Samaria State Park is 130 km north-east of Melbourne, 28 km south of Benalla on the Samaria Road via Swanpool, and 14km north of Mansfield via the Whitfield Road. A gravel road traverses the range from north to south and, although steep and rocky in places, is open all year to most vehicles.

Things to see and doCamping and picnicking: Spring Creek Sawmill and Samaria Well offer camping and picnicking facilities. Walk-in campsites are at Wild Dog Falls Creek and Camphora and all sites have toilets and fireplaces. Creek water is available at most sites, but supply may be limited during drier periods. Supply your own drinking water.

Advance booking and payment for camping required year round.

No fees apply to these campsites.Walking: The park features a range of walking tracks to experience the semi-remote nature of the park. See map for further details.

Lookouts: Experience spectacular views from Mt Samaria Summit, Rocky Point Lookout and Wild Dog Creek Falls.

Wildflowers: During spring and early summer the forest is alive with brilliant displays of wildflowers.

birds including lyrebirds, rosellas and the Wedge-tailed Eagle.

HeritageThe Samaria ranges were a source of food for the local Aboriginal community. During the European squatting era in the 1840s, much of the area was heavily grazed.

Blessed with magnificent stands of mature trees, the Samaria range came under the scrutiny of timber cutters, and in the 1920s saw a large scale timber industry in operation. By 1928, failing yields led to the closure of the mills and logging became intermittent until an area of about 7000 hectares was declared as State Park in 1979.

Spring Creek Sawmill ruins, including kilns and mounds of sawdust, can still be found.

July 2015

For more information call the Parks Victoria Information Centreon 13 1963 or visit our website at www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

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Mount Samaria State Park Recreational Facilities0 500 1000 1500

Highway

Sealed road

Unsealed road

Vehicle track

State Park

Other public land

Reference area

Water body

Boat ramp

Camping

Campsite - Walk in

Carpark

Lookout

Park information

Picnic table

Toilets

M E T R E S Cartography by Spatial Vision 2002 M/5155

Walking track

Gate

Fireplace MELBOURNE*•

To Benalla

•Wangaratta

•Benalla •

Myrtleford

•Whitfield

MOUNT SAMARIA STATE PARK

• Mansfield

Lima South

Samaria Well

B300To

Wrightley

For further informationMansfield

Visitor Information Centre (Railway

Station) Mansfield, Vic 3722

Tel: 5775 7000

Benalla Visitor Information

Centre 14 Mair Street

Benalla, Vic 3672Tel: 5762 1749

Lake Nillahcootie Day Visitor Area

LAKE

NILLAHCOOTIE

Mount Samaria Summit

953m

•

Wild Dog Creek Falls

Spring Creek

Sawmill

Kiln Ruin

ThompsonThompson''ss Mill

Caring for the environment

Help us look after your parks by

remembering these guidelines:

Please take rubbish

Mount Samaria Walks(Distances are one way)Wild Dog Falls & Lookout - 1.5kmFrom Mt. Samaria Road the track leads to the top of the waterfalls where you can enjoy views

FallsCamphora Campsite

BLUE RANGE REFERENCE AREA

(No Access)

home with you forrecycling or disposal

All plants, animals, archaeological

sites and geographic features are

protected by law

Dogs and other pets are not permitted

Firearms are prohibited

Light fires only in fireplaces provided

No fires, including barbecues, may be lit

on a day ofTotal Fire Ban.

Mount Samaria is in theNorth

East Total Fire Ban District

over Lake Nillahcootie and the Strathbogie Ranges.Back Creek Falls - 1.5kmA gently cascading waterfall, accessible from the start of the Wileman Track off Mt Samaria Road.Mt. Samaria SummitAt a height of 953m, the summit offers 360 degree views across the Alps and lowlands.- 4.8km (from Sawmill site) (Moderate to Steep)To Mansfield- 2.5km circuit (from Mt. Samaria Rd)(Steep)Tramway Walk - 3.8kmBegin near the Spring Creek Sawmill site and follow the old timber tramway down to the remains of the Braking

Back Creek Falls

Rocky Point

Lookout

•

Blue Range Creek Picnic & Camping Area

Vehicles, including

Station.

•The Bald Hills •

motor bikes, may only be used on formed open

roads. Drivers must be licensed and vehicles registered and roadworthy

Wileman Track - 7kmLinks Back Creek and Wild Dog Creek Falls. Leave vehicle at the

gates at each end or return along the main road.