If there’s one thing that is a constant with the outdoors, it’s that it’s always offering some unique and challenging. This was certainly the case with the Mount Beauty Gorge Walk in the Victorian Alpine National Park.
I’m definitely one of those people who enjoys a hike regardless of the kilometres that are ahead of me
However, this 5.9km hike absolutely blew me away with the terrain and the way you can make your way through the gorge.
Starting at the Big Hill Mountain Bike Park car park, the Mount Beauty Gorge Walk begins on a wide, well-formed path that is easy to follow.
Better yet, it is incredibly well-signed so you’d be hard-pressed to find yourself lost.
The first attraction of this walk is the suspension bridge that crosses the Kiewa River; the same river that you’ll be required to walk through very shortly
The track after the bridge continues for about 100m through the gorge until you come to the first section where you have to get in ‘the drink’.
Now, to give you an idea of how deep this first section was, I’m roughly 6″3 in height and the water was halfway up my abdomen. And basically, this is what you can expect every so often for the next couple of kilometres.
It’s a combination of rock hopping and wading through deep, green pools of water.
The water, while I’d imagine would be icy cold in the winter months, was at the perfect temperature when I hiked and waded through the Mount Beauty Gorge Walk.
There are two other spots where the rock formations are such that you are basically swimming in a pool built by Mother Nature herself.
And, if you are feeling a little more adventurous, the pool is deep enough for you to jump off the rocks. In saying that, please be extra careful doing this.
It’s hard to put my finger on my favourite day hike in Victoria, but the Mount Beauty Gorge Walk would have to be right up there. It’s only a very short walk, but it’s what you get to do along the way that I feel really makes this walk what it is.
You’ll almost certainly be bringing a day pack with you for this hike, but also bring a pack cover too.
It’d probably be worth bringing a dry sack to keep your valuables in, as well as a quick-drying top and shorts/pants.
It might also be worth bringing some river walking shoes if you’re not keen on wearing your hiking boots. Trust me when I say that some of those rocks can make your feet incredibly uncomfortable.
In short, the Mount Beauty Gorge Walk was absolutely amazing and I’d strongly recommend it to anyone who has a good level of fitness.
If you’re a little unsure about swimming in rivers, perhaps go with someone who is just to be sure.
We did roughly 6kms, however, the gorge looked like it went on for quite some way, so there’s plenty more to explore if you feel up to it.
If you’d like to follow my recording of the Mount Beauty Gorge Walk, you can do so here via my Wikiloc trail.
How long is the Mount Beauty Gorge Walk?
This all depends on how far you want to go as the Gorge path feels like it goes on forever. However, if you want to visit the three main pools, it’ll be a 6 kilometre return hike.
Are dogs allowed in the Gorge Walk?
You can bring your doggo with you on your Gorge Walk adventure.
Is Mount Beauty worth visiting?
I’m not going to lie – I love Mount Beauty. I feel as though the Gorge Walk is the jewel in the crown for hikers, but if you love your mountain bike riding then you can do so in the nearby Big Hill MTB Park.
Furthermore, the town of Bright is approximately a 45-minute drive through some really nice scenery.
The Stats – Mount Beauty Gorge Walk
Length (km): 5.9kms (according to WikiLoc)
Time: 2hrs 58mins
Moving Time: 1hr 11mins
Difficulty: Easy
Maximum Elevation: 469m
Accum. elev. uphill: 211m
Accum. elev. downhill: 211m
Return/Circuit/One Way: Return
