Track Condition Update June 2023
Following on from the announcement of another 46km of track opening (see details HERE) a mammoth maintenance effort has been underway over the past 4 months to combat the extensive vegetation growth that was experienced on the Hume & Hovell Track over the Summer.
A dedicated maintenance team have been removing the vegetation that had encroached on the track, this includes cutting saplings, removal of blackberry bushes and debris, cutting back overgrowth, whipper snipping down the long grass and re-establishing the track corridor. Clearing the track route further ensures it is identifiable and easy to follow while track markers have been replaced, signposting the walk more clearly.
The bridge replacement program is also progressing successfully, with the new bridges now installed through both the fire-damaged track and the remaining open sections.
While the entire portion of Track that is currently open is in good condition, the maintenance team have most recently been through the following areas:
Henry Angel to Mannus Lake
Paddys River Dam to Junction Campsite
Paddys River Dam to Buddong Hut
Eastern Hill to Mungabareena Road
Samuel Bollard Campsite to Wymah Road
Fitzpatrick Trackhead to Mt Wee Jasper
If you are planning on walking on the Hume & Hovell Track and would like to check the condition of the Track in that section, please reach out to us via the Contact Us page.
The images above and below show some of the recent work that has been completed, restoring the Track back to its original state and much more enjoyable for our walkers. Even though we are now experiencing the cooler months, this season is preferrable to many walkers as there are fewer slithery friends and on a sunny day it is beautiful to get out for a walk in nature!
There is a maintenance action plan in place to continue undertaking further track correction activities which is approached on a priority basis, but we encourage all users to complete a ‘report a track defect’ form via our Contact Us page on our website if there are any issues found that need actioning.
Regardless of the Track condition, we also encourage our walkers to be prepared when exploring the Hume and Hovell Track, please download mapping resources to assist with navigation, take plenty of water or be carrying a water filtration option, take a satellite phone or personal locator beacon (PLB), notify someone of your trip or register your trip with us and carry first aid supplies. For a full list of recommendations please see the hiker tips