Only a week after we moved here last year, we drove up to Mount Buffalo for a bit of sightseeing—not only because it was an easy activity (a relatively quick jaunt up the road) but also because the days of constant rain brought snow at higher elevations, and it had been five years since we had seen any snow more than the light dustings we had experienced in the New England.
Given its name from some early British-Australian explorers to its resemblance to a reclining buffalo, Mount Buffalo is a granite plateau within the Australian Alps mountain range. The park was established in 1898, which makes it one of the oldest established National Parks in Australia and is often heard referred to as the “Family Mountain” due to its long-standing accessibility and popularity. We are conveniently located about five minutes from the park entrance, however the winding road up to the plateau is approximately a 45 minute drive, more or less depending on conditions and the number of cyclists on the road (it is a very popular cycling route.)
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| The granite outcrop. |
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| The view from the top looking north east. On clear days you can see Mount Kosciusko (NSW), Australia’s highest peak, 134km away. |
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| Looking down into the Buffalo Valley below toward Porepunkah. |
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| Paraglider launch pad. |
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| Pepperberry plants under snow. |
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| The sparsely snow-covered plateau at Cresta Valley. |
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| Looking toward The Horn, the highest point of Mount Buffalo. |
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| Australian alpine winter colours. |
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