Updated on January 15, 2024
Sheepyard Flat Campsite – Howqua Hills Historic Area
Sheepyard Flats is a free campsite, about 38 km/ 50 mins from Mansfield and roughly the same distance from the well-known ski area of Mount Buller.
The region is referred to as the Victorian High country, popular for hiking, 4 wheel driving, cross-country and downhill skiing in winter.
Horse riding adventure tours operate during the summer months or people bring their own horses and ride on the many trails. The movie, ‘Man From Snowy River’ was filmed in the high country, one of the most famous panoramic scenes was filmed up at the Bluff.
Getting to Sheepyard Flat
Located in the Howqua Historic Area, about 4 hours drive/ under 250kms from Melbourne, Sheepyard Flats is in a valley, with easy access by foot, horse, 4wd or bikes to the Victorian High Country region. Popular with campers and groups, it does get very busy in peak times.
Camp sites are free, not reserved, it’s pot luck finding a spot in peak times but the free-camping area is expansive and it is usually possible to find a spot to pitch a tent or park a camper.
Accessing Sheepyard Flat and the Howqua Hills area is via about 18 km of dirt road along the Howqua Track. The turn-off is not far past Merrijig on the road to Mount Buller. There is also a longer road in over the mountains, best suited to 4WD vehicles.
Campsite areas in the Howqua Hills Historic Area
Sheepyard is the best known of the free camping sites, but a number of other sites are available nearby, all linking, hugging the Howqua River, and with the same tranquil settings amongst the gum trees with an occasional koala and plenty of bird life. All the camp grounds in the Howqua Hills are accessible by 2wd.
All the camping areas have shaded and sunny sites, and access to the Howqua River. Which one is our favourite? Tunnel Bend stands out in particular as there is a fab spot to swim and play in the river at the far end. This is where the horse yards are too, adding to the interest for horse-loving campers.
*All camp sites are on a first come basis, none of them can be pre-booked apart from the horse yards.
- Fry’s Flat (+ horse yards)
- Sheepyard Flat – North and South
- Davon’s Flat
- Pickering’s Flat
- Blackbird Flat
- Noonan’s Flat
- Tunnel Bend Campground (+ horse yards)
Horse Yards – Fry’s Flat and Tunnel Bend Camping areas
Are there horse yards in the Howqua Hills? An often asked question. Yes, lots of people bring their own horses to camp and ride the numerous trails, day rides and multi-day rides start from here. Two camp grounds, Fry’s and Tunnel Bend, have strongly built horse yards that need to be booked, but are free of charge.
The Fry’s hut yards involve driving up over the hill, the road can get rutted but is generally passable. Tunnel bend campground is perhaps the first choice as it is easier to access.
Toilets & Amenities
The toilets are basic, well-maintained, ‘long-drop’ bush toilets. Simple, easy. They can get smelly in the summer time during high-usage it is important to keep the toilet seat lid down. Often paper is provided, but do not count on it, bring your own supply. No showers or town water available.
Mobile phone reception – Basically Zero!
Brilliant! No phone reception can be such a blessing. Honestly, use your device as a camera and capture the precious memories of the kids having fantastic fun instead. Or of whatever activities you choose to do during a stay here. Easily said, yes, but no technology for a day or so is a good thing.
For anyone desperate for some reception though, drive back up Howqua Track until a signal is found, usually near the Timbertop Saddle car park, or drive on up into the high country until a peak is found with views and reception.
Download maps to use offline. Bring a paper map as a back up.
Exploring Sheepyard Flat and the Howqua Hills Historic Area.
It is easy to spend a lot of time relaxing in this beautiful area, during busy times it is a fabulous ‘playground’ for kids as they will naturally mingle and form new friendships.
Download the Parks Victoria guide to the Howqua Hills Historic area.
Throw a fishing line into the Howqua, grab an inflatable and float down the river or load up the 4wd and explore. Trail bikes are also popular with some dedicated trails available. Book the horse yards and bring your horses.
Fry’s Hut
A short walk over to historic Fry’s Hut, where there is also free camping, takes about 1.5 hours return. Following the Howqua River. Nearby the old cattleman’s hut is a massive Eucalyptus tree that never fails to impress. It is possible to drive to Fry’s Flat and the hut, it takes about 5 minutes.
Tunnel Bend
Tunnel Bend is one of the highlights of the area. When the river level is really low it is possible to walk through the 100m long tunnel (take a torch). It is about 2.5 km each way from the Sheepyard Flat information board. Take advantage of a few suitable spots to have a dip in the Howqua River along the way if it’s a hot day. There is a small parking area at the top of the walk down to the tunnel.
The 100m tunnel was built in 1884 to link the Howqua River and a 4km long hand cut water race. The tunnel entrance can be seen to the right of the base of the steps.
The remains of the water race are visible above the road between Tunnel Bend and Sheepyard Flat. It was constructed to carry water to power the “Hanney” waterwheel which was 63 feet (18 metres) in diameter and drove crushers which broke the ore into a suitable size for smelting in the furnace.
Hiking nearby Mt Timbertop
On the way into Sheepyard Flats, a walk to the top of Mt Timbertop is worth the effort. 4kms return, about two hours – steep most of the way. The bonus is that the return walk is downhill!
Views across the valley and plains can be seen from a number of vantage points on the Mt timber top walk. The ridgeline at the top is covered in beautiful ‘Snow Gum Trees’, plenty of shade and pretty views.
Starting Point for the Timbertop Walk: From the Mt Buller Road Junction, drive about 7.5kms on the Howqua Track (the same road going into Sheep Yard Flats). Graded Medium to Hard.
Driving from Sheepyard Flats to Craig’s Hut, Mt Stirling
Perched on top of the Victorian section of the Australian Alps, Craig’s Hut is one of the most famous High Country huts.
Built as a set for the iconic Australian movie “The Man from Snowy River”.
There is a 4WD track that leads directly to the hut or hike the 1.6 km walking track which begins at the Circuit Road Picnic Area, approximately 19 km from Telephone Box Junction on Mt Stirling.
From Sheepyard, the most direct route to Craig’s Hut is to drive back out to the main road, through Mirimbah, and over to Mt Stirling, this is the best choice for 2-wheel drive cars, or there is the option to go bush exploring mountain roads and river crossings in 4 wheel drives, driving around the back of Mt Buller.
Please not that access is not possible from mid-June to November due to High Country seasonal track closures. Seasonal closures operate from the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June through to the beginning of November but may be extended due to seasonal conditions. Most tracks reopen on the Friday prior to Melbourne Cup long weekend, however, the four-wheel-drive track over the summit of Mt Stirling remains closed from May until the end November.
High Country Scenic Tours operate out of Mansfield and provide incredible 4 wd tours into the high country, a good option for anyone without a 4wd.
Remember to download maps for offline use and bring a paper map too.
Sheepyard Flat to Craig’s Hut, best option for 2-wheel drive vehicles, fastest route.
Sheepyard Flat to Craig’s Hut via Bluff Hut. 4-wheel drive route.
Years ago, I drove the entire circuit road around behind Mount Buller to Mt Stirling in an ordinary car.
When up in the high country recently, in my HiAce campervan, I drove on through the camping area along Brocks Road until the junction with Bluff Link Track. The road passes by more campgrounds, 7 and 8 mile flats.
7 mile flat is a smaller camping area with a graveled camping area close to the road. 8 mile flat campground involved a small river crossing to access a large, open grassed area with fire pits, a long drop loo. Both sites are used for vehicles and hikers doing the 26 km circuit hike from Sheepyard to Eagle Peaks over 2 days or more. The camp sites are also used for horse riders heading up to the Bluff and beyond.
It was about 20kms out of Sheepyard Flat to the junction, the road was bumpy in parts but fine for the van. At that point, with phone reception available, Google maps plotted a route via Bindaree Flat area and over to Craig’s Hut! Yeah, no. I am sure that entails crossing the river and there is no way the van would do that. When I refreshed the map and tried again, Google thought better of that idea and refused to plot a route at all!
From the junction of Brocks and Bluff Link Road, there is a walking track up to Eagle Peaks. It is a hike for another time. I found this terrific blog post about the walk to Eagle Peaks during July – our winter.
Instead of driving further, I boiled the kettle and had a cuppa overlooking the distant ranges then headed back to Sheepyard and across to Lake Eildon to camp at Jerusalem Creek and take the kayak out onto the lake.
