The picturesque Bluff Falls in the High Country will have a grand reopening this month, after a long recovery from the Black Summer bushfires. Located in Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park, these fires burned through 95 per cent of the park in December 2019 and January 2020. The flames destroyed almost all visitor facilities within the park, and created safety issues such as unstable slopes. After five years, and a lot of hard work, key visitor facilities such as walking tracks and viewing platforms have been replaced.
To celebrate, there will be a grand opening at Bluff Falls on Sunday May 25, but of course, you’re welcome to visit the falls at any other time. The falls are a whopping five hour drive away from Melbourne, and are a great detour if you’re travelling around the High Country, or as a pit stop on your way north to Sydney or Canberra.
Grand opening of Bluff Falls
Before the bushfires, Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park received over 10,000 visitors a year. The park was named for its two mountain peaks, Mount Burrowa and Pine Mountain, and these mountains have different micro-climates and are home to a variety of native species. While the park reopened in 2021, the widespread damage of the fires, as well as ongoing severe weather events, hindered efforts to rebuild the facilities. Now, Bluff Falls has a new lookout and facilities for visitors to enjoy.
If you’re keen to join in on the celebrations, there will be a barbeque and refreshments provided by the Friends of Murray Mountain Parks. Parking is limited at the falls, and there will be a small bus available which will transport visitors from Bluff Creek to the lookout for the celebration. Aim to arrive at 11am, and bring a hat, some water and something to sit on.
“It was important we took the time and effort to make sure Burrowa-Pine Mountain has a better and more resilient visitor experience,” said Parks Victoria Ranger Team Leader Kelton Goyne. “It’s been wonderful to see the native trees, plants and animals in the park recover from the fires over the last five years, and visitors will get to see how much has changed.”
Visiting the falls
Also known as Cudgewa Bluff Falls, this spectacular waterfall in the Upper Murray region is a lovely sight to see after heavy rainfall. Watch the water cascade 30 metres from a plateau into a grotto below. There is a small car park located about 200 metres away from the viewing platform, just note that roughly the last 21 kilometres of the road leading to the falls is unsealed.
If you’re feeling up for an adventure, you could stretch your legs and hike up to the falls along the Bluff Creek Nature Trail. This trail takes about two hours to complete, and while you’ll have a lovely time ambling past creeks and through regenerated forest, there are some steep sections to be aware of. There are also a couple of campgrounds in the area if you’d like to stay overnight, as well as a picnic ground nearby.