Merrijig - High Country Hiking Tours
High Country Hiking Tours offers guided walking adventures through the spectacular mountains, forests and alpine landscapes around Mansfield, Merrijig, Mount Stirling and Mount Buller.
The business provides a variety of experiences, ranging from shorter guided day hikes to challenging multi-day adventures exploring remote parts of Victoria's High Country.
A particularly interesting option for families is the Stirling Experience, a two-day guided overnight hike designed for adults and children aged nine years and older.
With camping equipment, meals and experienced guides provided, families can enjoy a mountain adventure without needing to own extensive hiking equipment.
Guided Hiking Adventures:
High Country Hiking Tours offers a variety of guided walking experiences across the Victorian Alps.
Tours include:
- Family-friendly Stirling Experience overnight hiking adventure.
- Family-friendly Craig's Hut Discovery Hike.
- Mount Timbertop Summit Loop.
- Guided hikes exploring the spectacular Mount Buller and Mount Stirling region.
- Multi-day camping experiences near Craig's Hut.
- Hikes exploring remote mountain ridges and historic High Country huts.
- Winter snowshoeing and camping adventures.
- Longer expeditions for experienced hikers.
Families should carefully check the distance, duration, grading and age suitability before booking.
Stirling Experience - Family-Friendly Overnight Hike:
The Stirling Experience is designed to introduce families to overnight hiking in the Victorian High Country.
The two-day guided adventure explores the forests and alpine landscapes of Mount Stirling, with an overnight stay in tents.
The experience is suitable for families with children aged nine years and older.
Highlights include:
- Two days of guided hiking around Mount Stirling.
- Walking through alpine ash forests and snow gums.
- Discovering seasonal alpine wildflowers.
- Opportunities to observe native birds and wildlife.
- Spectacular views across the Victorian High Country.
- Sunset views from Mount Stirling.
- Overnight camping beneath the alpine sky.
- Learning outdoor skills with experienced hiking guides.
The hike is graded Level 3, moderate.
Only a daypack needs to be carried during the walks, while the main camping equipment is transported to the campsite.
Camping and Equipment:
The Stirling Experience includes camping equipment and meals, making it an excellent introduction to overnight hiking for families who do not have their own camping gear.
Provided equipment includes:
- Tents with twin-share accommodation.
- Sleeping mats and sleeping bags.
- Walking poles.
- Gaiters.
- Camping cooking equipment.
- Plates, bowls, cups and utensils.
- Head torches.
- Sleeping bag liners and additional blankets when required.
Participants must bring suitable personal clothing, a daypack, wet-weather protection and other specified personal items.
Families should confirm the full equipment list and any dietary requirements before booking.
Craig's Hut Discovery Hike:
Craig's Hut is one of the best-known landmarks in Victoria's High Country, sitting among spectacular mountain scenery near Mount Stirling.
High Country Hiking Tours offers a guided experience exploring the hut and surrounding landscape.
The tour provides opportunities to enjoy mountain views, learn about the history of the area and discover the beautiful alpine environment.
The company advertises family-friendly Craig's Hut Discovery Hikes on selected dates.
This is a good alternative for families wanting a shorter guided experience without an overnight stay.
Mount Timbertop Summit Loop:
Mount Timbertop is a distinctive flat-topped mountain between Mansfield and Mount Buller.
The guided summit walk provides an opportunity to explore native forest and enjoy extensive views over the surrounding countryside.
The walk involves uphill climbing and uneven terrain, so it is better suited to families comfortable with bushwalking.
The operator offers half-day departures on selected dates.
Other Guided Hiking Experiences:
Experienced hikers can choose from a range of longer and more challenging adventures.
These include:
- Iconic Craig's Hut overnight adventure.
- Eagles Peaks walking experiences.
- Remote Ritchie's Hut.
- Mount Buller's West Ridge.
- Two Peaks expedition.
- Crosscut Saw Adventure.
- Winter snowshoeing experiences.
They are not necessarily appropriate for younger children.
Visiting with Children:
The Stirling Experience is the main family-focused overnight adventure, with a minimum recommended age of nine years.
It provides an opportunity for children to learn about overnight hiking, camping and the natural environment with experienced guides.
Families can enjoy:
- Exploring alpine forests together.
- Learning basic hiking and camping skills.
- Observing wildlife and native plants.
- Discovering historic High Country locations.
- Watching the sunset from a mountain summit.
- Spending a night camping in the alpine landscape.
For families with younger children or those not ready for overnight camping, the shorter Craig's Hut Discovery Hike may be more suitable.
Group Sizes:
The Stirling Experience has a maximum group size of six participants.
Small-group tours allow guides to provide more individual attention and help participants enjoy the natural environment without large crowds.
Private and customised hiking experiences may also be arranged by contacting the operator.
Important Visitor Information:
Some experiences visit remote mountain environments with limited facilities and mobile telephone coverage.
Families should carefully review the operator's fitness requirements and equipment recommendations.
Tour Departure Points:
Tour meeting points vary depending on the selected hike.
The Stirling Experience begins at Telephone Box Junction on Mount Stirling Road.
Other tours depart from locations around Mount Buller, Mount Stirling and the surrounding High Country.
Confirm the exact meeting point when booking rather than travelling to the operator's Merrijig business address.
Opening Hours:
Guided hiking tours operate on scheduled dates throughout the year, depending on the type of experience and seasonal conditions.
Advance bookings are essential.
See current tour schedule and booking availability.
Cost:
Prices vary considerably according to the length and difficulty of the experience.
Family, adult and child pricing is available for the Stirling Experience. Some other tours also have family-friendly pricing.
See current tour prices and booking information.
Review:
High Country Hiking Tours offers a wonderful opportunity for families to experience the dramatic scenery of Victoria's alpine region with experienced guides.
The Stirling Experience is particularly appealing because it provides a supported introduction to overnight hiking for children aged nine years and older.
Instead of needing to organise tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment and meals independently, families can enjoy the adventure with most of the major camping equipment supplied.
The beautiful forests of alpine ash and snow gums provide a memorable environment for children to explore, while opportunities to observe wildlife and mountain scenery add to the experience.
Watching sunset from Mount Stirling and spending the night camping in the mountains are likely to be highlights for adventurous families.
The relatively small group size is another advantage, providing a more personal experience with the guide.
However, the moderate grading and distance of approximately 11.4 km over two days mean that children should already be comfortable with regular bushwalking.
Families not ready for an overnight experience may prefer one of the shorter guided outings, particularly the Craig's Hut Discovery Hike.
The more demanding mountain expeditions are designed for experienced walkers and should not be considered general family activities.
For families with older children who enjoy outdoor adventures, High Country Hiking Tours offers a memorable way to discover the Victorian Alps and experience the excitement of overnight hiking in the mountains.
Location
1915 Mount Buller Road, Merrijig 3723 View Map
✆ 0407 827 833
Email Enquiry
Web Links
→ highcountryhikingtours.com.au
→ High Country Hiking Tours on Facebook
