Mount Buffalo has a number of granite mountains and tors atop a massive mountain of granite. There is a 36km steep winding road to the top.

Slow trip up the mountain – the Bright area is a haven for hard core cyclists. Next weekend is the Mount Buffalo Classic race to the top so we encountered several groups and solo riders on our ascent.

No dropbear warnings so all good.

The Gorge Lookout with Mount Bogong in the far distance. There is a 300 metre sheer drop where the photo is taken from.

This gum barked eucalypt was growing behind the granite tors along the lookout walk.

Wasps were very active.

Flame robin on our way to Bilson’s Lookout

The historic Mount Buffalo Chalet is currently closed. We stayed here in 1983 in the room far left top with magnificent views to Mount Bogong and Mount Hotham.

Another view of the granite massif.

The Gorge

Pulpit Rock with upgraded railing. The railing in 1983 did not inspire confidence.

A further drive up the mountain reveals the mountains on top of the plateau – The Cathedral and The Hump.

Icy roads warning and yellow road markings (to be visible in snow), but not today – the maximum is a comfortable 17 degrees.

Paper daisies line the roads and walking tracks.

Further signs we are in alpine country.

The Horn is the highest peak on the plateau.

The South Wall of Mount Buffalo plateau

The track up the 1723 metre summit is steep and rocky with railing and steps towards the top.

Steps through a narrow gap nearing the summit

From the summit looking south

View over the plateau back towards the Hump, Cathedral, Castle and Cresta Valley.

The Dickson’s Falls track traverses a valley with sphagnum bogs, snow grass and alpine herbs and snow gums on slightly higher ground.

The narrow track

Crossing the creek – fish were seen; possibly smelt

We didn’t see any corroboree frogs but this lichen had similar colours.

Massed paper daisies going to seed

The range of flowering wildflowers was limited at this time of year but there were occasional patches of colour. This is a mountain gentian. There were huge amounts of seed heads across the plain.

A colourful grasshopper

Paper daisies massed across the fields. The dead trees were from the extensive alpine fire complex of 2005.

The return track across Cresta Plain looking towards The Cathedral

Despite not being listed on the Visitor’s Guide, we found Seal Rock.

On the way down the mountain we stopped at the Rollason’s Falls walk through ferny forests hoping to see a wombat recently awake or a lyrebird looking for dinner.

We did see this wren foraging on the track.

Eurobin Creek at the base of the mountain

Vapour trail of a jet lit by late sunset light over Mount Buffalo from Porepunkah.

Porepunkah Hotel – The Punka Pub – great dinner spot.

The bright lights or lights of Bright.