northeastvictoria.online

WARBY - OVENS NATIONAL PARK

(www.northeastvictoria.online)

Pangerang Lookout

This 4.5km (90 minute) adventure starts by taking Wangandery Road out of Wangaratta, crossing over to the other side of the Warby Ranges, and then turning north onto Ferris Road (this is about 4.7km from the Gerretts Road intersection).

Staying with this bush track (which is dry weather only), travel through to an inverted y-junction, and then a sharp u-bend, that provides access to the car parking area (6.8km from Gerretts) loading...

From the car park, the route to the lookout is sign-posted, and from here it is an excellent undulating walk [AWTGS-2] to Pangarang Lookout, and some great views (the Pangarang People were amongst one of the earliest aboriginal people in the Wangaratta area).

A formal set of walking shoes is required for this outing, and many will find a set of trekking poles to be a useful asset.

Choose a nice sunny day, and enjoy the views, as well as that evocative blue haze that typifies the mid-latitudes right around planet earth.

The track is quite sandy, and it is interesting to note the stunted tree growth, as well as the open nature of the woodland; all of this being a combination of poor soils and altitude. The track is quite undulating, but not demanding, and there are several glimpses of the surrounding countryside; expansive views to the right, and rocky gullies to the left.

The sandy soils soon give way to a more rocky terrain, with subtle changes in the vegetation as grass-trees give way to murray valley pine, and then bristle cone wattle and spur wing wattle become more evident.

The final approach to the Lookout is heralded by some twists and turns of the track, and the Lookout then provides great views over the surrounding countryside.

Vistas extend towards the Strathbogie Ranges, the high country and Benalla. However, the views of Wangaratta and Glenrowan are blocked by a ridgeline, and Shepparton is too far away to actual pick out.

The return to the car park is by retracing your steps.

Take care on your return journey in the car back to the bitumen. Make sure that you keep right at the first y-junction; if you keep left, it is a long ride through to the Wangaratta-Yarrawonga Road, albeit via the very scenic Ridge Road.