Michael Gorey

I enjoyed a walk in the Warbys today. The Warby Range is a state park to the west of Wangaratta. It rises about 250 metres above the surrounding terrain and comprises granite outcrops and native vegetation.

Bushrangers used to prowl there in the 19th century. Today it remains a rare part of the North East that probably looks much the same as it did before European settlement.

I’ve lived in this area for nearly nine years and today was my first visit to the Warbys, which previously I knew only to be the southernmost habitat in Australia of the python.

I started with a drive to Briens Gorge Falls near the golf course. It’s a short walk to the falls, which were flowing nicely after yesterday’s rain. The range climbs steeply from the base to the ridge.

It can’t be called a cliff, but it’s more than a hill. I contemplated the possibility of walking up. I thought that may be possible, but coming down would have been much harder.

I returned to the car and drove to Ryans Lookout. There was another short walk to a viewing platform, which offered a good vista of the plains below.

I then drove along the ridge to Wenhams Camp, from where I completed part of a 5km walk developed by the Friends of the Warbys. It was an excellent route, with useful signage along the way explaining various natural features.

I was fortunate to have cool weather. I strongly recommend this walk, but suggest avoiding it in summer unless you go out early. I was lucky to escape the flies today, but down in the gullies where it was a bit warmer they started to make their presence felt.

The Friends walk took me to the summit of Mount Warby, 480 metres above sea level.

Several things struck me about the Warbys. Being a low rainfall area it provides a tremendous contrast with the sub-alpine area I come from less than 100km away.

The forest was mainly stringybark and box, with numerous examples of Grass trees, which are uncommon elsewhere in the region.

According to the signs, the Warbys have many plant species that are unique in Victoria to this range. Like the python, some are known only to New South Wales and Queensland.

The return walk took me to Gilberts Gully, from where another outstanding view presented.

I didn’t see any wildlife, apart from lizards, but apparently most of the residents are nocturnal.

It’s quite amazing that such a charming and significant place exists so close to Wangaratta without much promotion.

I thoroughly enjoyed my brief visit, which I squeezed in while the kids watched Harry Potter at the cinema.

I plan to go back in autumn and try some of the other walks.

These articles might be of interest:

• Wedge-tailed eagle
• Goldies Spur
• Rollasons Falls