Mount Stirling facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Stirling |
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The Bluff Spur Hut at Mount Stirling
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,747 m (5,732 ft) AHD |
| Geography | |
| Location | Victoria, Australia |
| Parent range | Great Dividing Range |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Unknown |
| Easiest route | Hike/ski/4WD |
| Mt Stirling Alpine Resort | |
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Telemark skier at Mount Stirling
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| Location | Mount Stirling |
| Nearest city | Benalla, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 37°07′S 146°31′E / 37.117°S 146.517°E |
Mount Stirling is a cool mountain in the Victorian Alps of Australia. It's part of the huge Great Dividing Range. This mountain stands tall at about 1,747 meters (5,732 feet) above sea level.
Mount Stirling is also known for the Mount Stirling Alpine Resort. This resort is a popular spot for cross-country and backcountry skiing. It's located on the mountain's slopes, about 230 kilometers (143 miles) from Melbourne. Many beginner backcountry skiers and snowboarders love coming here. It's also close to the Mount Buller Alpine Resort.
The Mount Stirling ski resort covers a large area of about 2,820 hectares (6,970 acres). The mountain was named after James Stirling, who was a surveyor and later a government geologist in Victoria.
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Exploring Mount Stirling
This mountain and its ski resort are found near the start of the Delatite River. This river flows west from the mountain. A road called the Stirling Circuit Road goes around the mountain. It helps people get to other mountains in the Victorian Alps.
In winter, parts of this road close. You can often ski from Telephone Box Junction to reach the top of the mountain. Sometimes, if there isn't much snow, you might need to walk the lower parts.
Amazing Views
From Mount Stirling, you can see amazing views of nearby Mount Buller. You can also see a long mountain range that stretches from Mount Cobbler through Mount Speculation. This range includes the Cross Cut Saw and Mount Howitt. The range then turns west and ends at The Bluff. The Bluff is a cool tilted plateau with big cliffs on its northern side.
Forests and Trees
The lower parts of Mount Stirling are covered in Alpine Ash forests. As you go higher, these forests change into Snowgum Woodlands. This happens at about 1,400 meters (4,600 feet) up. There's a small area near the very top of the mountain where no trees grow.
Mountain Huts for Shelter
There are several huts around Mount Stirling. These huts offer a safe place for visitors to rest or take shelter in emergencies.
- Bluff Spur Hut is a shelter hut close to the summit. It was built to remember two skiers who sadly died on the mountain.
- Kingsaddle Shelter is an open shelter surrounded by tall Alpine Ash trees.
- Howqua Gap Hut used to be moved around by loggers for shelter. It was left at the bottom of the Howqua Gap trail.
- Geelong Grammar School Hut is on the other side of the summit from Bluff Spur Hut. Geelong Grammar School owns it. Students from their Timbertop campus use it for cross-country skiing.
- Craig's Hut is in the Clear Hills. It was built as a movie set for The Man from Snowy River. A bushfire destroyed it in 2006, but it has since been rebuilt.
- Mount No 3 Refuge Hut was rebuilt in 2007.
- Bus Hut is located on the Mount Number 3 Road.
Fun Activities All Year Round
Mount Stirling offers different activities depending on the season.
Winter Fun
In winter, Mount Stirling is a popular place for cross-country and backcountry skiing. The resort has patrolled ski trails. You can get maps of these trails at the entry gate.
Summer Adventures
When there's no snow, Mount Stirling is great for four-wheel driving and bushwalking. The trail from the Circuit Road to the summit takes less than two hours to walk. It's popular for both day trips and overnight stays. Also, when it's not snowing or there's no danger of bushfires, many school groups use the area for outdoor education.
