Haunted Stream Track

The road

Haunted Stream is the most river-crossing-intensive 4WD track in Australia. Fifty-four crossings in 25 kilometres means an average of one every 460 metres, and in practice they come in clusters - three or four in quick succession through a tight section of valley, then a stretch of bush track before the next group. The stream itself winds through dense forest south of Omeo in Victoria's east. The valley is narrow and steep-sided, and the track has no choice but to follow the water. Each crossing is different. Some are wide and shallow with a gravel bottom, others are narrow with deeper pools and softer substrate. After rain the crossings deepen significantly and several become impassable for stock vehicles. A snorkel is not mandatory in perfect dry-season conditions but is strongly recommended given the volume of water work. The forest along the track is thick and dark - mixed eucalypt with a heavy understorey that closes in on the track in places. The valley has a reputation for its atmosphere, which owes something to the name. Haunted Stream was named after an 1850s murder in the area during the gold rush era, when a miner was killed and his body found in the stream. The name stuck. The track itself is not technically difficult beyond the crossings. Between water the surface is compacted earth and gravel, occasionally rutted but manageable for any 4WD with reasonable clearance. The difficulty is cumulative - 54 crossings test vehicle sealing, electrical systems and driver concentration over three hours of continuous driving.

The region

Omeo sits at 700 metres in the foothills of the Victorian Alps, on the Great Alpine Road between Bairnsdale and Hotham. The town was a significant gold mining settlement in the 1850s and retains a historic main street with a court house, a hotel and a general store. The country south of Omeo drops into heavily forested valleys that drain towards the Tambo River. This is remote bush - the valleys are deep, the ridges are steep and the tracks are maintained primarily for fire access. Population density outside Omeo is effectively zero.

Before you go

Fuel in Omeo. No services on the track. The 25-kilometre length and 54 crossings take roughly three hours - significantly longer after rain. No mobile coverage in the valley. The track is strictly dry-weather - the crossings can become dangerous within hours of heavy rain. Carry a satellite communicator and recovery gear. A snorkel is strongly recommended. Best done in a convoy of at least two vehicles given the remoteness.

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