Mount Disappointment State Forest Guide
About an hour to an hour and a half north of Melbourne — horse yards at Number One Camp, a summit walk, Strath Creek Falls.
Unofficial operator’s manual
Independent, unofficial, not DEECA, not Parks Victoria · Content reviewed 22 Sep 2026
Can you camp, can the dog come, which named site, what to check before you leave. DEECA / Explore Outdoors owns live conditions. Always confirm on the Number One Camp page and VicEmergency. This site doesn’t show live road status. Roads and fire rules change — check the morning you go.
- Number One Camp · horse yards
- No water — bring your own
- Summit Walk · 3.5 km
- Strath Creek Falls
- Dogs on listed sites
- Not Kinglake National Park
Plan, camp, maps, town bed
Not the national park
This is a State forest, not the national park
Mount Disappointment State Forest is a Victorian working forest managed by DEECA (Explore Outdoors) — not Parks Victoria, and not Forestry Corporation of NSW. It sits on the Great Dividing Range, about an hour to an hour and a half north of Melbourne via the Hume, Heathcote Junction and North Mountain Road. Places to know: Number One Camp, Regular Camp, Andersons Garden, Blairs Hut, Summit Walk and Strath Creek Falls. Kinglake National Park is next door, and Parks Victoria runs it. This site is an unofficial operator’s manual in the State Forest Guide Australia network. Check Explore Outdoors and VicEmergency before you drive.
What kind of forest day?
Camp at Number One
Horse yards · no booking · no water
Toilets, shelter, room for tents and vans. Dogs allowed. No fees. Bring every litre of water. You cannot reserve a pad.
Summit Walk
3.5 km return · Grade 3
Starts at Blairs Hut. Ferns, steps, short steep hills. The summit view is blocked by trees. A lookout sits a short walk further.
Strath Creek Falls
Short walk · picnic tables
About 45 minutes return on the official page. Best after rain. Dogs allowed. Not a camp.
I meant Kinglake
Different manager
Kinglake National Park is next door and run by Parks Victoria. Dogs are not welcome on its walks. This page is the state forest.
Best for
A free camp with a dog and horse yards, a Grade 3 summit walk, a short falls picnic after rain, and a town bed ready if Number One Camp is already full.
Skip if
You need a reserved pad or tap water tonight. You wanted Kinglake National Park. You are towing a caravan into Regular Camp or Andersons Garden. You need a cabin inside the forest.
Featured
Number One Camp
The camp with horse yards. Official: dogs allowed, no booking, no fees, toilets, 2WD, no water. Room for tents, swags, campervans and caravans. Allisons Road, Clonbinane.
- Horse yards at the camp
- Picnic shelter, table, toilets, wood fire pit
- No water supply — bring your own
- In the 1940s it housed Italian prisoners of war, then forestry workers
How long
Distances from Explore Outdoors. Hours below are ours.
Half day
Strath Creek Falls (about 45 minutes return) or a picnic at Blairs Hut without the summit.
Full day
Summit Walk: 3.5 km return, Grade 3, from Blairs Hut. Carry water.
Overnight
Number One Camp. No booking. No water. Town-bed Plan B in Wandong, Kilmore, Broadford, Whittlesea or Yea.
Named walks
Official tracks with a page
Summit Walk
Named trackGrade 3 walk from Blairs Hut to the summit of Mt Disappointment. Official: 3.5 km return, 1 to 4 hours, many steps, short steep hills, formed track, signposted. Dogs allowed. No fees.
- Starts
- Blairs Hut
- Distance / grade
- 3.5 km return · Grade 3 · 1 to 4 hours · many steps
View guide →
Strath Creek Falls
Named trackPicnic and a short walk to the falls. Explore Outdoors: about 45 minutes return, best after heavy rain. Dogs allowed. No fees. Picnic tables. No grade published on that page.
- Starts
- Strath Creek Falls picnic
- Distance / grade
- About 45 minutes return (Explore Outdoors) · about 1 km (Mitchell Shire) · no official grade
View guide →
Mount Disappointment State Forest Guide
Mount Disappointment State Forest Guide downloads
Printable planner and itineraries. Packing, what to do if Number One Camp is full, half day, full day and overnight. Explore Outdoors, CFA and VicEmergency links on every file.
- Planner — packing, last towns, dogs, fires, Number One Camp Plan B
- Itineraries — half day falls or Blairs Hut, full day Summit Walk, overnight Number One Camp
- Forest mark + www.mountdisappointmentstateforest.com.au on every sheet
Free direct download — no email required. Maps · Itineraries · Privacy.
Part of the State Forest Guide Australia network
This unofficial Mount Disappointment State Forest guide is in that network. Not government. Not Parks Victoria. Not a national-park directory.
Browse state forests → stateforestguide.com.au
Sister state forests
Only live guides are links. The rest are coming later.
FAQ
Is Mount Disappointment State Forest a national park?
No. It is a Victorian working forest managed by DEECA (Explore Outdoors). Parks Victoria manages Kinglake National Park next door. The dog rules and the camping rules are not the same.
Is camping free? Can I reserve Number One Camp?
Explore Outdoors lists Number One Camp with no fees and no booking required. You cannot reserve a pad. There is no water — bring your own. A town bed is the Plan B when the grass is full. We do not sell any permit.
Can I bring a dog?
Yes at Number One Camp, Blairs Hut, Summit Walk and Strath Creek Falls, on a leash or under immediate control. Mitchell Shire says dogs on leads at Regular Camp. That does not let the dog into Kinglake National Park.
How long do I need?
Distances come from Explore Outdoors. The hours are ours. Half day: Strath Creek Falls (about 45 minutes return) or a picnic at Blairs Hut. Full day: Summit Walk (3.5 km return, Grade 3). Overnight: Number One Camp, with water from town and a town bed if it is full.
Is this site official?
No. Independent unofficial operator’s manual in the State Forest Guide Australia network. Not DEECA. Not Parks Victoria.
Camp and walk names come from Explore Outdoors (Number One Camp, Blairs Hut, Summit Walk, Strath Creek Falls) and from Mitchell Shire for Regular Camp and Andersons Garden. Dogs, fires and closures: Explore Outdoors, CFA and VicEmergency. Kinglake National Park is Parks Victoria, next door.
Not independently walked. Conditions, roads and fire rules change. Verify with Explore Outdoors and VicEmergency. This page is not live road status.