Mount Buffalo National Park

Mount Buffalo National Park Victoria
IUCN category II (national park)
Mount Buffalo plateau as seen from below The Horn.
Mount Buffalo National Park
Nearest town or city	Bright
Coordinates	36°44′18″S 146°46′30″E / 36.73833°S 146.77500°E / -36.73833; 146.77500Coordinates: 36°44′18″S 146°46′30″E / 36.73833°S 146.77500°E / -36.73833; 146.77500
Established	1898
Area	310 km2 (119.7 sq mi)
Visitation	circa 200,000 (in 1996)
Managing authorities	Parks Victoria
Website	Mount Buffalo National Park
See also	Protected areas of Victoria

The Mount Buffalo National Park is a national park located in the alpine region of Victoria, Australia. The 31,000-hectare (77,000-acre) national park is located approximately 350 kilometres (220 mi) northeast of Melbourne in the Australian Alps. Within the national park is Mount Buffalo, a moderately tall mountain plateau, with an elevation of 1,723 metres (5,653 ft) above sea level.

On 4 November 1898 an area of 1,166 hectares (2,880 acres) was reserved around the plateau and Eurobin Falls as Mount Buffalo National Park, making it one of the oldest national parks in Australia. In 1908 a road was opened to the plateau and the park was expanded to 10,406 hectares (25,710 acres); and in 1980 to its current size to take in most of the surrounding foothill country.

On 7 November 2008, the park was added to the Australian National Heritage List as one of eleven areas constituting the Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves.

Mount Buffalo is a moderately tall mountain plateau on the west side of the Victorian Alpine region. The top of the mountain has striking granite boulders and rock formations. From the north, the mountain is quite remarkable, with the highest accessible point being a prominent peak called The Horn. A walking track leads to The Horn and visitors can enjoy a 360 degree view from the top.

Visitor accommodation was available at the historic guest house, the Mount Buffalo Chalet, built in 1910, until January 2007. Parks Victoria and the Victorian Governments have developed plans to restore the main parts of Chalet with a view to having the cafe and visitor access by 2016. Tatra Inn, located at the west end of the plateau near the Cathedral, was destroyed in 2006 by an escaped fuel reduction burn. The view from the chalet overlooks large sheets of granite and spectacular views of the Ovens Valley and Buckland Valley below. This is a popular rock climbing, abseiling and hang-gliding site. There is also adventure caving at Mount Buffalo. The camping ground at Lake Catani is open from November to April.