Rainforest & Timber on the Baw Baw Plateau
Mt Erica is a peak on the southern edge of the Baw Baw National Park. The walk starts from a car park with picnic facilities at the end of a clearly marked road off the Moe- Thompsons Dam Road. Some of this area has been logged for many years and part of the track follows the Alpine Walking Track.
I have walked this track on a number of occasions; one of which was part of our preparation for our Kokoda Track walk.
After leaving the car at the Mt Erica Car Park, you follow the track around the lower contours of Mt Erica through beech forest and fern trees. Later the track begins a gentle climb through and mountain ash forest and after thirty minutes we reached Mushroom Rocks; a group of granite boulders near which is a scout hut and a flat area before the track climbs up to the Baw Baw Plateau.
After a steep climb through the snow gums in a park like environment, you reach the ruins of an old hut and then continue past the summit of Mt Erica. There is very little to see from here view as the peak is surrounded by dense snow gum forest. The track continues across the plateau through the snow gums and some small open snow plains to eventually reach a track junction. In summer there are many wild flowers and the track is always interesting. Turning left at the track junction takes you to the summit of Mt Phillack (same view as from Mt Erica) and by turning right, it is only a couple of kilometres to Mt St Gwinnear. There is a good view from here over the Thompson Dam and along the valley towards
There are a number of places to camp on the plateau – at shelter rock near the track junction, in some clearings near Mt St Phillack or further on at Mustering Flat. This is fuel stove only area and no fires are permitted.
You return along the same track to the car park.
