View source for Mount Baw Baw

{{Short description|Mountain in Victoria, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{for-multi|the containing national park|Baw Baw National Park|other uses|Baw Baw (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Baw Baw
| photo = Baw-baw-view-gippsland.jpg
| photo_caption = The view south across [[Gippsland]] from Mount Baw Baw
| elevation = {{convert|1567|m}} {{AHD}}
| elevation_ref = 
| prominence = 
| location = [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]
| range = Baw Baw Plateau, [[Great Dividing Range]]
| coordinates       = {{coord|37|50|22|S|146|16|33|E|type:mountain_region:AU-VIC|display=inline,title}}
| topo = 
| type = 
| age = 
| first_ascent = 
| easiest_route = [[Hiking|Hike]]/[[skiing|ski]]
| map           = Australia Victoria Shire of Baw Baw
| map_relief = yes
| map_caption   = Location near [[Shire of Baw Baw]]
}}

'''Mount Baw Baw''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɔː|_|ˈ|b|ɔː}}) is a mountain summit on the Baw-Baw Plateau of the [[Great Dividing Range]], located in [[Gippsland]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]. The name is from the Yarra-Yallou, Gunna-Kurnai people of Gippsland. It is of uncertain meaning,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Clark, Ian D. |title=Dictionary of Aboriginal placenames of Victoria|date=2002|publisher=Victorian Aboriginal Corp. for Languages|others=Heydon, Toby, 1972-, Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages.|isbn=0-9579360-2-8|location=Melbourne|oclc=54913331}}</ref> but possibly signifies, ''echo'', or ''ghost''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mt Baw Baw Resort |title=Mt Baw Baw History |url=https://mountbawbaw.com.au/history |website=mountbawbaw.com.au |access-date=8 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{citation|author=Government of Victoria |url=http://services.land.vic.gov.au/vicnames/historicalInformation.html?method=edit&id=2218 |title=Mount Baw Baw: Historical information: 2218 |work=Vicnames |date=12 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809161909/http://services.land.vic.gov.au/vicnames/historicalInformation.html?method=edit&id=2218 |archive-date=9 August 2014 }}</ref>

The [[Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort]] is an [[Unincorporated areas of Australia|unincorporated area]], that includes the Mt Baw Baw summit, which is under the direct administration of the government of Victoria, and is surrounded by the [[Baw Baw National Park]], in the [[Shire of Baw Baw]].

==Location==
Mount Baw Baw is about {{convert|120|km|abbr=off}} east of Melbourne, {{convert|50|km|abbr=on}} on the north side the [[Latrobe Valley]], due North of [[Moe, Victoria|Moe]]. Mount Baw Baw itself is one of a number of peaks on the Baw Baw Plateau, a long plateau tending about 20&nbsp;km north-east and is about 10&nbsp;km wide. Other peaks on the plateau include [[Mount Mueller (Victoria)|Mount Mueller]], Mount Whitelaw, Talbot Peak, Mount St Phillack, Mount Tyers, Mount Kernot and [[Mount St Gwinear]]. The plateau itself is isolated from most of Victoria's high country by the deep valleys of the [[Thomson River (Victoria)|Thomson]] and [[Aberfeldy River|Aberfeldy]] rivers and tributaries of the [[La Trobe River]], including the [[Tanjil River|Tanjil]] and [[Tyers River|Tyers]] rivers to the south.

==Geology and biology==
The Baw Baw [[massif]] consists of a late [[Devonian]] [[granodiorite]] [[pluton]]. There is relatively little relief on the plateau itself, the highest point reaching {{convert|1567|m|abbr=off}}. The lower slopes of the plateau are covered in [[Montane forest|montane]] eucalypt forest and tall forest, and creek valleys have cool temperate rainforest of myrtle beech, ''[[Nothofagus cunninghamii]]''. Above {{convert|1200|m|abbr=on}} snow gum (''[[Eucalyptus pauciflora]]'') woodland occurs. There is no altitudinal treeline limit; subalpine grasslands and shrublands occur in flat valley bottoms on the plateau as a result of cold-air drainage. Much of this [[subalpine zone]] is included in the {{convert|133|km2|abbr=on}} [[Baw Baw National Park]]. The Baw Baw Village [[ski resort]] is technically outside the national park.

The climate of the plateau itself is subalpine, with an average annual precipitation of {{convert|1900|mm|abbr=on}}. Snow covers the plateau from June to September.

It is thought that Baron [[Ferdinand von Mueller]] made the first recorded European ascent of Baw Baw in 1860,<ref name="bbnp">{{cite web |url=http://www.australianalps.environment.gov.au/parks/baw-baw.html |title=Baw Baw National Park |date=21 November 2011 |publisher=Australian Alps National Parks |access-date=13 December 2011 }}</ref> naming Christmas Creek on one of his major collecting expeditions. It was on this trip that he collected the Baw Baw Berry, ''[[Wittsteinia vacciniacea]]''. There are two routes up the mountain; one via [[Noojee]] and [[Icy Creek, Victoria|Icy Creek]] which is very winding, and the unsealed South Face Road via [[Erica, Victoria|Erica]].<ref name="ssbh">{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/travel/activity/ski-and-winter/small-slope-big-heart-20100806-11nu3.html |title=Small slope, big heart |access-date=15 December 2011 |date=7 August 2010 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media }}</ref>

Mount Baw Baw is home to the critically endangered [[Baw Baw frog|Baw Baw Frog]].<ref name="bbnp"/>

==Climate==
Mount Baw Baw has a [[Subpolar oceanic climate]] (''Cfc''). The mountain summit receives more annual precipitation than most places in mainland Australia, with frequent and heavy snow between May and October but can occur at any time of the year (as well as a persistent [[snowpack]]). Frequent, heavy cloud cover and strong winds mean that minimum temperatures rarely drop below {{convert|-5|°C|}}, whereas maximum temperatures are frequently at or below {{convert|0|°C}}; the mountain is often shrouded in low cloud or mist in winter, reducing diurnal range. The mean afternoon humidity of 80%, is extreme (especially for a mainland Australian region).

Summers are cool with temperatures rarely rising above {{convert|25|°C|0|abbr=on}}; summers can also be very cold, with a maximum temperature of just {{convert|-0.4|°C|}} recorded on 25 December 2006, and {{convert|1.0|°C|}} on both 11 January 2012 and 16 February 1998. During the [[Early 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave|2009 Victorian heatwave]] most of the state saw highs of above {{convert|45|°C|}}, while the temperature on Mount Baw Baw's summit reached a comparatively cool maximum of just {{convert|31.3|°C|}}.

{{Weather box
| location = Mount Baw Baw (1997–April 2025); 1,561 m AMSL; 37.84° S, 146.27° E
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| precipitation colour = green
| unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
| Jan record high C = 30.9
| Feb record high C = 31.3
| Mar record high C = 26.2
| Apr record high C = 20.6
| May record high C = 16.2
| Jun record high C = 12.6
| Jul record high C = 10.0
| Aug record high C = 13.1
| Sep record high C = 16.7
| Oct record high C = 21.2
| Nov record high C = 26.0
| Dec record high C = 27.7
| year record high C = 
| Jan high C = 17.5
| Feb high C = 16.5
| Mar high C = 14.1
| Apr high C = 9.9
| May high C = 6.4
| Jun high C = 3.4
| Jul high C = 2.3
| Aug high C = 3.1
| Sep high C = 5.8
| Oct high C = 8.9
| Nov high C = 12.3
| Dec high C = 14.5
| year high C = 
| Jan low C = 8.8
| Feb low C = 8.1
| Mar low C = 6.5
| Apr low C = 3.9
| May low C = 1.5
| Jun low C = -0.6
| Jul low C = -1.5
| Aug low C = -1.4
| Sep low C = -0.1
| Oct low C = 1.7
| Nov low C = 4.1
| Dec low C = 5.9
| year low C = 
| Jan record low C = -2.0
| Feb record low C = -1.4
| Mar record low C = -2.2
| Apr record low C = -5.7
| May record low C = -5.8
| Jun record low C = -7.0
| Jul record low C = -6.6
| Aug record low C = -8.5
| Sep record low C = -6.3
| Oct record low C = -6.4
| Nov record low C = -4.5
| Dec record low C = -3.1
| year record low C = 
| Jan precipitation mm = 97.6
| Feb precipitation mm = 92.7
| Mar precipitation mm = 109.0
| Apr precipitation mm = 142.5
| May precipitation mm = 124.5
| Jun precipitation mm = 153.8
| Jul precipitation mm = 170.3
| Aug precipitation mm = 173.2
| Sep precipitation mm = 161.8
| Oct precipitation mm = 155.2
| Nov precipitation mm = 159.0
| Dec precipitation mm = 137.5
| year precipitation mm = 
| Jan precipitation days = 12.4
| Feb precipitation days = 11.6
| Mar precipitation days = 13.5
| Apr precipitation days = 15.0
| May precipitation days = 15.1
| Jun precipitation days = 16.2
| Jul precipitation days = 19.5
| Aug precipitation days = 19.5
| Sep precipitation days = 16.2
| Oct precipitation days = 16.7
| Nov precipitation days = 15.9
| Dec precipitation days = 14.8
| year precipitation days = 
| Jan afthumidity = 71
| Feb afthumidity = 73
| Mar afthumidity = 75
| Apr afthumidity = 81
| May afthumidity = 83
| Jun afthumidity = 88
| Jul afthumidity = 89
| Aug afthumidity = 87
| Sep afthumidity = 85
| Oct afthumidity = 82
| Nov afthumidity = 77
| Dec afthumidity = 73
| year afthumidity = 
| source = Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_085291_All.shtml| title=Mount Baw Baw climate|website=Bureau of Meteorolgy|access-date=2025-05-28}}</ref>
}}

==Ski resort==
The summit is located within the boundaries of the [[Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort]], an [[unincorporated area]] of Victoria.<ref name="ssbh"/> There are about {{convert|30|hectare}} of mainly beginner-intermediate [[piste|ski runs]]. Seven lifts service a variety of runs, with the highest going almost to the top of Mount Baw Baw with a {{cvt|91|m}} rise. The resort village is at the bottom of the lifts, offering ski in-ski out access. In addition to the downhill runs there are a number of [[Cross-country skiing|cross country]] trails offering access to other parts of the Baw Baw plateau. Like most lower-lying Australian ski resorts, snow cover varies greatly from year to year, but is regularly available for the local ski season from about July to the end of September.

The alpine resort village has modern facilities and caters for both day-trippers and long-term visitors, with accommodation, ski hire, food outlets, medical and information centres all within walking distance of the car parks.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Mt Baw Baw, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia|url = http://www.visitmelbourne.com/Regions/Gippsland/Destinations/Mt-Baw-Baw.aspx|website = Tourism Victoria home|access-date = 2015-06-25}}</ref>

==Walking==
During the summer months, Mt Baw Baw is popular for hiking and bushwalking given its location in the [[Baw Baw National Park]]. The alpine grasses are blanketed with wildflowers and walks at a higher elevation pass through snow gum forest.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Parks Victoria - Baw Baw National Park|url = http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/baw-baw-national-park|website = parkweb.vic.gov.au|access-date = 2015-06-25}}</ref>

Popular walks include the Great Walhalla Alpine Trail, which starts at the gold mining town of Walhalla and finishes at the Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort. The hike is the first {{cvt|40|km}} of the Australian Alps Walking Track.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Great Walhalla Alpine Trail, Attraction, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia|url = http://www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/Gippsland/Things-to-do/Outdoor-activities/Walking-and-hiking/Great-Walhalla-Alpine-Trail.aspx|website = Tourism Victoria home|access-date = 2015-06-25}}</ref> The Mt Baw Baw Summit Walk arrives at the highest peak of the Baw Baw plateau, elevation 1564m. Situated at the summit is the historic cairn used as a survey reference in 1903.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Mt Baw Baw Summit Walk, Attraction, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia|url = http://www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/Gippsland/Things-to-do/Outdoor-activities/Walking-and-hiking/Mt-Baw-Baw-Summit-Walk.aspx|website = Tourism Victoria home|access-date = 2015-06-25}}</ref>

==Cycling==
The access road to the resort, the Mount Baw Baw Tourist Road, features one of the toughest climbs accessible by road bicycles in Australia. The final climb of {{cvt|6.2|km}} rises {{cvt|718|m}} at an average grade of 11.5%, maxing out at 20.3%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theclimbingcyclist.com/climbs/baw-baw-national-park/mt-baw-baw/|title = Mt. Baw Baw &#124; the Climbing Cyclist}}</ref>  The climb is not as long as, but considerably steeper than, any of the ''[[hors catégorie]]'' climbs featured in the [[Tour de France]]. The Mount Baw Baw Classic,<ref>[http://www.warragulcyclingclub.org.au/baw_baw_classic/ Baw Baw Classic] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426051830/http://www.warragulcyclingclub.org.au/baw_baw_classic/ |date=2012-04-26 }}. The Warragul Cycling Club. Retrieved on 15 December 2011.</ref> which began in 2001, is an annual cycling race held by the Warragul Cycling Club, and ends at the Mount Baw Baw village.

===Downhill mountain biking===
There is a purpose-built downhill track located on the south western side of the mountain, facing towards the sea. The course has hosted the Victorian Downhill Championships as well as a number of state rounds. The track is around {{frac|3|1|2}}&nbsp;min in duration, comprising a good mix of cambered dirt, rocks, fire road and technical sections. A shuttle service is provided from the base of the track along the Mount Baw Baw Tourist Road back to the Baw Baw Village, so that the venue is very mountain bike friendly.

==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|Australia|Mountains}}}}
* [[Alpine National Park]]
* {{section link|List of mountains in Australia|Victoria}}
* [[List of reduplicated Australian place names]]
* [[Skiing in Australia]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* Information on all ski lifts to have run at Baw Baw in [http://www.australianmountains.com/australianskilifts#7 Australian Ski Lift Directory].
* [http://www.mountbawbaw.com.au/ Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort]
* [http://www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/Gippsland/Things-to-do/Outdoor-activities/Walking-and-hiking/Great-Walhalla-Alpine-Trail.aspx Gippsland’s official tourism website – Great Walhalla Alpine Trail]
* [http://www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/Gippsland/Things-to-do/Outdoor-activities/Walking-and-hiking/Mt-Baw-Baw-Summit-Walk.aspx Gippsland’s official tourism website – Mt Baw Baw Summit Walk]

{{Skifields of Australia}}
{{Victorian mountains |state=autocollapse}}
{{Local Government Areas of Victoria}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baw Baw, Mount}}
[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Mountains of Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Victorian Alps]]
[[Category:Towns in Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Gippsland (region)]]
[[Category:Unincorporated areas of Victoria (state)]]