The beautiful countryside around Mitta Mitta

Mitta Mitta (and Dartmouth)
Tiny township on the Omeo Highway.
Mitta Mitta is located on the Omeo Highway, one of the state's most scenic thoroughfares. The shortest route from Melbourne (380 km) is via Wodonga and Kiewa.

Mitta Mitta is a little rural hamlet within one of the most beautiful river valleys of the state. The name derives from the language of the Aborigines who once journeyed to the alpine area in the summer months to feast on bogong moths. 'Mutta Mutta' is said to mean thunder - a reference to the sound of the Mitta Mitta River in full swing.

The Mitta Mitta run was taken up in 1840 but a township did not develop until gold was discovered in 1864. The Pioneer Mine, at the western rim of town, became one of the state's largest open-cut mines. Gold dredges ate their way through the landscape in the early years of the 20th century. The mine yielded 425 kg of gold over a 16-year period.

In the 19th century there were a number of gold and tin-mining settlements in the valley but virtually nothing remains other than the odd building and some tailings.

This tradition still entices a few optimistic fossickers into the area. Fishing for Murray cod and canoeing can be pursued in the Mitta Mitta River.

The 55-km Mitta Mitta to Mt Beauty Mountain Race is an annual event.

Things to see:  

Dartmouth
Dartmouth is a resort town of some 80 permanent residents which is located 20 km east of Mitta Mitta along a road which follows the course of the Mitta Mitta River. The township emerged as accommodation for the workers building Dartmouth Dam which is 3 km south-east of town.

Old Dartmouth, which developed in conjunction with goldmining on the Dart River in the 1870s, lies beneath the dam. The mining was never on a large-scale owing to the inaccessibility of the site and had ceased by 1906 due to the expense of transport. Thus the settlement was never more than a hamlet.

Dartmouth Dam, built in the 1970s, is the state's largest dam and Australia's most elevated rock-fill dam. Beautifully situated, it is bordered by 50 km of shoreline, has a dam wall 670 m long and 180 m high, a surface area of 62 000 square kilometres and holds four million megalitres. It was created through the efforts of the Federal Government, Victoria, NSW and South Australia for irrigation and domestic and stock consumption.

Popular activities in the area are bushwalking, golfing, four-wheel driving, photography, horseriding and particularly fishing. The lake contains rainbow, brown trout and the little-seen Macquarie perch. Motor boats are permitted but waterskiing is not. The track from Sassafras Gap to the Eustace Creek camping area can be reached by car but a 4WD is needed in wet weather. Two other lakeside camping areas can be reached by boat.

Walking trails radiate out from the township. One leads north-east to Mt Benambra (1480 m). A 3-km road leads from the town to the dam wall while a separate 8-km road leads to a boat ramp.

The town was deserted after the dam's completion in 1979. In the late 1980s it was developed as a tourist attraction and now has a caravan park, an hotel, a motel, some lodges and a boat-hire service as well as the usual facilities. The Dartmouth Alpine Fishing Classic will be held on February 19-21. Ring (03) 6072 4511 for further information or (1800) 244 102 for reservations.

Tawonga Track
The Tawonga Track (50 km), a dry-weather road only, heads south-west from Mitta Mitta across to Tawonga on the Kiewa Valley Highway. This pack track was created by cattle workers who drove their livestock from the Mitta Valley to the higher country in the summer months.

Glen Valley, Glen Wills and Mt Wills
The highway is partially unsealed to the south of town and can be snow-bound in winter although the views it offers are quite stunning. At 9 and 22 km respectively are the abandoned goldmining settlements of Granite Flat and Lightning Creek.

47 km south of Mitta Mitta you will see Mt Wills (1750 m) to the left. The summit offers excellent views of the Alps. It can be accessed along the Australian Alps Walking Track (655 km) which crosses the highway at the ghost town of Sunnyside, 52 km from Mitta Mitta. For further details ring 131 963 and for information on the sights further south see the entry on Omeo.

Rafting on the Mitta Mitta
Peregrine offer rafting expeditions along the Mitta Mitta River which depart from Mitta Mitta, tel: (03) 9662 2800 or the Peregrine Travel office in your state capital.

	Hotels
	Laurel Hotel Omeo Hwy Mitta Mitta VIC 3701 Telephone: (02) 6072 3541
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Dartmouth Tavern Murtagh Pl. Dartmouth Mitta Mitta VIC 3701 Telephone: (02) 6072 4279
	Apartments
	Wonjeena Holiday Apartments RMB 1466 Scrubby Creek Rd Mitta Mitta VIC 3701 Telephone: (02) 6072 3505 Rating: ***
	Caravan Parks
	Dartmouth Tavern Murtagh Pl. Dartmouth Mitta Mitta VIC 3701 Telephone: (02) 6072 4279
	Magorra Caravan Park Mitta North Rd Mitta Mitta VIC 3701 Telephone: (02) 6072 3568 Rating: **
	Camping & Other
	Dartmouth Tavern Murtagh Pl Dartmouth Mitta Mitta VIC 3701 Telephone: (02) 6072 4279
	Restaurants
	Dartmouth Tavern Murtagh Pl Dartmouth Mitta Mitta VIC 3701 Telephone: (02) 6072 4279
	Laurel Hotel Omeo Hwy Mitta Mitta VIC 3701 Telephone: (02) 6072 3541