Pine Mountain is a gigantic monolith

Monolith

A monolith is a geological feature such as a mountain, consisting of a single massive stone or rock, or a single piece of rock placed as, or within, a monument...

, said to be 1.5 times bigger than Uluru

Uluru

Uluru , also known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It lies south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs; by road. Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park....

, situated in the Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park

Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park

Burrowa-Pine Mountain is a national park in Victoria, Australia, 314 km northeast of Melbourne. The park is the location of Pine Mountain, Victoria the largest monolith in the southern hemisphere at 1.5 times the size of Uluru ....

 in Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

.

Location

The base of Pine Mountain is located 10 km southeast of the small town of Walwa, Victoria

Walwa, Victoria

Walwa , is a town in the Shire of Towong in north east Victoria, Australia. The town is located 1 kilometre from the Murray River on the former Murray Valley highway between Wodonga and Corryong...

 which is a 440 km drive northeast of Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

 or 115 km east of Albury-Wodonga

Albury-Wodonga

Albury-Wodonga is the broad settlement incorporating the twin Australian cities of Albury and Wodonga, which are separated geographically by the Murray River and politically by a state border: Albury on the north of the river is part of New South Wales while Wodonga on the south bank is in...

. The mountain is part of the Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park

Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park

Burrowa-Pine Mountain is a national park in Victoria, Australia, 314 km northeast of Melbourne. The park is the location of Pine Mountain, Victoria the largest monolith in the southern hemisphere at 1.5 times the size of Uluru ....

 which offers a large number of 4wd and walking tracks, waterfalls, picnic and camping areas and numerous lookouts. The park's remote and rugged character is a major attraction for visits and also contains Mount Burowa which is (1300m).

Geology, flora and fauna

Pine Mountain is argued to be the largest monolith in Australia at 1.5 times bigger than Uluru. The gigantic granite monolith was uplifted to its present height of 1062m more than 2 million years ago. Since then erosion has highlighted the steep eastern side, established several creeks, and in the upper area, created small rock pools which contain shrimps and tadpoles despite annual drying, and large granite 'marbles' 2-3.5m in diameter.

The Mountain offers a diverse range of vegetation types. It is of great botanical significance due to its number of rare and threatened plant species growing there. Over 200 native plants have been identified on the mountain, 19 of which are rare or local to the area. Of the rare local variety, three were identified for the first time in the 1960s to be an Acacia, Grevillea and a Phebalium. Other vegetation includes Black Cypress Pines and Kurrajongs which fringe the steep granite outcrops.


Animal life is abundant and varied. Black Wallabies, Eastern Grey Kangaroos and wombats, possums and gliders are especially numerous. The Lyre Bird is rarely seen but often heard. Over 180 species of birds have been recorded in the park.

Walking track

From the west side base there is a scenic walking track which traverses large granite outcrops and leads to the summit of Pine Mountain. Access to the walking track is achieved along a 5km dry weather only 4WD track from the entrance of the park. The walk to the summit is long and strenuous with a number of steep climbs and descents, it is said to not climb unless you are a person of regular exercise. The weather is capable of changing very rapidly so it is necessary to be prepared with warm and waterproof clothing, high energy food supplies and sufficient water. The reasonably worn walking track is a 12km trip, 8 hrs return, it is marked out with numerous markers on trees and cairns (ducks). The track is sometimes poorly defined so it is suggested that an adequate map and compass is carried. The summit area offers panoramic views of the surrounding Murray River Valleys and the Snowy Mountains

Snowy Mountains

The Snowy Mountains, known informally as "The Snowies", are the highest Australian mountain range and contain the Australian mainland's highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, which reaches 2,228 metres AHD, approximately 7310 feet....

, NSW. For the less adventurous there is also a small walk of 2km, 1hr return, to Rocky Knob.

See also

• Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park
  Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park
  Burrowa-Pine Mountain is a national park in Victoria, Australia, 314 km northeast of Melbourne. The park is the location of Pine Mountain, Victoria the largest monolith in the southern hemisphere at 1.5 times the size of Uluru ....
  
  
• Walwa, Victoria
  Walwa, Victoria
  Walwa , is a town in the Shire of Towong in north east Victoria, Australia. The town is located 1 kilometre from the Murray River on the former Murray Valley highway between Wodonga and Corryong...
  
  
• Protected areas of Victoria

External links

• Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park Website