Closed · Fire — reopens 28 February 2026. Closed due to fire conditions, to maintain public safety.
Basalt Knob is a Parks Victoria picnic area in Victoria’s High Country, 19 km SW of Dinner Plain.
Basalt Knob is a small picnic area located in the forested foothills of Mount Hotham, north of Dargo. The site is a popular meeting point for visitors exploring the Victorian High Country, especially those looking to tackle the iconic Blue Rag Range Track or Crooked River Track (both 4WD only). It once housed a former railway carriage, known as The Red Caboose, which served as shelter for logging crews working in the area. However, the carriage was destroyed in the devastating 2019 Black Summer Bushfires. Today, a picnic shelter resembling the shape of The Red Caboose stands in its place, together with picnic tables and fire pits, making a great place to stop and stretch the legs while……
Facilities
- Picnic area
- Fire pits
Getting there
Access to Basalt Knob is 4WD only. Visitors travelling from Dargo can access by travelling north along Dargo High Plains Road and taking a left onto McMillans Road (via Talbotville Campground), crossing the Crooked River (forded crossing) then north onto Brewery Creek Road and Richie Road. Alternatively, the site can be accessed by travelling further north along Dargo High Plains Road and turning left onto Richie Road, which winds its way to Basalt Knob. Please Note: Basalt Knob sits at an elevation of 1500m and is regularly subject to snowfall during the winter months. Caution should be used…
Track closures nearby
Live from Vicmap. Closures change often — check Parks Victoria before you travel.
Nearby
- Basalt Knob Peak · 1.1 km W
- Lankey Plain Hut Hut · 7.2 km NE
- Blue Rag Range Peak · 7.3 km NW
Details: Parks Victoria via DataVic (CC BY 4.0). Spotted something out of date? Opening hours and conditions change — always check before you travel.