McKillops Road is one of the most hazardous drives of Australia
McKillops Road is a spectacular drive located in the southeastern Australian state of Victoria. It's said to be one of the most hazardous and dangerous roads in the country.
How long is McKillops Road?
Tucked away in the Snowy River National Park, the road (C611) is 80km (50 miles) long, running east-west from Bonang to Wulgulmerang East. The road is mostly sealed until reaching beyond Buchan, then navigating the most hair-raising section, driving down into the valley and across the famous McKillops Bridge, which spans the Snowy River in the Alpine National Park.
Is McKillops Road challenging?
Extreme caution is necessary as there are many blind corners to negotiate. The road has few pullouts for passing, and loose rocks indicate its serious instability in rainy conditions. It is a mud road that can be traversed with a 2WD car, though it's advisable to have a 4WD or at least a car with high clearance, especially on rainy days when mud can make passage difficult. For several kilometers, the road is reasonably wide. However, beyond Little River Gorge down into McKillop Bridge, it is one of Victoria's most precarious roads, unsuitable for caravans and semi-trailers. It’s advisable to check road conditions if visiting the park after rain or bad weather. Carry a chainsaw or sharp axe, as roads may be blocked by fallen trees, and bring recovery gear including a winch, tree protector, and shovel. Leave details of your trip intentions with a responsible person and bring your own drinking water. No fees, permits, or bookings required. To protect the environment and ensure safety, the track could be closed during the wetter winter months.
How long does it take to drive McKillops Road?
The drive is very scenic and runs through some of the most amazing mountain scenery in the state of Victoria. Plan about 2 hours to complete the drive without any stops and allow plenty of time for touring. The descent into the Snowy River Valley from Little River is one of Victoria’s most stunning drives, marked by great scenery and spectacular vertical drops on one side. Snowy River National Park is dominated by the river that gives its name to the park. Reserved as a national park in 1979, it offers spectacular river scenery, magnificent deep gorges, old-growth alpine ash forests of Mt Gelantipy, distinctive pine woodlands in the valley, undisturbed catchments of the Rodger River, and breathtaking wilderness areas. An ideal way to discover some of the park’s special features is by spending a few days touring the area by vehicle, with all major roads suitable for 2WD vehicles. Many roads are unsealed, narrow, and winding, and some are unsuitable for caravans, particularly from Little River Gorge to McKillops Bridge. Built in 1935, it's the only bridge over the Snowy River for a very long way, representing a significant engineering feat at the time.