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Crooked River - Howittville Camping Area 1 (CLWF)

Closed Checked 16 October 2026, 8:46 AM AEDT

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Directions in Google Maps

Road and track closures within 5 km

• Public land road closure: Tea Tree Spur Trk — Closed - Full To be reviewed mid March · reopens 29 Oct 2026

About

This camping area is on licensed Crown water frontage. It remains public land but has a licence over it that allows the adjoining landowner/farmer to graze stock on it. Your right to access this public land remains intact as the licence does not provide an exclusive right or use by the licensee. Typically camping is prohibited on licensed Crown water frontage. However, some special areas (such as this one) have been set-aside to allow self-sufficient camping. Access for day-use recreational activities such as walking, fishing or bird watching, as for other areas of Crown water frontage areas, are also permitted. Enjoy your time here but please respect the adjoining landholders, their farming operations, and their right to privacy. Please take all your rubbish home with you.

Getting there

This site is strictly 4WD accessible only and requires river crossing in your vehicle to access the the camping and fishing opportunities on the banks of Crooked River. There are two possible access routes, both require one or more river crossings. Option 1 - Depart from Dargo Hotel and travel south on Lind Avenue for 1 km. Lind Avenue turns slightly right and becomes Dargo Road for 4.8km (Note: all these roads are seasonal and subject to closure). Keep right to continue on Shortcut Road for 2.3 km. Turn right onto Wonnangatta Road for 21.2 km. Turn right onto Talbotville Road for 6.1 km then turn left to continue onto Crooked River Track for 900 m. Turn left onto Randalls Track for 350 m. Continue onto Crooked River Track for 4.7 km. Turn right to stay on Crooked River Track for 2.9 km. The official parking area is on the right before crossing Crooked River and entering the Talbotville historic camping area. The camping areas are along the Crooked River for approximately 700 m before arriving at the parking are Option 2 - From Dargo Hotel, travel north on Lind Avenue for 1.4 km. Continue onto Dargo High Plains Road for 15.3 kms, then turn left onto McMillan’s Road and travel for 15.7 kms. Turn left onto Crooked River Track and follow through river crossing. Stay left after river crossing and camping areas are 200m on the left. It is important that visitors take care to use this map and instructions https://www.forestsandreserves.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/661308/Web_A4_Crooked-River-Howittville-Camping-Area-1,-2,-3-and-4-2008627.pdf to safely access the area and avoid trespassing on private property. Leave all gates as you find them. Open gates must be left open. Closed gates must be left closed.

Location: -37.337647, 147.068783 · Open in maps · BOM forecast · Campground data dated 2026-10-15