| Cost | Free |
|---|---|
| Location | Dinner Plain, Victorian High Country |
| Pet Friendly | No – Alpine National Park |
| Campfires | Yes |
| Facilities | Drop toilet, emergency hut with fireplace, mobile coverage |
| Vehicle Access | Walk-in tent camping only (RV parking at carpark entrance on Great Alpine Road) |
| In Camps App | Yes – Find in Camps Australia Wide App |
JB Plain Hut is the first hut you will come across from Dinner Plain, only 1.8 km towards Hotham Alpine Village in Victoria High Country.
Surprisingly, there were several RVs at the carpark entrance on the Great Alpine Road – and at least 4 tents around the hut and my favourite snow gums. One skier set up right on the edge of the plain. A beautiful spot!
It is a walk-in site for tent camping – with a drop toilet. The two room hut is pretty rustic inside and out – there is a fireplace, the hut is only for emergency use.
Dogs aren’t allowed (it is in the Alpine National Park) but fires are. There’s shade and mobile coverage. A dump point is located in Scrubbers End (that really is a name!), Dinner Plain.
Right on the 12 km long Brabralung Trail, you can also take the Tabletop Track from here. If you are walking around the high country, you must be prepared.
I did see a cyclist loving the trail as well, with his fat snow tyres. This trek is very popular with mountain bikers in the warmer months.
November through to May are the best months for hiking, however blizzards can occur anytime of the year.
Our nephew can testify to that, with every ounce of clothing on for his last night camping in December – he was grateful to escape the snow, and arrive fireside to the Dinner Plains Hotel. We laughed when he said he ate not one, but two main meals to warm himself up!
This cattlemen’s post was named after Jim Brown who brought cattle up here in the 1850s. The old forest hut was moved here in the 1970s and was in use up until the 80’s by Cobungra Station. Read more about the Cobungra Station – and you can even check it out at their annual Easter event – Dinner Plain Polo.
I hope to get back there in summer and find the resident emus and try the 2 km return walk to Paw Paw Plain for views of Tabletop Mountain and the Dargo River Valley. Also on my list, is a picnic beside Billy Howards Hut at Wire Plain.
Find this site and dump point on the Camps Australia Wide App. Scrubbers End is also in CAMPS 12. Best in summer, you need a permit at this overnight parking area for winter camp or if you have a dog. It is suitable for RVs (including Big Rigs) and camper trailers. Accessible toilets are here – and, like JB Plain Hut, it is free.
(And if you don’t fancy camping in the snow escape to our chalet at Dinner Plain. We love it up here!)
Find interesting travel destinations like this and more nearby in the CAMPS 13 guide books, CAMPS Pendium boxed set and CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE App.
Download the Camps App for iPhone/iPad or Android
Frequently Asked Questions
Is JB Plain Hut free to camp at?
Yes, JB Plain Hut is a free walk-in tent camping site in the Alpine National Park. The hut itself is only for emergency use.
Can I bring my dog to JB Plain Hut?
No, dogs are not allowed as JB Plain Hut is located within the Alpine National Park.
Are campfires permitted at JB Plain Hut?
Yes, campfires are allowed at this site, and there is a fireplace in the emergency hut.
What facilities are available at JB Plain Hut?
The site has a drop toilet and an emergency hut with fireplace. Mobile coverage is available. The nearest dump point is at Scrubbers End in Dinner Plain.
Can I access JB Plain Hut with a caravan or camper trailer?
No, JB Plain Hut is a walk-in tent camping site only. RVs can park at the carpark entrance on Great Alpine Road, and alternative camping for RVs is available at Scrubbers End in Dinner Plain.
What is the best time of year to visit JB Plain Hut?
November through to May are the best months for hiking and camping, though blizzards can occur any time of year so be prepared.
What walking trails are accessible from JB Plain Hut?
JB Plain Hut is located on the 12 km long Brabralung Trail, and you can also access the Tabletop Track from here. Both are popular with hikers and mountain bikers.
How far is JB Plain Hut from Dinner Plain?
JB Plain Hut is only 1.8 km from Dinner Plain towards Hotham Alpine Village on the Great Alpine Road.
