If Cobberas, Macfarlane Flat, and Ingeegoodbee tracks have been sitting on your High Country wish list for the past few years, there’s finally some movement. A statement from Parks Victoria confirms final planning permission for repairs was granted in September 2026, with works expected to begin this summer.
The three tracks have been closed following severe storm and flood damage, leaving 4X4ers waiting for access to return to this part of the Alpine National Park.
There’s still no confirmed reopening date, so they won’t be going straight back into the trip planner. But getting the approvals sorted is a welcome step towards getting tyres back on these tracks.
Repairs are finally on the horizon
The High Country has copped plenty from the weather in recent years, and these tracks are among the routes that haven’t bounced back.
Major washouts, erosion, and damaged sections have left Cobberas, Macfarlane Flat, and Ingeegoodbee unsafe for vehicle access. The closures have dragged on while assessments and the approvals needed for repair works have been worked through.
Now, with final planning permission secured, Parks Victoria expects the physical work to get underway over summer.
“We expect work to reopen the tracks to get underway in summer,” the statement said.
For 4X4ers, that’s the encouraging bit. These are repairs aimed at restoring access, and there’s now an expected window for getting started.
Exactly how long the work will take remains unclear. Summer marks the anticipated start of repairs, so a Christmas trip through all three is still wishful thinking at this stage.
There’s a fair bit to fix
Anyone who has seen what a decent flood can do to a mountain track will understand why this involves more than smoothing out a few rough patches. The planned works include repairing severe scouring and washouts, dealing with large bog holes and reinstating drainage and rollover structures to move water off the tracks.
Drainage might not be the most exciting part of a track reopening, but it does much of the heavy lifting. Once water starts following wheel ruts downhill, it can carry away the surface and leave a track badly gouged out. Getting that water off the driving line helps protect the repairs when the next storm rolls through.
A rough track is part of the appeal of High Country driving. A washed-out section with the ground missing beneath it is another story entirely. Restoring safe access takes work, particularly when the damage extends beyond what’s immediately visible from the driver’s seat.
Plenty of High Country driving is coming back
While these three remain closed, the wider High Country touring season is getting closer.
Many seasonally closed tracks are scheduled to reopen this week, including Blue Rag Range Track. That gives travellers plenty of reason to dust off the maps and start putting a spring or summer trip together.
Just remember that the end of the winter closure period doesn’t automatically clear every track for driving. Storm damage, maintenance and other restrictions can keep individual routes closed beyond their listed seasonal opening dates.
That’s the situation with Cobberas, Macfarlane Flat, and Ingeegoodbee. Their longer-term closures remain in place while repairs are organised and carried out.
Check the latest access notices before heading away, particularly if your route depends on a specific track to link one part of the trip to the next. Finding a locked gate halfway through a carefully planned loop can make for a very different afternoon.
More tracks back in the mix is worth waiting for
The best High Country trips often string together a few days of driving, camping and exploring, with enough flexibility to take an interesting turn along the way.
Every track restored adds another option to that mix. It gives returning visitors somewhere to revisit and new travellers another reason to spend time in the region.
After years of closures, it’s good to see these three moving towards repairs. There’s work ahead before the gates can open, but the prospect of getting access back is welcome news.
In the meantime, build your trip around the tracks that are confirmed open, leave room for a night in town and put a few dollars through the local bakery, pub or servo.
The High Country is still well worth the drive. Hopefully, before too long, there’ll be three more reasons to head back.
