Adventure

Pack your adventure gear, head out of the city and get set for some heart-stopping, adrenaline-pumping fun on land, in water and in the air.   This is adventure country with a capital A. If ‘extreme’ is your thing, try the adventure of walking in Victoria’s Alpine High Country and camping overnight in the historic cattlemen’s huts. You can also take a 4WD expedition, or maybe you’d prefer activities such as abseiling, caving, paragliding, hang gliding, mountain biking, horse riding, fly-fishing or canoeing. There’s also rock climbing, underground river caving, micro lighting and gliding in a sailplane over the High Plains. If you’ve got the spirit of adventure but no experience, there are guides and instructors just waiting to get you going.

Try the Apex Lookout Walk with its views of Mount Feathertop, Mount Fainter and Mount Bogong. Off-road enthusiasts will enjoy the Mount Porepunkah Circuit for views of the Alps and Mount Buffalo, the Wet Gully to Wandiligong Circuit with views of the verdant valleys and the Snowy Creek to Tawonga Gap Circuit, with great photo opportunities of Mount Bogong and the Kiewa Valley. Or take a 4WD tour high into the mountains, where you can enjoy an espresso coffee or glass of champagne and witness a unique and brilliant Alpine High Country sunset.
Mountain bikers will find the back Germantown Road to Tawonga Road and the Bakers Gully Road to Huggins lookout irresistible. Cyclists and walkers will enjoy the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail, which links the towns of Wangaratta, Beechworth, Myrtleford, Porepunkah and Bright. The Rail Trail follows the original route of the historic rail link between Bright and Wangaratta, with a diversion to Beechworth and Milawa for those looking for a challenge. Bright is a major centre for road cycling with the Tour of Bright in December and the internationally-acclaimed Audax Classic in January.
Held each February, the Bright 321 Paragliding Championship has international status and is Australia’s elite paragliding event. Microlighting is extremely popular in Porepunkah and Mystic Hill attracts hang gliders and paragliders looking for an adrenaline rush.
The beautiful Ovens and Buckland rivers near Bright attract anglers looking to hook trout and are also popular with canoeists and kayakers. Families with children can have great fun tubing. Perhaps take a scenic flight to gain a truly special perspective of the region by flying over the Ovens Valley and Kiewa Valley townships or the sights of the spectacular mountains including Mount Bogong, Mount Buffalo and Mount Feathertop.
Mount Buffalo is one of Australia’s most famous adventure destinations, with mountain biking, abseiling, rock climbing, camping, walks and 4WD tours. Mount Buffalo also beckons with hang gliding, underground river caving, and canoeing on Lake Catani.
Mount Beauty is Victoria’s mountain bike headquarters and home to the Big Hill Mountain Bike Park. It plays host to major races including the National Mountain Bike Championships each year. There are literally hundreds of trails to explore, from novice to advanced, so grab a map from the Alpine Discovery Centre and head for the hills. It’s pretty hard to beat the flying conditions for paragliding and hang gliding in Victoria’s Alpine High Country, as our consistent sunshine warms the air and produces the dependable thermals that pilots need to stay aloft.
The Bogong Cup Hang Gliding Championship is Australia’s largest hang gliding event, held each January, attracting competitors from around the world. If you haven’t sampled extreme air sports yet, there are plenty of local operators who can teach you how to hang glide or paraglide in no time. Hang gliding and paragliding season runs from September to the end of June, and microlighting all year round. Ever thought of soaring with the eagles above Victoria’s highest mountain, Mount Bogong, while taking in the spectacular views of the Kiewa Valley?  Well consider joining the professional instructors in one of their gliders launched from the Mount Beauty Airfield, allowing you to soar over the High Plains and the wineries of the Kiewa Valley.
Angling is popular in the rivers and lakes around Mount Beauty, Bogong Village and Falls Creek, with the Kiewa River a hot fly-fishing spot for locals and visitors, chasing the brown and rainbow trout. If horse riding in the mountains sounds inviting, take the opportunity to go for a day trip, or why not take a longer trek that combines great horses and natural splendour of the Bogongs. Discover the true excitement of Victoria’s Alpine High Country, an area rich in cultural history, spectacular scenery and a mountain playground for outdoor enthusiasts and hardcore adventurers.