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Touring
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Take a drive or a ride along a spectacular piece of road, with a wide range of activities for those with adventure in mind.
Whether you’re travelling on four wheels or two, you’ll find some of Australia’s most spectacular touring routes in Victoria’s Alpine High Country. The peak experience is undoubtedly Mount Hotham at 1825 metres on the Great Alpine Road – this is Australia’s highest bitumen road, with year-round accessibility and stop-you-in-your-tracks views. Two wheel travellers find plenty of excitement in the twists and turns of the mountain roads leading to Falls Creek, Mount Hotham and Mount Buffalo. And for cyclists, there’s 98 kilometres of glorious High Country views on the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail between Bright and Wangaratta, plus many options at Mount Beauty and the beautiful Kiewa Valley.
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THE GREAT ALPINE ROAD
The Great Alpine Road, a 308-kilometre route from Wangaratta through Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain to Bairnsdale, is an extraordinary drive at any time of year (please note chains must be carried during the winter months). It packs a powerful scenic punch, taking you past valleys, mountains, forests, rivers, vineyards, farms and historic villages before arriving at Bairnsdale, near the ocean, in Gippsland.
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While this route can be covered easily in a day, you’d miss out on a great deal of countryside if you don’t take the Discovery Route loops. For example, there’s the Kiewa Valley Drive, which includes Myrtleford-Ovens-Happy Valley-Tawonga-Mount Beauty-Bright, or Mount Beauty-Falls Creek-Omeo-Bright in summer. The Kiewa Valley, where the highway follows the route of the Kiewa River, is reminiscent of the pretty and peaceful alpine valleys of Europe.
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The Mount Buffalo drive takes you from Bright-Porepunkah-Mount Buffalo-Porepunkah and back to Bright. It’s the best way to ensure you see the Mount Buffalo National Park on your travels. Alternatively leave Bright for the nearby heritage-listed village of Wandiligong, before heading back toward Harrietville, Mount Hotham, Dinner Plain and Omeo.
SYDNEY MELBOURNE TOURING
The Great Alpine Road is also included in the new Sydney to Melbourne Touring Routes. It’s one of three distinctive touring routes that take you between Australia’s two largest cities. The ‘Adventure’ route drive takes you over the stunning Victorian Alps. Drive Australia’s highest year-round accessible sealed road up lofty mountains, into valleys and past rivers and vineyards to the ocean. Along the way have an outdoor adventure - experience rock climbing, hang-gliding or white-water rafting and snow sports in winter. Sample gourmet delights at welcoming towns along the way. For more information go to www.sydneymelbournetouring.com.au
FOR MOTORCYCLISTS
Want a challenge? Then try the tight curves on the Great Alpine Road to Mount Hotham, the Mount Beauty-Falls Creek alpine road and the steep road that winds up to Mount Buffalo. (These roads are not suitable for motorbikes from June to October). If you’re in cruise mode, a loop around the region will give you straight stretches of road along the Great Alpine Road and Kiewa Valley Highway, with some good bends on the roads between Happy Valley, Mount Beauty, Tawonga and Bright.
For more details on the Great Alpine Road, visit www.greatalpineroad.info
FOR CYCLISTS
Imagine cycling nearly 100 kilometres along an easy, sealed trail through an ever-changing rural and High Country backdrop, stopping at historic towns and at wineries where the ‘open’ sign invites you to the cellar door. Well, that’s the 98-kilometre Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail, arguably Australia’s best cycling trail. Following historic railway lines, where many old station sites can still be seen, the trail winds its way from Bright to Myrtleford with a detour to Beechworth before arriving in Wangaratta. The gradients are gentle, so the ride is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. Bicycle hire is available at Bright, Myrtleford, Mount Beauty, Beechworth and Wangaratta and towns along the trail offer a wide range of accommodation options. For more information on the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail, visit www.murraytomountains.com.au
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Tip: Check your brakes, arrange to have your bike transported up Mount Buffalo, then ride down this steep and winding road. There are also lots of tracks for mountain bikes and touring bikes around Bright, Porepunkah, Mount Beauty and the valleys.
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