Bright & Victorian High Country

A leafy town in northeast Victoria's High Country, ablaze with gold and red each autumn, with Mount Buffalo, historic Beechworth and two major ski resorts nearby.

Bright & Victorian High Country lies in northeastern Victoria, Australia, in the alpine region at the southern end of the Great Dividing Range, about 310 km from Melbourne. Bright sits in the Ovens Valley; it grew up during the 19th-century gold rush, and the European deciduous trees planted by its residents have made it Australia's best-known autumn destination. From mid-to-late April to early May the whole town turns gold and red, and visitors pour in for the Bright Autumn Festival. Using Bright as a base, you can explore several routes. To the west, Mount Buffalo National Park offers granite gorges, The Horn, Lake Catani and Eurobin Falls. To the south, the Great Alpine Road runs via the old gold-mining village of Harrietville up to Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain; to the east, the road crosses Tawonga Gap to Mount Beauty and Falls Creek. In winter (roughly mid-June to September) these are Victoria's two major ski resorts, while in summer they're prime alpine hiking territory around Mount Feathertop and Mount Bogong. To the north and northwest, you can drive to gold-rush towns such as Beechworth and Yackandandah, as well as the Milawa Gourmet Region and the King Valley's prosecco wineries. From town, you can cycle the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, stroll the Wandiligong Valley, or go tandem paragliding at Mystic Hill. Best seasons: autumn (Apr–May) for foliage, winter for skiing, and spring for blossoms and mild weather; summer (Dec–Feb) is hot, so keep an eye on bushfire warnings and road closures. Getting there: it's about 3.5–4 hours' drive from Melbourne via the Hume Freeway, or take a V/Line train to Wangaratta and transfer to a bus; public transport within the region is very limited, so driving is strongly recommended, and carry snow chains when heading up the mountains in winter. Plan on 3–4 days: 2 days for Bright and Mount Buffalo, and 1–2 days for the historic towns and food, or skiing.

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