The end point go our Alpine Road adventure was the town of Dinner Plain. If I was concerned the road was a little flat for an Alpine route, I shouldnt have been. I have visited this area for over 25 years and have put together a trip that includes the magic and splendour of this great land. Thrill to the spectacular mountain-top scenery of the alpine high plains. Given the impact Covid has had on so many places like this though, Ill give them the benefit of the doubt, as the team seemed to be working really hard while we were there on renovations. In the second half of the nineteenth century thousands of Europeans, Americans and Chinese headed into the High Country in search of gold. For a decent price tripod, try Neewer. You will have the opportunity to take in the impressive mountain range, breath-taking views, and wildlife. Victorian High-Country tours are designed as introductory tours for both inexperienced and semi-experienced campers. JavaScript is disabled. Towns like Bright and Harrietville are simply stunning as the leaves fall, and the bracing weather makes you really feel like a High Country traveller. But then theres Zeka Spur, Billy Goat Bluff, and the list goes on. SEMA 2014: LOOKING FOR A FEW GOLD NUGGETS IN A SEA OF BAD IDEAS, MADVENTURE AGENCY, a part of the Adventure Marketing Group Pty Limited (ABN: 66 650 398 995), Heading to Cape York with your 4WD? Youll have the region on the one map, and youll be able to plan each and every stop. There is much to discover about the area's rich . It can get very busy during holidays so perhaps avoid peak times. After a stressful year with the Covid lockdown and not being able to see any family from the UK, a two night stay on Ellys little farmstead was the most relaxed Ive felt in a long long time. If youre coming to the High Country Ive no doubt youve heard of Beechworth or had recommendations to visit here. This trip well explore east, so right it is along the Moroka Road. Call Vic for an itinerary. With its famous Raspberry Grenade, a great tasting beer flavoured with a hint of local raspberries, the Jamieson Brewery is a hard pub to pass. The Man From Snowy River 1 & 2 are essential viewing. Broadly the High Country encompasses an area starting from Nagambie in the west, Rutherglen in the north, Omeo in the southeast and Jamieson in the south. Follow the Wonnagatta Road for 6kms and you will reach the Kingswell Bridge which crosses the Wonnanngatta River. It's known for its Victorian-era streetscapes, and is home to the Grape Vine Hotel, the largest grapevine in Australia. The photographs in the store feature some great pictures of previous travelers dilemmas, as well as photographs of the dramatic weather conditions such as floods and fires. I enjoyed many a beer sitting on the porch watching the sun go down. But theres nothing quite like unfolding HEMAs High Country map to plan your trip. Access: Closed during winter and on catastrophic fire danger days. There are a few pieces of must-have kit Id recommended for some time away in the Victorian High Country in summer. It may not display this or other websites correctly. For a start, it boasts Victorias longest single drop waterfall (255m), but the natural paddle pools at the top are what the locals love. Beautiful mountain towns, Australian skiing, 4wD Tracks , and Camping are all great to see in the mountains of Victoria. Win a REDARC solar setup worth over $1700! We stock the full range of Ironman 44 products including Suspension, Bullbars, Lights, Vehicle Protection, Recovery gear, snorkels, auto electrics, dual battery systems, towing accessories, tanks, underbody protection, Camping Gear and more! Complete this quick survey. With pristine camping, spectacular views, and great 4WDriving you just have to get out and explore this area for yourself. Hello every one i just signed up last night (this is a great web site and forum. Book your holidays, sit down with a Victorian High Country Map to plan your route, pack up the 4WD and come to the Victorian High Country for a trip of a lifetime! Enjoy yarns and games around a cosy campfire. Survival Gear. To get to the North Razorback, turn off the Great Alpine Road (B 500) just south of Bright at Germantown on the Mt Beauty Road (C 536). Bright was definitely our favourite town, with the farmstead near Mansfield the best experience, as we sat on the edge of the hill watching the sunset and a clear sky full of stars appear every night. Recommended days: 2-3 days. Solo travellers take note - a six-day hiking tour in the Victorian Alps in March has waived the single supplement (saving $325) and is now priced from $2850 a person. In the evening shed knock to see if we wanted to go down with her to sort the animals out for th night. FollowupID: 869585. The track climbs steeply from the road and then you are presented with the magical view of the track snaking its way along the mountain spur line into the distance with trig point just visible in the distance. If you choose only one place for your High Country Itinerary, Bright should be it. There is plenty to see here including grabbing some last minute supplies, souvenirs or fuel from the general store. Famous for this huge hunk of metal on the edge of town, The El Dorado Dredge once actually moved (hard to believe for something this big) through the backwaters of the Woolshed Valley pulling up tin and gold from the waters. We also popped into the Burke Museum which documents the failed journey of Burke and Wills to cross Australia, but also has other curiosities such as a stuffed Thylacine (a Tasmanian tiger, extinct since 1936) and a recreation 19th Century Australian street which was unusual. Trip in a Van blogger Bec Lorrimer takes her family of five into some seriously epic terrain. Lets face it, Australia is pretty damn flat. VICTORIAN HIGH COUNTRY 6-DAY PACKAGE, $2850. personly i wouldnt go down zeka spur , but go up to mount wellington and then the pinnacles. Victorian High Country Trip Planning Where to Stay in the Victorian High Country From Grant Junction continue northwards through the forested area on the Dargo High Plains Road. Dargo is arguably the hub of the Victorian High Country. 2-In-1 Tripod/Monopod Featuring a detachable leg and a removable center column, Neewer Carbon Fiber Tripod allows transformation from a tripod to a monopod (Height can reach 68.9 (175cm)) for Adjustable Tripod Legs The 4-section legs with twist locks can extend from 22.6 to 66.1 (57.5cm to 168cm) in seconds and provide reliable stability. This is a classic hotel in every sense of the word, with hearty meals, wraparound verandahs and a perfect location. Next stop-off was beside a man-made lake we saw off to the side of the road about a further 3.5km along. If you are towing a camper trailer, take extra precautions, and consider resting your brakes to let them cool down halfway down the descent. There are some great photo opportunities all the way along the track, particularly at the pinch and the helipad. I was told today visiting VHC would be like a holiday to the moon following the devastating fires. 20/20 Head to Healesville, a foodie's paradise This is the BEST 4Wdrive adventure in the land. Airlie Beach. About all that remains visible of the township are a few stonewalls and the old gold mines in the area. The Rooftop series of maps give you a nice, detailed view of the Victorian High Country. From the soaring pillars of the Twelve Apostles to the tree-fern gullies of the Otway National Park, this stunning coastal route is one of the most iconic road trips in Australia. It includes towns such as Beechworth, Bright, Yachandandah, Mansfield and Wangaratta as well as natural attractions such as Mount Buller, Mount Beauty and Lake Eildon. In this article, we focus on some of the southern areas of the Victorian High Country. There have been too many instances of drivers failing to do so, and plummeting of the side of the track and into the snow gums. You have arrived at the historical Talbotville Camping Area. Safely tackle some of Australia's toughest 4WD trails. Stop in and explore famous High country huts like Craig's Hut, Bluff . Ben is the blogger behind TheSabbaticalGuide.com, a site designed to give people the information, tools and inspiration they need to make their sabbatical dreams a reality. Sitting by the warm glow of a campfire, laughing about the track you drove today that made your knuckles turn white and your heart rate go off the scale is part of the whole Victorian High Country experience. We cruised through Harrietville, a small town with a clear love of gardening ornate shrubs and vibrant blooms made the roadside more entertaining. Great Ocean Road. It was only after wandering around we realised we were at the top of what would be a huge ski slope in winter (though the imposing white frames of the ski-lifts should have been a big giveaway). The 4WD Suitable to 4WDrives with high and low range. Itinerary is as follows Day before tour kicks off - meet up in Jamieson for welcome dinner Day 1 - Jamieson in to the High Country Day 2 - Travel high country tracks and trails Day 3 - Travel high country tracks and trails Day 4 - Travel high country tracks and trails Day 5 - Travel high country tracks and trails with farewell dinner They are sturdy, fairly light without being ridiculously expensive. The full tour fee is payable 2 weeks prior to the tour and is not refundable after this time. The 4WD trails in the High Country are perfect for experienced drivers. A great resource for planning a trip to the high country. Some 4WDing experience is preferred as there are numerous steep hill climbs and descents and creek crossings. A wood, white and grey, modern home looking like its been copied straight from an Ikea showroom, it had everything we needed including toys provided, a BBQ and play area outside. Camping gear You need to supply your own camping gear, this is a camping tour there is no accommodation option. Recommended by 94% of travelers. For me, I really love autumn in the High Country. If you are travelling up into the High Country with kids, then a sturdy carrier for hikes is going to be needed. 4. From Licola, head North on the Tamboritha Road for 13kms and you will reach Currawong Camp, which is the first of several scenic campgrounds in the Wellington River Camping area. Explore nature trails on foot or horseback, and frolic in the snow in winter. Theres a range of great local towns to visit, shops and pubs to experience, and of course, the spectacular mountain scenery that the Victorian High Country is famous for. Drive distance: 243 km. If you are a photographer then the High Country is a great chance to have a dabble in astrophotography. Make a left turn immediately after the Bridge onto Talbotville Road heading east. Basic Requirements For This Tour . Peters knowledge of the local area (ask him to show you some of his finds from the river!) Horseyard flat is also the starting point for the walking track down to Moroka Gorge and waterfall. The only formed campsites on the Trail are a couple of grassed areas on New Country Creek, at the base of the infamous 'Staircase' climb that can accommodate at most four vehicles. From Horseyard Flat it is another 8km to the turnoff to Billy Goats Bluff track (which well check out later) then another kilometre to the fabulous Pinnacles. Long rocky climbs seem to go on forever, only to end with spectacular views of mountains and the distant thin lines of other tracks crossing the ridges. Best time of year to Visit the High Country? You should consider taking out Travel Insurance to cover any unforeseen circumstances including illness, vehicle problems or family matters. The Grant Township once had a population of around 2000 with stores, hotels, a police station, churches, banks, dwellings and even a local newspaper flanking two broad main streets. If unsure it pays to walk the crossing first. Copyright 2023 by AxiomThemes. If I want to impress someone, the Blue Rag Range track is short, exhilarating and not too far up the road from Mt Hotham. Biggleswade To Paris 240 Miles Non Stop! Still images are harder to capture up here, as it is a genuine 360-degree view, but thats why we spend more money on our vehicles than our cameras, right? Up stream from Talbotville along the Crooked River there are plenty of old gold mining sites including the New Good Hope Mine and further along to the area of Stonewall with its old gold mine and the remains of the fireplace and oven which are more often than not covered by black berries. Might give you a bit of a start. The drive up the mountain is an exciting one, it took us nearly an hour to do the 38km from the B500 (the road heading into Bright) and we counted well over 20 sharp bends. Turn right off the Dargo High Plains Road and start your journey along King Spur Track. Definitely! Yes there were lions, dingoes, camels and other zoo favourites, but the enclosures werent the best and it felt a little unloved. 4WD. This is one reason why this track is known as one of the most spectacular tracks in the victorian high country the views and vistas are truly outstanding. Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. Here are a few other things we found really useful on the trip: What is the best place you have visited in Victoria? Be considerate of others on the track. Arguably one of the most well-known and scenic coastal drives in Australia, the Great Ocean Road can be done by anyone with a well-maintained 2WD or 4WD and an adventurous spirit. This cost-effective tour includes all safety equipment, white water rafting with a guide, lunch, and a choice of a morning or noon departure. Continue along the track to the trig point at 1716m this point offers spectacular 360degree views across the mountains and valleys. Victoria's High Country Brewery Trail is an easily drivable, or even better, chauffeured drive through the High Country. More Info will be sent to you once you register with your deposit, No 4WD? Victoria's High Country Brewery Trail. Now its time to prepare for some adrenaline filled 4WDing ahead! Powers Lookout is named after Harry Power, a bushranger from the mid-1800s, who was a mentor to the most famous bushranger of them all, Ned Kelly. A good mate of mine Garry Doyle plays these films through a projector and onto a white sheet around his High Country campsite always to an ecstatic audience. Walk the highlights of the Victorian High Country including Bright, Mount Buffalo, Bogong high plains and Mt Feathertop returning each evening to our cosy accommodation in the beautiful town of Bright. I have driven through snow in late January! There are bypass tracks around the worst areas so generally these shouldnt cause any problems. The For this reason, most of the 4WD tracks in the region are closed for from the start of June to November. Coming off the back of a year that included a 112-day lockdown in Victoria, this slice of calm on a hill in the High Country was what we needed. The High Country Rail Trail is a super popular 80km route that stretches from Albury Wodonga to Shelley in Victoria, offering cyclists a scenic journey through an iconic landscape. Cattlemens huts are a feature of the High Country. It came from, Read More Biggleswade To Paris 240 Miles Non Stop!Continue, We visited Cape Schanck on our recent trip to the Mornington Peninsula and loved it. The only thing I had to do was loosen the release points of the legs to make them faster to adjust. This is your last chance to refuel and pickup any last minute supplies from the General Store. From MacFarland Saddle Carpark, continue along Moroka Road for another 14kms and you will cross the Bridget that spans Moroka River. After a selfie fill session at the Pinnacles lookout, head back down the same road until you reach the turn off for Billy Goat Bluff track. It is suitable for those with and without off road trailers. The round-trip tour from Bright in the High Country combines hikes through the ski villages of Falls Creek, Hotham and Dinner Plain . Stationary steam engines, water wheels and stamping batteries anything that was too big to get out after it all went bust is still on site. Its a short but steep walk up to the fire tower lookout perched on a rocky summit. The Victorian High Country is a premier camping and 4WD destination that combines breath taking scenery with some of the most spectacular 4WD tracks. there is a couple of good books on 4wd tracks in the high country with heaps of info. Alpine National Park. The most memorable experiences of the entire trip. Ok, so Ill fully admit this place not be for everyone, but we loved it. The track can be quite narrow in places and it can be challenging to pass oncoming vehicles so put your UHF radio to scan and keep a close watch for vehicles. For more recommendations read 20 Amazing Attractions to Discover in Beechworth. it costs more - as expected, however the itinerary will be altered to suit your interests; eg, the stop at the winery can . We chose the Spring home, which had two bedrooms, perfect for us with our little girl. Make sure you stop in at the old style sweet shop to stock up. 4WD Pack Hema HX-1 Navigator From Talbotville take the McMillan Road up to Grant which is approximately 11km. Compare tours, packages, and independent trips for South Africa in 7 days. This self-contained two-bedroom place is attached to the family home of the delightful Elly, an eccentric, warm-hearted host who has (amongst other things) a goat, a sheep, a cow, a selection of chickens, ducks and a couple of fun little dogs on her smallholding. There are some information boards position along walking tracks which provide commentary into the story of this former mining town. Four-wheel driving fans value Victoria's ruggedly diverse national and state parks for the extensive track network and spectacular scenery.