If you're coming from Woomargama National Park, you can join the trail from either end - or opt for a cruisier section by starting at Sandy Creek Bridge, which . Now that we have the people who love a bit of exercise sorted let's get onto the good stuff; food and drink! In the evening there are lots of places in eat in Bright including the local craft brewery. This is a popular walk across the high plains with a steep descent to the picturesque Lake Tali Karng, one of Victorias deepest natural lakes. The 4WD trails in the High Country are perfect for experienced drivers. Best time to drive: Spring or autumn. There are a few pieces of must-have kit Id recommended for some time away in the Victorian High Country in summer. We loved the magical little toy shop Beechworth Toys and Collectables, Beechworth Sweet Co, the shop that looks like it could have come from a Harry Potter movie and having some wonderful eggs Benedict at the Rustique Soul Cafe, sitting beside a life-sized replica of Ned Kellys armour. The Great Alpine Road was the main reason for our visit to the High Country. Jawbone Marine Sanctuary: The Best Place to Visit in Williamstown? Pulpit Rock & Cape Schanck Lighthouse: Definitely Worth a Visit. Victoria's High Country Brewery Trail is an easily drivable, or even better, chauffeured drive through the High Country. 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. 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. Being such a large area you can spend weeks or even months exploring this region. When we pulled over at Dannys Lookout, the bikes were all lined up here, each taking their turn to go back around one of the bends with a photographer waiting to take the action shot. Our aim was to see the famously pretty little Victorian towns, drive some of the spectacular High Country roads and get to as many of the mountains and national parks as we could. 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? day 3 bluff hut, lovicks hut ,zeka spur into wonnangatta valley , camp at talbotville. At this point, turn slightly right onto Moroka Road and continue to head east. Just choose an existing itinerary or destination and contact us we can help you arrange the trip as a private tour. 4WD only with high clearance and low range capability. 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. Each one is unique and historic and they make fantastic refuges when the weather turns nasty, which it will in the Alpine areas. Its a short but steep walk up to the fire tower lookout perched on a rocky summit. This was more than just a place to stay though, Elly turned it into an experience. A narrow track that crests some of the highest parts of the High Country, you'll arrive at the Blue Rag trig point. With ample flat grassy campsites adjacent the Dargo River, plenty of shade from the majestic gum trees, and the vista of the surrounding mountains you would be hard pressed to find a better location for a few days. In this article, we focus on some of the southern areas of the Victorian High Country. Balance: due and payable 30 days prior to departure. Hi Swaggie would you be able to share with me your knowledge of the area and perhaps give me a plan of how to spend the seven days camping in two to three different spots (bases) that have the following to keep every one happy. Our daughter was fascinated by her daily visits down to the chicken coop with Elly and we loved the home-produced produce that she left for us. This iconic pub delivers an authentic country pub atmosphere and is a fantastic place to enjoy a drink and a meal. Following the Ovens Valley, head to Bright, your destination for the evening. The bamboo bridges are one of Luang Prabangs most iconic sights and appear on many famous photos of the town. The Victorian High Country provides the best 4Wdriving and most spectacular scenery in Australia. Beginner trip to the Vic High Country. The rest of El Dorado is fairly sleepy, with a couple of little hikes near the creeks, a self-guided historic town walk and the Mcevoy Tavern, which lays claim to being the smallest pub in Victoria. Craigs Hut at sunset is a photographers paradise, as the post and rail fence line draws the eye first to the beautiful hut, and then on to the surrounding ranges. Beaches, Koalas, waterfalls and much more! Things to do: Visit Scenic World, go . I have driven through snow in late January! The Deddick Trail features some of the steepest tracks in the Victorian High Country. From Grant continue along McMillians Rd for another 5km then turn right onto Dargo High Plans Rd and continue for another 18km until you reach the town of Dargo. I had my first ever go whilst staying in Mansfield (and documented my efforts in Adventures in Astrophotography). So without further ado, here are some of the High Country must see places and my Victorian High Country Itinerary. Submitted: Monday, May 16, 2016 at 20:41. . Recommended days: 2-3 days. Make sure you travel the spectacular Great Alpine Road at least once; passing through the heart of the Victorian Alps on the highest altitude road in Victoria and taking in panoramic views as far as the eye can see. If you wish to make a nigh of it, camping is available out the back of the pub or over at the Dargo River Inn. The Victorian High Country is a premier camping and 4WD destination that combines breath taking scenery with some of the most spectacular 4WD tracks. Towns & Villages LIMITLESS HORIZONS 7.3 km from the winter gate at the end of the rough 2WD section of the road. There are bypass tracks around the worst areas so generally these shouldnt cause any problems. Check out this Victorian High Country Map of our adventure. Victoria Content Hub Day 1 Melbourne to Bright Distance 324km - Driving Time About 4 hours Immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenery of the Great Alpine Road as you set off on your adventure. This walk traverses diverse landscapes of forests, alpine grassland, winters snow-blanketed mountains, precipitous ridges and high plains. From MacFarland Saddle Carpark, continue along Moroka Road for another 14kms and you will cross the Bridget that spans Moroka River. 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. Alpine National Park is an Australian Alps national park in the High Country region of Victoria. The Ingeegoodbee Track is one of the High Countries 4WD test-pieces. Deposits are non refundable. A great resource for planning a trip to the high country. Victoria's High Country - The Official Website - plan and book your next getaway WALKS WITH ENDLESS VIEWS Step outside the everyday. 4 Day High Country Tag-Along Tour Intermediate 4WDrive and Recovery Course at Narbethong The shot above is one of my favourites, showing one of the hundreds of rustic huts that are dotted across this landscape, relics of a time when rangers and cattlemen walked these hills. Our Place are custom-built holiday homes on a large plot of land in Bright. Outside of the really busy periods of the year such as Easter and summer long weekends, you are usually assured of getting a suitable site to set up camp. An itinerary carefully curated to suite Grade 2 -3 hiking ability. 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. The steep descent should pose few problems except in wet conditions when some of the clay based sections will become quite slippery. For this, I am assuming you have a weekend and are travelling up on a Friday night before returning late on a Sunday. 4. Visit townships like Mansfield, Dargo and Omeo. Victorian High-Country tours are designed as introductory tours for both inexperienced and semi-experienced campers. The zoo aspect of it wasnt so impressive. With pristine camping, spectacular views, and great 4WDriving you just have to get out and explore this area for yourself. The recommendations on AirBNB were glowing and rightly so. The track is steep in parts, and scrabbly in others, but is in generally pretty good condition. Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time. 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. From Dargo Melbourne is around a 4 hour drive. Best time of year to Visit the High Country? Today a sense of this history can be found in the old ruins, mine workings and the old cemetery. 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. Survival Gear. . The round-trip tour from Bright in the High Country combines hikes through the ski villages of Falls Creek, Hotham and Dinner Plain . The full tour fee is payable 2 weeks prior to the tour and is not refundable after this time. Just be careful though, as what looks like a 1 hour drive can turn into much, much longer thanks to the biggest drivable mountains Australia has on offer. . There is also a track to the right to another campsite, but it pays to cross the Dargo River and continue up the valley as there is plenty more to come. Lake Tali Karng is a hidden jewel nestled deep in the mountains of Gippsland, fed by snowmelt waters of the Wellington Plains. Its alpine destinations and tracks - Wonnangatta, the Dargo High Plains, Blue Rag, Mount Stirling - are legendary and not for the faint-hearted or inexperienced. Camping is available out the back of the pub or over at the Dargo River Innif wishing to make a night of it! Access: Closed during winter and on catastrophic fire danger days. Be cautioustravelling at the beginning of the plain as there are several bog holes that can trap the unwary. With our girl propped on our hip we helped brush the goat, collect eggs and put the ducks away from the foxes. Lots of hotels they were wild years. 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. Location: Mansfielf, Vic Product code: VHC5 Leaving from Mansfield, Vic we head into the Victorian High country and Alpine region. The Wellington River Camping area consists of 14 separate camping areas of varying sizes along a 10km stretch of the Wellington River. For those who want to call it a weekend, head south from Drago along Dargo High Plains Rd. From end-to-end, Billy Goat Bluff track is less than 10kms but due to the challenging terrain, its advisable to schedule at least an hour for this trek. Extending from the river to the mountains, this drive takes in many . Piles of stones mark chimney sites where miners cottages, shops, banks and hotels once stood. If youre coming to the High Country Ive no doubt youve heard of Beechworth or had recommendations to visit here. It is suitable for those with and without off road trailers. The Moroka road now becomes the Pinnacles road and the next point of interest is Horseyard Flat, approximately 2km from Marathon Road. and Kayes wonderful home-baked goodies (left for us in the fridge) were a lovely surprise. We did find one small cafe by the main hotel open which, judging by how many words the owner fitted into her welcome, didnt see a lot of customer at this time of year. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The cattlemen brought their own culture to the High Country and it has become part of our heritage celebrated in song, poetry and film. Keep going for another 15 kms and you will reach the Pinnacles Lookout and Fire tower. The most popular (read: crowded) times to go are over the Christmas holidays and the Easter Holidays. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Its a beautiful area, and thats why I think its the best four wheel drive destination in Australia! If you visit in Winter, you'll find the mighty Alpine blanketed in snow with Mount Buller, Mount Hotham and . Wellington River Campgrouds Victorian High Country, Gateway into the Victorian High Country Dargo, Getting to Licola Entry point into the Victorian High Country, 1st night Camp along the Wellington River just north of Licola, Talbotville Camp overnight Historical township from the gold rush era, Grant Historical township from the gold rush era. Continuing along the high plains on Tamboritha Road, head pass the Lost Plain picnic area and you eventually arrive at Arbuckle Junction. . Biggleswade To Paris 240 Miles Non Stop! However once back on the high plains road there is a location that should not be missed the famous Blue Rag Range and trig point. All rights reserved. Outside of peak periods such as summer long weekends or Easter, there should be plenty of availability to setup camp. Tim Bates recently did a 2 part youtube live of what he reckons would be the trip of a lifetime, aimed at people that aren't experts on high country travel and not into the hardest of tracks. If I was concerned the road was a little flat for an Alpine route, I shouldnt have been. This is a fantastic option for your first overnight camp. Talbotville was another of Gippslands small gold mining towns that sprang to life when gold was found in the Crooked River in 1860 but vanished when the gold ran out. Whether you're visiting in Summer, Winter or somewhere in between, you'll be spoilt with scenery. On a clear day, you can see as far as Gippsland Lakes, Mt Hotham to the north and the settled areas of the Wonnangatta Valley far below. You will have the opportunity to take in the impressive mountain range, breath-taking views, and wildlife. Make a left turn immediately after the Bridge onto Talbotville Road heading east. VICTORIAN HIGH COUNTRY 6-DAY PACKAGE, $2850. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 The Sabbatical Guide | Established 2018. Follow the footsteps of the pioneering cattlemen and gold miners. Heres how to prepare. Although in a literal sense, you could actually miss it, as its perched just off the main road between Mansfield and Jamieson. Call Vic for an itinerary. This is decision time left is Howitt Road which heads towards the Howitt High Plains and right is the Moroka Road which heads towards the Pinnaclesand the east. At this point, park your 4WD and head out on foot. Sorry the content is a bit long however i felt if i get it all down people willing to help especially those that have done it before will have a good understanding of the type of trip we'd like to take for hopefully the first of many to the High country it sounds awesome!! Iconic Four Wheel Drives of Victoria - Parks Victoria, Four Wheel Drive Victoria & Victorian State Government. At the very top youll find The Horn where its possible to walk the final steep kilometre or so to the very top. One place wed been keen to see with the Victorian High Country and the Great Alpine Road, so on a late November morning we headed packed up the car and headed out early from Melbourne for five nights away. Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. 6 Things Ive Learned from 6 Weeks in Asia, SpringRiver Resort Laos: 5 Reasons You Must Stay Here [Review]. Stunning camping sites dot the landscape around Victoria's High Country. Turning left will take you through to Eaglevale and onto the iconic Wonnanngatta Station, but on this outing were turning right towards Dargo. Gee, another tough one. Lets start with the basics, where exactly is the Victorian High Country? 202316 - 22 April 202312 - 18 November 20233 - 9 January 202411 - 17 January 2024, Great Divide Tours 4WD Training Centre Castle View, Victorian High Country Accommodated (7 days/8 nights), Along the Murray Accommodated Tour (8 days/nights), Cruise the Kimberley Coast with Vic Widman (13 days), Exploring Len Beadell's Tracks Tour (18 days). 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. The Victorian High Country is truly Trayon territory, as many of the tracks are unsuitable for camper trailers, and having the freedom of a slide on camper is a distinct advantage. Cattlemens huts are a feature of the High Country. The Victorian High Country in is without question one of the best Four-Wheel Drive locations in Australia. The Victorian High Country in is without question one of the best Four-Wheel Drive locations in Australia. There are some information boards and walking tracks around the township which provide an insight into the towns former glory. Daintree Rainforest. There are some information boards position along walking tracks which provide commentary into the story of this former mining town. Chiltern is a town in Victoria 's High Country. There will be some places that you may have heard of before, and maybe a few spots that are new. At over 2,000 tons it is huge and at one point was the second largest drain on Victorias electricity supply behind the cities of Melbourne and Geelong! We are British ex-pats who moved out to Victoria in 2019 and have been exploring the state in our spare time (this links to all my Victoria content). Whats not to love about these roughly constructed bush shelters? Drive distance: 243 km. Continue following the Crooked River Track north, through farmland, then some forested areas for 9km, until you reach a large grassy opening. Make sure you stop in at the old style sweet shop to stock up. Perched on the side of a hill, with only endless skies and green fields in front, the location is stunning. Both Diesel and Unleaded types are available. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip. He caught the bug for travel at an early age when his dad moved out to South Africa, and now builds regular mini-retirements' into his career, in which he sees the world with his wife Becca. It would involve a fair but of driving (around 1,000km) and our first big adventure with our 11-month-old little girl. Around 11km further on is Grant Junction and the turn-off to Grant and Talbotville. Clocking in at 110km from Suggan Buggan to Benambra, set aside a day to complete the trek at a casual pace. Accommodation is also available in log cabins. The Offroad Tradies will guide you through this 6 day/5 night thrill seeking, ultimate 4WD Tag-Along Adventure Tour. About all that remains visible of the township are a few stonewalls and the old gold mines in the area. In fact, its around six hours of low range to get back out to Mansfield (which is just the way we like it!). From the Dargo River campsites backtrack to the Dargo High Plains Road and commence the steep climb up onto the high plains. If you're looking for adventure in Ubud, white water rafting should be high on your agenda, and unless you have your own wheels, a package makes economic sense. Businesses included a butcher, baker, chemist, restaurant and a hotel, with a Post Office operating intermittently into the late 1940s. And as already mentioned, the view from the top is mind-blowing. We will introduce you to different driving, convoy and UHF radio techniques along with the campground etiquette. 4.1 km from the summer 4WD road head to the summit. If your heart needs a rest from walking to hidden historic sites or driving double black diamond tracks you can head out to stock up on supplies. If you've got a 4x4, you're well on your way to visiting the High Country in your own time, and on your own terms. 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. Read More The Bamboo Bridges of Luang PrabangContinue, Weve had six full weeks travelling Southeast Asia now. But theres nothing quite like unfolding HEMAs High Country map to plan your trip. Finding each campground is straight forward since all campgrounds are clearly sign posted and easily visible from Tamboritha Road. Keep following the Dargo High Plains Road to the Treasure Plain. Though, the High Country experience doesnt have to be all white knuckle and hairy chested. it costs more - as expected, however the itinerary will be altered to suit your interests; eg, the stop at the winery can . 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). Was a Second Trayon Camper The Right Choice? This is not a road for the travel sick! Now its time to prepare for some adrenaline filled 4WDing ahead! Rule 1: don't try to cram an entire . Win a REDARC solar setup worth over $1700! Photo: Maverick226, CC BY-SA 4.0. I had a full itinerary at the May Club meeting, will bring copies to future meetings, and can send a PDF copy to anyone that PMs me with their email address. We chose to stay a little outside Beechworth, partly due to cost and partly because we wanted to be out in the country. The King Spur Track starts by meandering amongst the Snow Gums before opening out to spectacular views across to Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain.