Australian Alps itinerary - Tourism Australia

Suggested 4 to 7-day itinerary
Wonnangatta National Park
Australian Alps
Victorian Apline Region
Option A
Day 1: Melbourne to Bairnsdale & Omeo
The Great Alpine Road extends for 310 kilometres from Bairnsdale
to Wangaratta in Victoria. Bairnsdale can be reached about three
hours from Melbourne via the Princes Highway. The winding road to
Omeo starts to take you into the remoter country of the Australian
Alps. Omeo was once a gold mining town and the main street is lined
with many heritage buildings. It is now home to mountain cattlemen
and farming communities. The main Anglers Rest has some of the
best fishing in Victoria. If the water levels are right, make sure you
experience the thrill of white-water rafting on the Mitta Mitta River.
Option B
Day 1: Melbourne to Mansfield & Wangaratta
Travel through the Yarra Valley wine region and the magnificent
mountain ash forest of the Black Spur to Mansfield. Mansfield is a great
place to join your alpine adventures with many different operators, but
the horse riding operations are the essence of this region. Wangaratta
can be reached in a further couple of hours via Benalla and the Hume
Highway or via the scenic road to Whitfield and the gourmet food and
wine King Valley region.
Days 2-4: Alpine National Park and
the Victorian High Country
Spend at least a day or two exploring the Alpine National Park,
Victoria’s largest, with a greater range of flora and fauna than any
other in the State; and many of which are found nowhere else on the
planet. Get off the beaten track by 4WD or experience the thrill of a
scenic flight over the mountains.
Horse riding and four wheel drives are available at Omeo and
Mansfield to take you into the mountains of the Man from Snowy River
country. Mountain bike thrills from Mt Buller will get your adrenaline
rising in the cool mountain air, where chairlifts operate over the
summer months to save you the uphill haul.
Snow Gum
Mountain Biking

The Great Alpine Road extends for 308 kilometres between Bairnsdale
and Wangaratta in Victoria, crossing through the Mt Hotham alpine
resort with its extensive winter skiing opportunities and its summer
base of mountain biking, walking and horse riding from Dinner Plain.
From Wangaratta or Omeo, head to Bright where you can hire a bike
and ride through its autumn colours and spring blossoms and sample
the Alpine Valley’s distinctive cool climate wines.
It’s possible to walk or cycle the 94-kilometre Murray to the Mountains
Rail Trail (Wangaratta to Bright) however many also drive the route,
which follows historical railway tracks from Wangaratta to Bright. It
takes about eight hours by bike. Visit Mt Beauty, Bogong and Falls
Creek. In winter, these towns are a great place for snow play, or in
summer there’s plenty of adventure. Climb on a mountain bike and try
the trails out from Falls Creek or Mt Beauty,
Walk part of the 650 km Australian Alps Walking Track and visit the
historic cattlemen’s huts on the Bogong High Plains.
Day 5: Kosciuszko National Park
Cross the border into New South Wales and take the Kosciuszko Alpine
Way through the Kosciuszko National Park, home of Australia’s highest
mountain. To experience the rich Aboriginal heritage of the area take
a detour via the Snowy Valleys Way to Tumut and the 440 million year
old Yarrangobilly Caves. Link back via the Snowy Mountains Highway
to Jindabyne and Adaminaby.
Day 6: Kosciuszko National Park
Head towards Thredbo where the road twists to the river crossings at
Tom Groggin and Geehi Flat – both excellent for rafting; or you can
practice your casting skills fly-fishing in mountain streams renowned
for trout fishing. Walk to Australia’s highest point at Mount Kosciuszko
and take a champagne breakfast on the summit. There are many
stunning day walks including the glacial Blue Lake, reached from either
Thredbo or Charlotte Pass.
Day 7: Namadgi National Park
Explore campsites, ceremonial stones and rock art left by the
Ngunnawal people in Namadgi National Park; then explore
nearby Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, whose Aboriginal name
means ‘where boys become men’. Tidbinbilla is home to the
Birrigai Rock Shelter, one of the oldest Aboriginal sites recorded.
More recent history can be found at Honeysuckle Creek, the first
place to receive images of Neil Armstrong when he walked on
the moon. Explore the rich cultural history of the gold-rush era
at many of the towns in the region before making your way to
the nation’s capital in Canberra.
Melbourne
Australian
Alps
Snowboarding, Perisher
Useful websites
Jindabyne
www.australianalps adventures
www.visitvictoria.com
www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
www.visitnsw.com
www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
www.snowymountains.com.au
www.visitcanberra.com.au
www.environment.act.gov.au
Adventure Victoria: www.adventurevictoria.com.au
All Terrain MTB Tours: www.allterraincycles.com.au
Alpine Helicopter Charter: www.alpineheli.com.au/index.php
Auswalk Walking Holidays: www.auswalk.com.au
Bogong Horseback Adventures: www.bogonghorse.com.au
Bush Experiences 4WD tours: www.bushexperiences.com.au
Charlotte Pass: www.charlottepass.com.au
Great Walhalla Alpine Trail: www.greatwalhallaalpinetrail.com/
Hedonistic Hiking: www.hedonistichiking.com.au
High Country Horses: www.highcountryhorses.com.au
Jindabyne Flyfishing School: www.flyfishing.com.au
K7 Adventures: www.k7adventures.com
South East MTB Co: www.mountainbikingco.com.au
Thredbo Guided Walks: www.thredbo.com.au
Thredbo Valley Horse Riding: www.horseridingthredbovalley.com
Tidbinbilla Wildlife Tours: www.tidbinbilla.com.au
Watsons Mountain Country Trail rides: www.watsonstrailrides.com.au
Wild Wild World: www.wildwildworld.com.au
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