This article is #6 in our series of the best holiday road trips in Australia. AustralianTraveller.com made the list of the top 10 best road trips in Australia; we have outlined the details of each road trip with details and highlights of things to do in each road trip destination.
Victorian Alps Mount Hotham Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Great Alpine Road Map Photo Credit: Google Maps
#6 Great Alpine Road
Great Alpine Road Photo Credit: VisitVictoria.com
Great Alpine Road Parks Map Photo Credit: TheAustralianAlps.wordpress.com
The Great Alpine Road is a trip through the mountains in Victoria known as Victorian Alps, the southern section of The Australian Alps. We previously wrote about the northern section of the Australian Alps: Read about Jindabyne and the Snowy Mountains. This famous road got its name to match its counterpart on the southern coast of Victoria, the Great Ocean Road. Read our highlights of 5 Stops Along the Great Ocean Road. The Great Alpine Road Trip is a little over 300 kilometres, and of course it could be driven in one day, but a road trip wouldn’t be a road trip without seeing all of the amazing towns, parks, and tourist stops and local treasures along the way. The road is accessible in all seasons and each season you will see a different side of the mountain countryside. This road trip features 13 stops and this post is part two of the Great Alpine Road featuring the southernmost stops along the route.
Hiring a Car for the Great Alpine Road Trip
Great Alpine Road Car Hire Map Photo Credit: Budget.com.au
In preparation for the Great Alpine Road trip, you can hire a vehicle in Melbourne before heading up to Wangaratta, or you can hire a car in Bairnsdale. Wangaratta is the northernmost location of the Great Alpine Road and Bairnsdale is the southernmost location on the Great Alpine Road. Of course, you should start at whichever location is most convenient for you. Depending on what time of year it is, you might need snow tires and experience in driving in winter conditions is a must. Discuss your travel plans with your car rental agent since there are some safety restrictions in place about driving on high mountain roads.
Highlights on the Great Alpine Road Trip (Part Two)
Great Alpine Road Photo Credit: VisitVictoria.com
Each of the towns along the Great Alpine Road is unique in their own way. Many are rich in history and agriculture. Fresh food eateries and wineries make up a big part of the economy in this region. You will find the people and the towns are very welcoming to holiday travellers. Be sure to ask locals for tips and advice on places to explore and visit. This blog entry picks up in Harrietville where part one left off and will cover destinations along the Great Alpine Road into the Gippsland Region of Victoria, Alpine National Park, Mount Hotham, Dinner Plain, Omeo, Swifts Creek, Bruthen and Bairnsdale.
Gippsland Region
Gippsland Photo Credit:DiscoverEastGippsland.com.au
Gippsland Photo Credit:DiscoverEastGippsland.com.au
Gippsland Region Map Photo Credit: DiscoverEastGippsland.com.au
After passing through Harrietville, the Great Alpine Road enters into Alpine National Park and eastern Gippsland. Gippsland is the region of rural Victoria. The eastern portion of Gippsland includes the southern parts of the Great Alpine Road. Other destinations in Gippsland include like Phillip Island, Wilsons Promontory, the Gippsland Lakes, Walhalla, the Baw Baw Plateau, and the Strzelecki Ranges.
Alpine National Park
Alpine National Park Photo Credit: TheAustralianAlps.wordpress.com
Alpine National Park Photo Credit: Parks Victoria
Alpine National Park is the largest national park in Victoria; it covers close to 650,000 hectares. The park covers a great deal of high ground with 10 of the 11 highest mountains in the state. While driving the Great Alpine Road, a side trip to visit, camp, and play in Alpine National Park is pretty much a must see and must do. Experience the heights and the snow covered mountain tops in winter or the wildflowers in the spring, the multi-coloured autumn, or enjoy bush walking the mountain trails in the summer. Go fly-fishing, ride on horseback or ride the rapids.
Mount Hotham
Great Alpine Road Mount HothamPhoto Credit: Wikipedia
Mount Hotham Skiing Photo Credit: mthotham.com.au
Mount Hotham is the highest point on the trip with a peak of 1,840 metres. Atop the peak lies a luxurious ski resort. If you drive the Great Alpine Road during the winter, a stay at Hotham Alpine Resort allows you to play in the snow, ski, snowboard, and relax in the premium accommodations available there. Dine at the restaurants, renew in the spa, and take lessons from the snow sports school program.
Dinner Plain
Horseback Riding Photo Credit: VisitVictoria.com
Dinner Plain in the summer time photo credit: Wikipedia
Dinner Plain is just about 10 km past Mount Hotham. It is a year round resort town that is home to the largest recreational horse riding area in all of Australia. Other activities you can partake in while visiting Dinner Plain include bush walking, mountain biking, and tennis. The town got its name because it is where the coach from Bright to Omeo used to stop for dinner. Still today, there are plenty great meals to be had here at the local pubs, eateries, and the resort.
Omeo & Swifts Creek
Omeo Photo Credit: DiscoverEastGippsland.com.au
Omeo is a scenic historic town with gold mining roots and panoramic views of this amazing countryside. Omeo is known for being the centre of the largest gold sluicing operation at Oriental Claims. The sight is now a tourist attraction where you can learn about the rich history. The first Australian cattle ranch there is now a village that is a great stop along the Great Alpine Road with access to the Three Brothers mountain peaks and Lake Omeo. Lake Omeo is an excellent fly-fishing spot. Just down the road is the town of Swifts Creek, similar in rich history and great mountain country hospitality, these are both excellent rest stops along the drive down the Great Alpine Road.
Bruthen
Bruthen Farmland Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Bruthen is the next town down the Great Alpine Road. This is where the tall mountains flow into rolling hills and forest turns to farmland. The small town of Bruthen is known for farm fresh food and local hospitality.
Bairnsdale
Bridge over the Mitchell River in Bairnsdale
If you have been travelling from the north down the Great Alpine Road, then Bairnsdale is likely the bittersweet end of the road trip of a life time. Of course, you can always turn your car back around and take the drive north again. However, don’t count out visiting some of the sights in Bairnsdale first. There are local wineries, cafes, museums, art galleries, and antique shops to visit in this culture rich town. If you decide to stay in the area, a little further south is the coastline where the Gippsland Lakes empty out into the ocean where the Bass Strait and the Tasman Sea meet. Along the way south is the Mitchell River, which offers beautiful scenery that is a big change from mountain countryside. Encompassing the Mitchell River and its gorge and rainforest is Mitchell River National Park.