The Great Alpine Road

Bright to Omeo

110 kilometres, about 2 hours

The second leg of the Great Alpine Road gives the route its name, travelling from leafy Bright into the High Country's breathtaking alpine area and onwards to the historic Gippsland town of Omeo.

Upwards to the Alps

In winter the drive from Bright to picture-perfect Harrietville offers stunning views of the snow capped Australian Alps. Harrietville is also a great base for tackling some of the best alpine walking of the region, and offers great pubs with excellent food, drinks and accommodation as well as ski hire and shuttles. From here the road climbs up to Mount Hotham, Victoria's highest alpine village.

When the season opens, test your snow skills on 245 hectares of ski area, including downhill and cross-country trails for beginners as well as experienced skiers and snowboarders.

In green season, walk through fields of wildflowers and enjoy spectacular views from Danny's Lookout to the summit of Mount Feathertop, over the Alpine National Park and as far as Falls Creek and Mount Buffalo. Discover the amazing Razorback Trail linking Mt Hotham to the summit of Mount Feathertop, Victoria's second-highest mountain.

Just 10 minutes away is the stunning architecturally designed village of Dinner Plain, nestled in among the snow gums. The well marked trails for walkers and mountain bikers in summer are fantastic for cross country skiers in winter. This is a great place for family holidays with lots of accommodation, places to eat, an Onsen spa, and a beginner ski slope for winter fun.

What goes up must come down

After conquering alpine heights, it's time to descend to Omeo, once the site of one of Victoria's richest goldfields, now a service centre for cattle, sheep and timber industries. Lush grazing fields and vistas out to the Snowy Mountains will make a lasting impression, as will the gold-rush-era buildings.

Side trips

Great Alpine Discovery Drive
An alternative route from Bright follows the C536 to Tawonga Gap, the C531 to Mt Beauty, Bogong, Falls Creek and across the Bogong High Plains. Then joins the C543 to Anglers Rest and Omeo. This road (closed in winter) boasts historic cattlemen's huts and breathtaking views across the High Country, before connecting with the Omeo Highway to wind past the notable Blue Duck Inn at Anglers Rest and descend into Omeo.

Bogong Alpine Way
For superb scenery, veer off onto the 230-kilometre Bogong Alpine Way, on the Bogong High Plains Road, which loops through Bright, Mount Beauty, Bogong, Falls Creek, heads over Dinner Plain and Mount Hotham and returns to Bright.

Omeo to Metung

120 kilometres, about 1 hour 40 minutes

Depart Omeo, and follow the Great Alpine Road south past Bairnsdale, East Gippsland's only city, and on to Metung, starting point for exploring the spectacular Gippsland Lakes.

Travel temptations

First stops: Swifts Creek and Ensay, small towns with a big history of mining, grazing and timber milling, and a modern-day passion for freshly baked goods, just-picked fruit, and local wines. Next up is Bruthen, a rustic village overlooking the Tambo River. Try a refreshing ale at the local brewery before exploring the town's immaculate heritage buildings.

Bustling Bairnsdale

Your last stop before the seemingly endless expanse of the Gippsland Lakes is Bairnsdale. Set on the banks of the Mitchell River, this inland port settlement is now a major gateway to Victoria's east.

Pay a visit to St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, noting the interior, painted in the 1930s by Francesco Floreani. While in town, look out for annual musical and sporting events, or explore the Mitchell River silt jetties that extend 8 kilometres into nearby Lake King. Fuel up for upcoming lake exploration at local cafes and restaurants.

Life on the Lakes

You’re on the doorstep of the Gippsland Lakes system, the biggest expanse of inland waterways in the Southern Hemisphere, consisting of five main lakes, fed by the waters of four major rivers, and fringed by the Ninety Mile Beach. With more than 400 square kilometres of lakes, rivers and lagoons, this region is an ideal location for all forms of water-based fun, sport and exceptional fishing.

Carry on to Metung, a picture-book village on the shores of Bancroft Bay and Lake King, where the Great Alpine Road touring route ends. Life assumes a relaxed pace here. Follow your nose to harbourside restaurants for quality seafood and wine; spend a day floating around in a boat; and stroll the water's edge at sunset, cooking up your next adventure.

Side trips

Buchan Caves Reserve
From Bruthen take the C620 for a scenic 30-minute drive to Buchan. Just past the town centre lies the picturesque gateway to the Buchan Caves Reserve, where you can enjoy camping, bushwalking and wildlife spotting. Inside the ancient caves lies a honeycomb of spectacular limestone formations. Guided tours take you for an easy walk, exploring the caverns and calcite-rimmed pools. On a hot day, take the plunge in the Buchan Caves Reserve pool, spring-fed from an underground stream with the purest water imaginable.

Wine and Gold Drive
An alternative route from Omeo to Bairnsdale runs through Cassillis, a small town that was once a thriving mining community. Explore the pretty valley on foot and see relics of the gold-mining era, including the unmissable Oriental Claims walking trails, the Cassilis Cemetery and the old goldmine. Call into a local winery to sample the area’s fruit and berry wines and mead, and snack on top-notch baked goods in the town of Swifts Creek.

Gippsland Lakes Drive
Departing Bruthen, take the C620 to Nowa Nowa and the A1 to Lakes Entrance to watch the daily catch being unloaded or to cast a line yourself. Continue along the A1 and Nungurner Road to Metung, and stop for a stroll along lakeshore. Then take the C606 to Swan Reach, the A1 to Bairnsdale and the C604 to Paynesville, a perfect base to explore the Gippsland Lakes and walk Ninety Mile Beach.