Description
Individual rooming in Bright, and hiking some of the best and most diverse alpine trails
5 DAYS | 4 NIGHTS
Challenge | Discover | Fulfil
Overview
Victorian High Country Adventure
Alpine National Park
With the flexibility to individually choose from full-day guided hikes or shorter guided walks each day, this itinerary allows you to walk the alpine your way.
The trails on this itinerary have been carefully chosen to provide diversity, endless mountain views, and pioneering history. Whatever combination you choose, a fulfilling high country walking experience awaits.
Traverse through spectacular alpine ecosystems, explore tangled snow gum woodland, venture through rocky escarpments, and get your legs wet crossing crystal clear waters. Your senses will reach new levels as your lungs fill with clean mountain air. This is the walking holiday your body has been craving.
With the support of our guiding team including a local guide, you have multiple guided walks and transport provided each day. Returning to spacious 12 bedroom lodge-style accommodation in beautiful Bright, its an easy short walk to all of Brights unique shops and village charm. With 6 separate bathrooms hot showers are readily available, and there’s plenty of lounging areas and quiet nooks for some alone time.
From summit views to adventurous trails, this adventure is about showcasing some of Australia’s best alpine environments accessible by foot, no ski’s required.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Depart Melbourne, Explore Bright
Mid- morning we depart from our meet spot – Melbourne Airport. It’s around a 4-hour journey from Melbourne to Bright including a break for lunch along the way.
Bright is one of those towns that makes you feel feel relaxed the moment you arrive. Known for its colourful tree lined avenues, unique shops, and outdoors lifestyle, Bright is the perfect spot to base ourselves over the next 5 days.
This afternoon, is about settling in to our lodge-style accommodation and unwinding. Choose to relax indoors, or wander down the main street at your own pace, popping into the various little stores and cafes, or treat yourself to a massage. The picturesque Ovens River can be enjoyed from the local brewery, or you can freshen up with a swim or drift with the gentle current like a local. If you feel like stretching your legs, we recommend the easy to walk Bright Canyon Walk trail which follows the Oven River and provides an insight into historical gold mining techniques. There’s just so much to enjoy in Bright.
4 nights accommodation in Bright
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Walking Distance: –
Day 2 | Mount Buffalo Trails
Todays walking showcases Mount Buffalo.
We provide 2 guided walking packages to choose from. Detailed information of each trail will be explained over dinner the night before, just let us know your choice of walk this morning.
Option 1 (Rated: Moderate-Challenging)
The Big Walk Trail, 12km / 5hrs
Rollason Falls Trail, 3km / 1.5hrs
Total Walking Distance: 15km
Option 2 (Rated: Moderate)
View Point and Lake Catani Trail, 9km / 3hrs
Rollason Falls Trail, 3km / 1.5hrs
Total Walking Distance: 12km
The Big Walk is Mount Buffalo’s premier trail, from the entrance to the park it climbs to the historic Chateau and provides amazing lookouts throughout. Our Lake Catani walk meets Mount Buffalo’s primary alpine lake and also provides spectacular views from the View Point Lookout. In contrast the Rollasons Falls trail takes us to a beautiful waterfall and a chance for a swim if you feel the need.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 | Mount Hotham Trails
Todays walking showcases the Mount Hotham region.
We provide 2 guided walking packages to choose from. Detailed information of each trail will be explained over dinner the night before, just let us know your choice of walk this morning.
Option 1 (Rated: Challenging)
Mount Hotham to Harrietville Trail, 23km / 9hrs
Total Walking Distance: 23km
Option 2 (Rated: Moderate)
Silver Brumby Trail, 7km / 3hrs
Dinner Plain Trail, 5km / 1.5hrs
Total Walking Distance: 12km
The Mount Hotham to Harrietville hike includes traversing the Razorback and reaching the summit of Mount Feathertop. This trail is considered the best mountain trail in Victoria. The Silver Brumby trail on Mount Hotham reaches the hut purpose built for the 1993 movie of the same name, starring Russell Crowe. The pretty walk at Dinner Plain showcases alpine scenery and spectacular views of Mount Feathertop.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 | Falls Creek Trails
Todays walking showcases the Falls Creek region (Falls Creek, Bogong, Mount Beauty)
3 guided walks are provided today. Detailed information of each trail will be explained over dinner the night before, and the option to walk all 3 or some is up to you.
Rated: Moderate
Cope Hut Heritage Trail, 7km / 2hrs
Fainter Falls Trail, 2km / 1hrs
Mt Beauty Gorge Walk Trail, 4km / 1.5hrs
Total Walking Distance: 13km
The Cope Hut walk showcases the alpine scenery around Falls Creek. In contrast the trail to Fainter Falls is through fern sub-alpine forest around Bogong Village. The final walk today is adventurous, but also a body rejuvenating experience in Mount Beauty. It includes a walk, wade, or swim through crystal clear water for a 1km section of trail.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 | Bright, Return to Melbourne
This morning is a time to savour these final hours in Bright with some shopping or time at the river, before packing and checking out of our lodge. With a relaxed start to the day, a sleep in or cooked breakfast might be just what your body is looking for. We plan to depart our accommodation at 10am.
Our drive to Melbourne will include a break for lunch along the way. Arriving into Melbourne and to the airport, our Victorian high Country Adventure concludes.
If you would like to extend your stay in Melbourne, we are happy to assist with additional accommodation and activities. If you are flying out this evening, please do not book your domestic flight for departure before 5 pm.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Walking Distance: –
Need To Know
Inclusions
Travel
- Comfortable transport (Return Melbourne to Bright plus transfers to and from the trails each day)
Meals
- All meals and snacks as per the itinerary
- B x 4 | L x 5 | D x 4
Accommodation
- 4 nights lodge-style accommodation including individual rooms – in Bright
Activities
- Professionally guided walks
- Nature connection activities on trail
Safety
- Each trip has up to 3 Guides/Leaders – 2 x BHA guides and 1 x local guide
- Group First Aid kit and emergency communication device
- Leaders certified in Remote Area/Wilderness First Aid
- Qualified Bushwalking Leaders
Environmental
- Small group guided experience
- Leave No Trace principles
- Invitations to connect with nature
- Reduce waste through recycling, reusing and composting
- National Park entry fees
Big Heart Extras
- Big Heart Adventures designed ioMerino hiking top
- Big Heart Adventures designed head sock
- Big Heart Adventures journal
- 4 pre-departure training walks and or training program (trip specific)
- Discounts for pre-departure purchases at Exurbia
- A charity contribution to our Give Back program
Exclusions
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance
- Return flights to Melbourne (if travelling from interstate or overseas)
- Meals and drinks not stated on itinerary
- Items of a personal nature
Trail Notes
We grade the overall walking on this itinerary as MODERATE – CHALLENGING
(see our grading system)
This grading is provided as general advice only, and is based on our assessment and also feedback from past participants. Please consider your level of fitness and experience in regard to this rating, and if you’re unsure please contact us for more information.
Mt Buffalo Big Walk
Distance: 12km
Elevation Gain: 1200m
Elevation Loss: 200m
View Point and Lake Catani
Distance: 9km
Elevation Gain: 275m
Elevation Loss: 275m
Rollasons Falls
Distance: 3km
Elevation Gain: 200m
Elevation Loss: 200m
Mt Hotham to Harrietville
Distance: 23km
Elevation Gain: 600m
Elevation Loss: 1700m
Silver Brumby
Distance: 7km
Elevation Gain: 350m
Elevation Loss: 350m
Dinner Plain
Distance: 5km
Elevation Gain: 125m
Elevation Loss: 125m
Falls Creek Cope Hut
Distance: 7km
Elevation Gain: 175m
Elevation Loss: 175m
Fainter Falls
Distance: 2km
Elevation Gain: 50m
Elevation Loss: 50m
Mt Beauty Gorge Walk
Distance: 4km
Elevation Gain: 50m
Elevation Loss: 50m
Why choose us
10 REASONS TO WALK WITH US
Flexibility (up to 3 guides)
our departures have up to 3 experienced guides. Having 2 or 3 guides means we can better cater for group dynamics and individual needs. This allows you the freedom to personally choose the distance and the level of difficulty of the walks you want to do each day, and all walk options are fully guided. Also, factors such as sickness, injuries and incidents can mean changes to the itinerary become necessary, and if there was only 1 guide then these changes will impact on your expectations and your level of enjoyment ….. avoiding this is why we always have 2 or 3 guides
Realistic Itineraries
we want you to love and be inspired by the Victorian Mountains. This tour itinerary is well-designed and realistic, allowing you to complete the full itinerary ….. we don’t over sell and under deliver
Be Fulfilled
this itinerary is designed to maximise your awe and leave you fulfilled. You hike some of the best and most diverse mountain trails in Victoria, with options to be guided on challenging trails or moderate graded trails each day, opportunity to summit Mount Feathertop, and walk the Razorback ridge. We’ve planned this itinerary so you get the full experience no matter which trails you choose to do, and time to relax in Bright ….. you won’t leave feeling unfulfilled
Nature Connection
we want you to feel de-stressed and re-energised. So, our guides are also nature facilitators with skills to immerse you with your surrounds. Not only do we safely guide you and share our knowledge, we also provide invitations for you to slow down and connect deeper with nature whilst walking the trail (included activities such as an introduction to Shinrin-yoku ‘Forest Bathing’ ) <learn more about Forest Bathing here> ….. we’re pioneers of hiking with deep nature immersion
Group Fitness
we want you to succeed and maximise your enjoyment, so pre-tour training walks, training programs, and group chats online are provided leading up to your walking tour (included as part of the tour price). These will assist you to practice on terrain that you are likely to encounter, meet your guides and other group members, ask questions on what to expect, receive advice on the trail, travel, and the destination, and gauge your level of fitness. Many people underestimate the difficulty of walking this trail and end up under-prepared and unfulfilled ….. so we invest in your preparation
Safety
our wilderness trained guides carry comprehensive group first-aid kits, satellite communication devices, and safety equipment. Our Adelaide based guides support a local guide on this tour. Our longer challenging alpine walks always have 2 guides walking with you. In addition, safety procedures are in place, and constant communication is undertaken with local emergency services. There isn’t mobile phone coverage along sections of this trail ….. so for your safety, we always have multiple communication devices
Meaningful Moments
we will bring your Victorian High Country experience alive ….. a guide book and phone App can’t do this as well as our local guides
Timing
we go at the best time of the year for comfortable walking conditions. We can’t guarantee perfect weather everyday, but you can book with confidence
Small Groups
a maximum of 10 only on each departure. Meaning, it’s better for the environment, and you won’t feel like you’re just a number in the crowd
Travel Assistance
our in-house travel specialists can assist you with travel insurance. If you’re arriving from interstate or from international destinations we can also package any accommodation, flights, and add-ons in addition to this tour. Package your Victorian High Country walk with us and save stress, time and money
Packing List
A detailed packing list is provided prior to travel
- Gear you will need:
- Rainproof jacket and pants
- Daypack (35 litre approx.)
- Water bottles/hydration kit (min 2Ltrs)
- Head torch / Small torch (optional)
- Personal medications
- Clothing suitable for walking that is quick drying and breathable – consider merino/synthetic clothing
- Water shoes
- Sun protection such as hat, sunglasses and suncream, insect repellent
- Sleeping attire
Accessibility
This adventure includes hiking, creek crossings, elevated boardwalks, steep inclines and declines, uneven surfaces, rocky trails, plus moving luggage to and from accommodation. Please talk to us about your accessibility needs before booking.
Details
- Type: All Genders Guided
- Adventure: Victorian High Country Adventure
- Destination: Victoria
- Traditional Country: Dhudhuroa, Taungurung, Waywurru, Gunaikurnai, Jaithmathang
- Group Size: Max 10 plus leaders
Fitness Requirement
- A good level of fitness is required to walk the trails on this trip
- You will be walking pack free (day packs only)
- Challenging full day guided hikes and shorter guided walks are offered each day, you choose which one you feel like doing each morning
- You will walk on a variety of surfaces including steep sections and loose ground
- You may also walk on trails that cross creeks or on snow
- Our longest walking day is up to 23km and we walk 3 consecutive days on this trip
- Trip rating: Moderate-Challenging
Important Information
- *Eligible Past Traveller Discount applies if you’ve travelled with us on any of our guided tours which were 5 days duration or longer
- Read terms and conditions before booking
- Itinerary and price subject to change at any time
- Travel Insurance is recommended. Get a quote from Covermore or Go Insurance
- Note weather, group member welfare and a range of circumstances outside our control can mean last minute changes to our itinerary are necessary once on tour
- Please contact us before booking any flights. Depending on flight arrival and departure times extra nights accommodation may be required at own expense
- A minimum number of travellers are required for this trip to depart so ask someone to join you. If minimum numbers aren’t reached, we may decide to still go or we will provide a full refund
- Training walks start 6 weeks prior to departure. We recommend you attend these walks to maximise your enjoyment and for the groups welfare when away
- If this trip departs during Fire Ban Season – last minute changes to our itinerary or walking days may be required for safety reasons
- High rainfall can also impact on the access to trails stated on our itinerary – where possible alternative trails may be offered if safe to do so
- Rooming is individual rooms
- Private transport to and from Melbourne is included – this tour starts in Melbourne
- Private transport to and from the trails is included daily from Bright
- If you have additional needs please connect with us, we’re committed to being inclusive and accessible
Adventure Leaders
Our team is qualified, experienced and super friendly. We will ensure you have a fun and connecting adventure. Leaders are certified in Remote or Wilderness First-Aid. All leaders carry a group first-aid kit, emergency communications device, emergency documentation and equipment.
