Hiking the Victorian Alps
Highlights of the High Country
Tour Dates
We are a small team and do not run every tour each year. There is no scheduled departure for this tour at this time.
Tour Cost
$2650 per person based on two sharing
Single Supplement: $325
This tour starts and ends in the charming High Country town of Bright and explores the magnificent mountain scenery surrounding the ski villages of Falls Creek, Hotham and Dinner Plain. This alpine region itinerary blends our well-known passions for great hiking with the fabulous food and wine of north east Victoria. This is a challenging hike, with no van access at lunch, and equal to our Level 5 tours in Europe. First-time travellers to the area could extend their trip by adding extra days in Bright or exploring many of the High Country’s historic towns, gourmet regions or wineries, and we would be happy to offer advice and ideas to make the most of your visit.
What’s included?
- Two professional guides to look after your every need
- Five nights’ accommodation
- Five fully-guided hikes
- Free transfers to and from Bright*
- Fabulous dinners every evening with excellent local and award-winning wines
- Exceptional picnic lunches
- Breakfast on the final morning in one of our favourite local cafés
- Comprehensive pre-trip information
* If you need a transfer from Albury Airport to Bright, then 13Cabs offer a good service.
Tour Highlights
Enjoy stunning mountain scenery
Learn about the fascinating history of this remote region
Dine on fresh regional produce matched with award-winning local wines
Walking / Terrain
Shortest/Longest Day: 10.5km/23km
We walk on well-graded tracks in mountainous terrain. The hiking is fairly rugged in sections so sturdy walking boots, with good ankle support, are recommended. Walking poles would be an advantage, especially on steeper sections. The hikes on Days 2, 3 and 5 have no van access at lunchtime, so you need to be ready to walk the whole trail. On days 3 and 5 you will need to carry your lunch, a delicious selection of nutritious treats which will be prepared for you in a lunchbox.
The weather in the mountains is prone to sudden changes so be prepared for varied conditions and have suitable warm layers and waterproof clothing. We will send you a full kit list with packing tips before the tour.
Accommodation
We stay in two different locations on this tour:
In Falls Creek: Altezza 1570 apartments and Diana Alpine Lodge*
In Hotham: Pegasus Ski Lodge
All rooms are either en suite or have private bathrooms opposite
*Solo travellers will stay in the Diana Alpine Lodge
Bright is easy to reach from Melbourne by train to Wangaratta and then bus to Bright. There are three daily departures and it is approximately a 4 hour journey. Albury airport is the closest which sits on the border between Victoria and New South Wales, with easy connections from Sydney. Anyone choosing to self-drive will find there is much to explore in this corner of Victoria and we are happy to supply ideas for spending extra days in the area. Bright has a wonderful selection of places to stay and here we have more details of all the accommodations we recommend. If you choose to take a little longer exploring north east Victoria we have more ideas on what to see and do in our beautiful and historic part of Australia.
Itinerary
LEAVE BLANK
Day 1
We meet you at the Visitor Information Centre in Bright at 10 am. A pretty drive takes us over the Tawonga Gap – with stunning views of Victoria’s highest mountain, Mount Bogong – through Mount Beauty to Falls Creek Alpine Village (2 hrs). After a picnic lunch, we enjoy an easy hike which takes us past the historic Wallaces Hut, built by cattle grazers in 1889. After the hike, we settle into our cosy accommodation before we gather for a welcome drink and a delicious home-cooked dinner in our private lodge, served with award-winning local wines. (10.5 km)
As there is the opportunity for a short walk before we check into the accommodation, please ensure you are in your hiking gear.
Day 2
After breakfast, we head out onto the Bogong High Plains. We start our hike on the shore of Rocky Valley Dam. The trail climbs gently, with lovely views to the dam and Mount Nelse before heading across the snow plains to a couple of remote huts where we have our picnic which is hiked in for you by your two guides. On a clear day, we can see Mount Kosciuszko, 180 km to the distance. In the afternoon, we follow an easy aqueduct trail which brings us to the end of the hike. Time to relax before pre-dinner drinks and a delicious and well-deserved dinner.
(19 km)
Day 3
We leave Falls Creek after breakfast and a short drive takes us to the start of our hike. It is a challenging hike with no vehicle access at any point on the route. We start by visiting pretty Cope Hut and then we follow the iconic Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing trail which takes us across the flower-filled Bogong High Plains with panoramic views to Mount Feathertop and beyond. We descend on a stepped trail to cross the Cobungra River by charming Dibbins Hut where we enjoy our picnic. After lunch, we climb steadily to reach Derricks Hut. From here the gradient eases and we soon arrive at Mount Hotham where our hike ends. A short drive takes us to our accommodation. We stay in a spacious private lodge for the next three nights. Dinner this evening at a lively local restaurant.
(23 km)
Day 4
Today we have a more leisurely hike which follows the historic Cobungra ditch trail, discovering the fascinating history of this water race. The gradient is gentle and we have wonderful views over the mountains. We enjoy our gourmet picnic near a former gold mine. In the afternoon, we continue our hike on an easy trail to arrive back in Hotham. (12 km + 6 km) Dinner this evening is prepared for you in the lodge by us and the menu is matched to wonderful local wines.
Day 5
After a delicious breakfast, we drive to the start of our walk near Mount Hotham from where we walk the breathtaking Razorback Ridge climbing steadily towards Mount Feathertop, the second highest mountain in Victoria at 1922 m. Enjoy fabulous unbroken views across the High Country. After our picnic, we descend 1000 m down Bungalow Spur to the town of Harrietville in the valley. (19 km). Final fabulous dinner in Mount Hotham.
Day 6
After breakfast, we depart Mount Hotham and drive back to Bright for 11:00 am.
