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Bright is the gateway to High Country Victoria’s alpine region, and one of the most beloved holiday destinations in Victoria. After spend three days in Bright, it’s easy to see why! Perched on the Ovens River and surrounded by stunning alpine landscapes, Bright is all about wide open skies, fresh air and slowing down in some of the state’s most beautiful natural surroundings.

Located 320km from Melbourne, Bright is a 3-hour and 40 minute drive from the city, making it a popular getaway for long weekends or longer breaks.

The best things to do in Bright include exploring its vibrant village, enjoying the great outdoors, whether thats on hikes, at scenic lookouts, or from one of many spacious cafe & beer gardens, enjoying delicious local produce & country pub meals, and soaking in the serenity of a peaceful ( & comfortable) stay at a country villa.

Bright is popular year-round destination, with four distinct seasons. It’s famous for its autumnal foliage, and annual Bright Autumn Festival at the end of April, but we enjoyed a late summer trip at the end of March, with plenty of hot, sunny days. 

Bright is the gateway to Victoria’s alps and ski fields, like Falls Creek, Mt Buller, Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain, so you’ll find plenty of snow-related amenities in town as well.

This was my third trip to High Country Victoria, which is one of my favourite parts of the state. It was our first trip to Bright & the alpine region, which is so distinctive to other beautiful parts of High Country, like Beechworth, Rutherglen and the King Valley. I can see why it has won so many hearts!

1. Explore Bright’s Village

Bright has a lively and charming village, which we returned to several times over our three-day trip. Perched on the banks of the Ovens River, the village is surrounded by verdant landscapes and mountains, and is packed with independent cafes, restaurants, breweries and shops.

On long weekends and during peak season, many of the pubs and restaurants in the area will be fully booked for dinner, so you might want to book in advance. 

Best Restaurants & Cafes in Bright

Hometown – We had dinner on our first night at Hometown, a woodfired pizza restaurant, which accepts walk ins, and turned out to be the best meal of the trip! They have a sprawling, leafy outdoor garden, which was perfect on a summer’s evening, as well as an outdoor area. 

Bright Brewery – one of the most popular spots in Bright, Bright Brewery has a sprawling beer garden, as well as a deck which overlooks the Ovens River.

Bright Ice Creamery – Using locally sourced ingredients, all ice cream is made on site using vintage Italian gelato machines and traditional methods, at this family-owned ice cream shop. A must!

Riff Raff Cafe – Tucked away at the end of Bright Village, this cafe has a beautiful leafy garden with the best views over the river. An idyllic spot!

2. Nightingale Bros Alpine Produce

Nightingale Bros Alpine Produce is an apple farm & farm shop in Wandiligong, a 10-minute drive from Bright. We visited in late summer, so it was the perfect weather for enjoying an Alpine Cider slushie on the sprawling lawn beside the orchard, before browsing the farm shop.

The lawn is huge, and was dotted with lots of family groups, making use of giant lawn games and the wide open spaces. Don’t miss the cool room at the back of the farm shop, where the apples & other fresh produce is stored. We picked up some new season apples, which are spectacular, as well as an apple pie, and their Alpine Cider and sparkling apple juice.

3. Stay in a perfect country cabin

One of the highlights of our trip to Bright was our accommodation, Oro. Located outside Bright in Ovens, Oro is a 2-bedroom villa, located on the back of a large property. Surrounded by greenery and beautiful alpine views, the villa is so beautifully styled & furnished, which makes for a very luxurious and peaceful stay!

We slept so well, and loved the total silence in the evenings, the millions of stars we could see from the deck at night, and the layers of birdsong we could hear over our morning coffee (again, on the deck – that view!). The property is also home to a flock of sheep, who made for a charming welcome committee.

The hosts, Prisk & Pete, couldn’t have been more warm & welcoming. We didn’t want to leave – and could happily have stayed much longer! 

Bright has dozens of cheaper accommodation options too, with loads of caravan parks, camping sites and cabins, I was really amazed at how many little holiday parks we drove past on our way in & out of town.

4. Wandiligong Pub (Mountain View Hotel)

There’s nothing like an Australian country pub, and I love trying to find the local favourites when we travel to regional areas. There’s no shortage of pubs in Bright & the alpine region, but my favourite was the The Wandi Pub, just outside Bright in Wandiligong.

It’s a proper country pub, complete with a corrugated-iron public bar, and a huge, leafy beer garden out the back. It was absolutely packed when we visited on the long weekend, we were lucky to nab a table in the public bar, but if you’re planning to eat it’s a good idea to reserve a table. 

One of Australia’s great country pubs!

5. Tawonga Gap Lookout & Sullivans Lookout

One of the best and most accessible ways to take in the stunning alpine scenery around Bright is to visit two scenic lookouts, located just two minutes’ drive apart, on Tawonga Gap Road.

The first stop is Tawonga Gap Lookout, which has a stunning, panoramic view over the Kiewa Valley and Mt Beauty. Just down the road, Sullivans Gap Lookout has equally beautiful views of Mt Beauty and Mt Bogong, which is the tallest mountain in Victoria.

You can drive another 10 minutes down the road to the Mt Bogong Lookout, but the view is from ground level and is not any better than at Sullivans Gap.

6. Harrietville 

Harrietville is a tiny, tranquil village near Bright. While there isn’t a main street to explore, there is a popular coffee cart and the Harrietville Hotel, which is an alpine-style country pub. The setting on the Ovens River is very beautiful, and from April, the famous Harrietville Bakery is set to re-open (confirm before visiting).

A few minutes’ drive from the centre of the village is the Tronah Dredge Hole, which is a picturesque waterhole that is much prettier than its name suggests, that is popular for swimming and fishing.

7. Discover the Alpine Valleys Wine Region

The Alpine Valleys Wine Region is one of High Country’s seven wine regions, and produces distinctive wines with elegant fruit character and high natural acidity. It’s a relatively small wine region, populated by independent winemakers rather than big brands.

From Bright, you can easily visit winery cellar doors at Gapstead Estate and Ringer Reef Winery, or even visit Billy Button’s cellar door in the heart of Bright, where you can enjoy a glass of wine alongside some local cheeses.

Gapstead Estate offers cheese & charcuterie plates, perfect for accompanying a glass of wine on their deck, which has panoramic countryside views.

8. Cafe Fez & Red Ramia Trading, Myrtleford 

Myrtleford is a small village, 30 minutes’ northwest of Bright, which most visitors will pass through before arriving in Bright. Make a stop at Cafe Fez, a beautiful Moroccan cafe with adjoining bazaar, Red Ramia Trading, to break up your road trip, and to be temporarily transported out of Australia and into northern Africa.

9. Drive the Great Alpine Road

The Great Alpine Road is one of Australia’s best scenic drives, and the country’s highest, year-round accessible sealed roads. It stretches for 300km between Wangaratta and Metung, and you’ll find plenty of stretches of it through and around Bright.

The scenery from the Great Alpine Road is beautiful, and around Bright, particularly “alpine” in environs (unlike near Wangaratta).

10. Bright River Pool & Splash Park

In the heart of Bright, a stretch of the Ovens River is a haven for families on hot summer days, with the Bright River Pool & Splash Park.

Located in Centenerary Park, it’s an idyllic spot for a summer swim, and backs onto Riff Raff Cafe and Bright Brewery.

Note that the river is only attended by lifeguards when the flags are up, so swimming is at your own risk.

Further Reading

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