Five Ways To Enjoy Autumn In The Victorian High Country
This Autumn marks five years of living in the Victorian High Country for our family, and what better way to celebrate that milestone than to share my top five Autumn activities for all to enjoy. Through those years, March has always had the most beautiful weather with cooler mornings and balmy summer-like days whilst May is the best time to view the Autumn leaves in all their glory. Check out our recommendations below.
1. Trail Running
As avid mountain bikers and skiers, we moved to the Bright area to enjoy Mystic MTB park and the ski runs of Hotham and Falls Creek, not to mention the other MTB parks in the High Country, and my husband’s love of road and gravel riding… so it was all about riding and skiing for us.
On daily hikes around Bright with our two dogs Woody and Hudson, I slowly met a group of crazy trail runners, that took me under their wing and introduced me to the sport. There is so much terrain in the hills and National Parks and such a wonderful community of people to run with, that it is now one of my favourite ways to see different parts of the region.
If you’re interested in finding out what trails look like or maybe meeting others to run with, there are just a few ways to get started:
Park Run is on every Saturday morning at 8am and is a flat paved 5km run along The Rail Trail from the Mystic Landing pad at Morses Creek Road, Bright.
Trails & Ales (Bright Chapter) leaves from the same location as the Park Run every Tuesday evening at 6pm. Sponsored by Bright Brewery, the run is not a set distance, rather a one hour trot led every week by a different local. A great way to meet people and see the trails they love. Be prepared for hills more than flat trails and enjoy a free beer at the end.
Mt Feathertop and/or The Razorback is a pilgrimage for many being the second-highest mountain in Victoria. Whether you start at the bottom in Harrietville for the 22km return loop, or just tackle the Grade 3 ridge called The Razorback, also a 22km return, the views are memorable. Many split it over two days and enjoy one of the best sunsets/sunrises in Australia.
2. Cycle Along The Rail Trail
The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail is an extensive network of former railways converted into cycle paths for the casual cyclist. We’re lucky to live near the end of this line which has over 130km of mostly sealed tracks all the way from Bright to Rutherglen, near the New South Wales border. The recently completed extension from Bright to Harrietville is a perfect afternoon of easy, family-friendly cycling meandering along the Ovens River through farm and bushland.
Along the way you’ll cycle under the grand elm trees just next to The Great Alpine Road with their autumn colours turning red, orange and gold, before arriving at Gunnadoo Berries in Smoko for fresh chestnuts, walnuts and hazelnuts in Autumn (and fresh berries in summer). Next up you’ll stumble on the Mountain Fresh Trout and Salmon Farm which offer free entry, rods and bait, all you need to pay for is what you catch. Alternatively, visit their farm shop on your way out; our favourite is their Smoked Trout Pate.
The ride finishes at The Snowline Hotel with its traditional country pub interiors and a killer gourmet pub menu. A perfect way to spend the afternoon enjoying some local brews and time with friends and family.
Photo by Laura Rigby @followmywheel of the latest section from Bright to Harrietville.
3. Visit a Winery
It is wine-picking season, having started in mid-February and running until late April, so the local wineries are a hive of activity and a celebration of all things grapes. With March still having daylight savings, the days are long and the temperature is a balmy mid-twenties, so a visit to a winery is a perfect way to enjoy the afternoon. Our favourite spot is Ringer Reef Winery in Porepunkah, just 6km from Bright, and a very easy bike ride along The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail.
With an amazing view of Mount Buffalo National Park and a long green lawn for the kids to distract themselves with games (supplied or BYO soccer ball), it’s a wonderful spot for families and wine lovers. My favourite drop is the Rosé which is ‘made and bottled onsite from unirrigated, hand-picked grapes. It is very fragrant with clean fresh fruit on the nose and good weight on the palate with a soft, mouth-filling finish.’ At $25 a bottle it sells out long before they call last drinks, so grab a case early in the year if you can’t live without it.
They have picnic blankets to borrow and sell delicious local produce platters to go with their wine. It really is a must-visit destination when in the region.
4. Wandi Nut Festival
Established in 2001, this event is an annual celebration of the Australian chestnut, hazelnut and walnut harvest. With 75% of Australian chestnuts being produced in North East Victoria, the township of Wandiligong celebrates the harvest in style, so much so that Melburnians are known to make a pilgrimage to town for the festival, often hosted on the weekend around ANZAC day.
As it happens, when I moved to town, we ended up buying an organic hobby farm in Wandiligong with over 50 hazelnut trees, which produce over 300kg each year. The Wandi Nut Festival allows us to sell our nuts to the community so we’ve experienced the festival first-hand. It’s such a fun day out for the family with market stalls selling local produce from nuts to jams to the famous Pumpkin Seed Factory with their oils, seeds, nuts, chocolates, flours and body products, as well a multitude of handcrafted stalls selling ceramics, art, crafts and gifts made locally.
Currently run by a talented local that produces music festivals, there is live music throughout the day, chestnut roasting, walnut cracking, children's entertainments (think farm petting zoo and face painting) and other demonstrations such as this old bloke that spins wool on his wheel - very cool! You’ll also find hot food trucks, ice cream and cake stalls, as well as a variety of wine and beer from local producers.
The festival also provides fundraising opportunities for local community groups and organisations such as the Wandiligong Primary School, Bright Lions Clubs, Bright Men's Shed and the Vehicle Preservation Society.
The five varieties of hazelnuts that our hobby farm grows
Roasting chestnuts
5. Enjoy Autumnal Colours At Bright Autumn Festival
A ten-day program running from late April into May, the Bright Autumn Festival is a celebration of autumn and the season’s harvest that occurs in the High Country. The festival was first held in 1962 making it one of the oldest continuous festivals in the country, is an initiative of the Bright and District Chamber of Commerce and is entirely run by volunteers.
Bright is alive with events throughout this two-week period including the Bright Autumn Art Show at the Bright Art Gallery and Cultural Centre, the Festival Flea Market, an open houses program showcasing elaborate country-style gardens and cumulating in a Gala Day that includes the closure of the main streets of Bright for a street parade with market stalls and live music.
Events aside, the most enjoyable part of the season is watching the trees turn as you drive around the region. The autumn colour trees can be seen starting in Myrtleford through to Bright where they are most prolific. My favourite tree is this stunning Ginkgo tree located just across the river from the Bright Splash Park. It litters the ground with its golden leaves that look like a blanket of happiness, you must visit it if you’re visiting Bright in May when it’s in all its golden glory!
See why we love the community of Bright!
