A unique blend of history, nature, and charm for your Australian road trip.
After two years of touring Australia in a motorhome as a family, people often ask us what was the highlight of our travels. If we didn’t recommend the Victorian High Country in our top several places to visit on a lap of Australia, then you would miss the best piece of country there is to see. The area is rich with Indigenous heritage, and more recently with European settlers during the goldrush era of the mid-1800s. Dorothea Mackellar explained in her famous written piece: “I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains, of ragged mountain ranges, of droughts and flooding rains. From what I saw in this stunning region, I’m going to imagine that she was talking about the Victorian High Country (also referred to as the Victorian Alps).
Exploring the Beauty of the Victorian High Country
Nobody can say, in all honesty, that they have seen the entire 5,000 square kilometres of the High Country which is situated in the north-east of Victoria and boasts the most rugged (and the highest) mountains in Victoria, the Gippsland Lakes, the Murray and Yarra rivers, and some of the country’s coldest snowy winters. All of which make a lot of the High Country impenetrable. Compared to other adventure marvels around Australia, Queensland has Cape York with its formidable Telegraph Track, as well as Big Red in the Simpson Desert (the largest sand dune desert in the world); Tasmania will challenge you with its Balfour Track; while Western Australia has the Canning Stock Route (dubbed one of the most remote places on Earth). As for Victoria, you may have heard of the Blue Rag Range track, a remote four-wheel-drive track that dares only the most seasoned off-roaders to conquer it. So you have to do your research and choose what you feel you could explore with confidence, the time you have, and of course your vehicle and equipment. However, the best thing about the High Country is that it is tour-friendly for everyone – from travelling in a small car to the most extreme off-road fanatics. The High Country has massive National Parks, breathtaking views, and quaint little towns and secluded villages. It has character, much like the Outback in the northern areas of the country. And it’s in its own class, so far as uniqueness goes.
Upon visiting the region, you will immediately understand why the area was chosen for the film The Man From Snowy River in 1981. Production of the film was shot entirely in the High Country (Craig’s hut, although rebuilt three times, remains on display at Clear Hills Track, Mount Stirling). Visit Craig’s Hut, then take the Great Alpine Road past some world-class vineyards to stock up on the grape juice for happy hour. You can visit Bright, Harrietville, Mt Hotham, Mt Baw Baw and Omeo, where you can release your adventurous side with nature walks, hikes, winery tours, cycling, country art and delicious local produce. All of which will keep your days fulfilled. Then you will arrive in Walhalla, one of the most quaint, preserved gold mining villages in the High Country.
