HIGH COUNTRY
Legends, Wine and High Country in north-east Victoria is a special place with scenic alpine landscapes, historic towns and legends of cattlemen and bushrangers to explore. During winter the region is home to Victoria's best and most accessible snowfields, such as Mount Buller, Mount Hotham and Falls Creek. And when the snow disappears the high country is popular for a host of outdoor activities, from four-wheel driving, mountain biking and horse riding to hiking on the high plains.
Discover Victoria's highest peaks, historic cattlemen's huts, summer wildflowers and the snow gum woodlands of the Bogong High Plains. After a day of altitude, head to the valleys to one of the highly acclaimed local wineries, such as Brown Brothers, Gehrig Estate and All Saints. Sample the delicious local produce on offer in and around historic towns and villages, many of which were built on the legacy of the gold rush of the 1800s.
The region hosts a busy and varied calendar of events, so time your trip to coincide with a local festival that celebrates music, wine and food, heritage and outdoor sports. Some of Australia's most endearing and notorious legends have come from Legends, Wine and High Country.
Australian bush poet A.B. "Banjo" Paterson wrote his famous work The Man From Snowy River here, and bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang roamed the high country foothills. The Kelly legend lives on in fascinating attractions and displays in historic townships like Beechworth and Glenrowan. The Great Alpine Road, one of Australia's great touring routes, winds through the region showcasing stunning alpine landscapes, heritage towns, and local food and wine between Wangaratta and Bairnsdale and the Gippsland Lakes.
Glide through towering ghost gums and mountain ash and past icy streams and frozen rockpools. Plunge down snow-covered ranges and sweeping slopes, just you and the silent slice of your skis. There's nothing quite like skiing in Victoria's High Country. It has a beauty all of its own.
Victoria's snowfields can be just as challenging and invigorating. From June to October, snowsports fanatics flock to resorts such as Falls Creek, Hotham - Australia's "Powder Capital" - and the well-known resorts of Mt Buller, Mt Buffalo, Mt Stirling and Mt Baw Baw. All of them offer fabulous downhill and cross-country skiing and world-class accommodation and facilities.
Victoria's alpine villages are nestled in the slopes, so you can ski straight to and from your ski lodge door giving you more time for skiing, apres skiing, sleeping and having fun. Accommodation ranges from resorts and youth hostels to hotels and serviced apartments. Plenty of skis, snowboards and equipment hire are also available.
