Great Alpine Walk – 7 Day

Start in Bright any time after 2 pm. There’s no walking scheduled for today, however, there is a nice walk along the Ovens River that passes through the middle of town. If you arrive early enough you’ll also have time to explore the small township of Bright.

Accommodation: Motel in Bright in rooms with ensuites

After a transfer high into the mountains, the walk begins from Pretty Valley on the Alpine Plain and traverses the Falls to Hotham track to Langford Gap. You also walk the Aqueduct Trail, which connects one of Australia’s early hydroelectricity schemes. The Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric scheme was built between the 1930s and 50s. Mountain cattlemen’s huts feature prominently on this holiday and today you’ll visit the oldest in Victoria – Wallace’s Hut. The ancient snow gum trees here are twisted and gnarled by centuries of harsh winters. After rain or fog, these tree trunks change colour to brilliant shades of red, orange, yellow and green. After lunch, walk along the southern edge of Rocky Valley Dam, before climbing to Falls Creek ski resort.

Walking: Easy to Moderate / 15km / 5 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast, Walkers Lunch and two-course dinner

Accommodation: Ski Lodge Falls Creek in rooms with ensuites

An easier walking day, following more alpine hiking trails along an aqueduct track and crossing gently graded snow plains. All the walking terrain yesterday and today provide superb cross-country skiing during winter. The day ends with a trek to the summit of a small peak with a fine view over Falls Creek and the Kiewa Valley before strolling along another aqueduct trail back to the village.

Walking: Moderate / 21km / 6 hrs / shorter walk available

Meals: Cooked breakfast, Walkers Lunch and a two-course dinner

Accommodation: Ski Lodge Falls Creek in rooms with ensuites

Follow a section of the Alpine Walking Track (750 km between Walhalla and Canberra) all the way to Mt Hotham. Very few people have done this bushwalk, even amongst the locals. You certainly won’t see many people out here, in fact, you are more likely to see Brumbies, Australia’s iconic wild horses. Along the way, drop steeply down to the Cobungra River and Dibbins Hut (sometimes also called Creep-Inn – you’ll see why), then back through the Mt Hotham alpine ski village. Skiers flock to Hotham for its powder snow. It is easy to see how the surrounding steep valleys would provide protection from strong winter winds, allowing snow to settle gently into deep drifts.

Walking: Challenging / 19.2km / 6–7 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast, Walkers Lunch and two-course dinner

Accommodation: Hotham Alpine Village in rooms with ensuites

Today’s alpine hiking trail meanders through snow gum forests and across thick snowgrass plains, with many spring wildflowers. The standard 12 km track from Dinner Plain, the highest freehold land in Australia, to Hotham is easy, but you can also add an optional 10 km return walk to the aptly named Mt Tabletop. You can build anything you like in Dinner Plain, so long as it resembles a cattleman’s hut. Cattle grazed these plains until recently, and you’ll see historic huts and even some cattle yards made by felling trees into piles.

Walking: Moderate / 12km or 22km / 3 or 5.5–7 hours / optional 12km short walk available

Meals: Cooked breakfast, Walkers Lunch and two-course dinner

Accommodation: Hotham Alpine Village in rooms with ensuites

After an early start, you’ll be transferred to the breathtaking Razorback Ridge, surely one of the most dramatic walking routes in Australia. As you walk along the track, Mt Feathertop gradually looms more and more impressively. The final optional steep climb to the summit is wonderful. The rest of the day is spent walking down the gently graded Bungalow spur, covered by tall and most impressive mountain ash trees, to the township of Harrietville. The town was built on mine tailings created by a huge dredge called the Tronah Monster, which was sold to a tin miner in Malaysia in the 1930s. Today it’s a friendly holiday village with a laid-back atmosphere.

Walking: Moderate to Challenging / 22km / 6–8 hrs / optional shorter walk available

Meals: Cooked breakfast and Walkers Lunch

Accommodation: B&B in Harrietville or Harrietville Hotel in rooms with ensuites

The trip ends after breakfast when you will be transferred back to Bright to either your vehicle or public transport connections.