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Exploring Bright and Porepunkah, Victoria

Places We Go Team | March 5, 2018 | 1:59 pm | 6 Comments

exploring bright and porepunkah

There is something about Bright, in North Eastern Victoria, that lures visitors, including us, back time and time again. Situated in the Ovens Valley around 3.5 hours drive from Melbourne and surrounded by the peaks of Mount Buffalo National Park and Alpine National Park, Bright and its surrounding villages including Porepunkah, are almost Mediterranean in climate and known for their spectacular fall foliage.

But every season in Bright is a drawcard. Winter is cosy, with charming streetscapes, roaring fires in the pubs, cafes and beer gardens in town, and of course, access to the nearby ski fields. In summer and spring, the rolling fields of the valley are lush with greenery and the gardens come alive, as do the famous bike trails. And throughout the year local wineries and artisan producers do a great trade with people who come to the area specifically for the food and wine.

exploring bright and porepunkah
The hills and valleys around Bright in the Spring

We most recently paid a visit in the late spring, when the European trees were flush with new greenery, the sun sparkled on the Ovens River through the town and both locals and visitors were enjoying being outdoors again, particularly in the grounds of Feathertop Winery.

exploring bright and porepunkah
Feathertop Winery

Literally opposite our accommodation at the BIG4 Porepunkah Holiday Park, Feathertop Winery, named after Victoria’s second-tallest mountain in Victoria and located in nearby Alpine National Park, is a boutique winery known for its cool-climate varietals and a destination for visitors to spend the day not only tasting hand-crafted wines, but enjoying the restaurant, deli and café, cellar door, alfresco wine garden, and even a playground – recognising that parents like to enjoy good wine too.

exploring bright and porepunkah
With owners and winemaker Janelle and Kel at Feathertop Winery
exploring bright and porepunkah
Feathertop Winery
exploring bright and porepunkah
Take a bike from Feathertop Winery to explore the Rail Trail!

It is also situated along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, over 100km’s of sealed bike trails linking popular destinations in North Eastern Victoria, including Bright and Porepunkah. Cyclists drop in throughout the day for both a long lunch, or a quick bite along with a drink – the perfect place for a rest, to soak in those views and pick up a few goodies to take away with them.

exploring bright and porepunkah
BIG4 Porepunkah Holiday Park
exploring bright and porepunkah
Porepunkah Pub

Back at our accommodation, it was easy to simply sit back and relish in the stillness of Porepunkah. With a population of not even 1000 people, the town boasts its own lively and recently refurbished pub, a general store, handful of cafes and of course, a few wineries. But the main hero is the scenery – the sounds of the Ovens River trickling past, the mountains in the distance, and the calls of nature from the pristine environment around you.

exploring bright and porepunkah
Mini golf at the BIG4 Porepunkah Holiday Park
exploring bright and porepunkah
The pool at BIG4 Porepunkah Holiday Park

Kids were enjoying the jumping pillow, go karts, pool and mini golf that were all on-site, while their parents could simply enjoy just letting them be free.

exploring bright and porepunkah
With Tim from Bright Adventure Company

But it’s hard to stay still here for long and just 6km away in Bright, we were meeting Bright Adventure Company for just that – an adventure. Tim, one of the company owners, was waiting by the Ovens River with some kayaks and it was time to hit the water and see the valley from a different perspective.

exploring bright and porepunkah
The Ovens River – perfect for a paddle

The river accommodates both beginner and advanced paddlers, offering a leisurely cruise along the water with a few small rapids thrown in for excitement. We paddled out of town and into the valley, passing some fishermen throwing a line in, and hearing nothing but nature around us. Setting up a picnic on a pretty bank of the river about half-way along our route, Tim talks about the many adventure and nature-based activities on offer in this region – from cliff top picnics, to rock climbing, stand up paddleboarding and of course, kayaking. All are brilliant ways to experience the area for all ages and abilities, with some, like our own float down the river today, even being super relaxing.

exploring bright and porepunkah
Electric Bikes – the perfect way to cruise the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail

One of the other most popular activities in and around town is of course, a bike ride along the Rail Trail and the locals certainly know how to make the most of it. We dropped into Bright Electric Bikes which not only rents out a range of bikes from electric bikes to cruisers, kids bikes and trailers, but also stocks most of the local wines – effectively becoming a regional cellar door. We loved the idea of renting a bike and picking up some local wine at the same time.

exploring bright and porepunkah
Hit the Rail Trail from Bright to Porepunkah

We hit the pedals and, surprised at how easy an electric bike makes a leisurely ride, we could concentrate on the stunning scenery around us as we began our route back towards Porepunkah. Because the trail follows the route of an old train line, there are no hills, so the trail is perfect for everybody.

exploring bright and porepunkah
Rail Trail Scenery

We cruised over historic bridges, through open fields and past glorious maple and oak trees and an easy 6km later, found ourselves back in Porepunkah and pulling into the Rail Trail Café.

exploring bright and porepunkah
The popular Rail Trail Cafe

One of the popular stops along the trail, the café is owned by locals Jesse and Lucy, and thanks to Jesse’s Mexican background, serves up some of the best breakfast burritos you are likely to find! Coupled with a great coffee, it was the perfect place to break the journey, soak up some sunshine at an outdoor table and boost our energy levels.

exploring bright and porepunkah
Ringer Reef Winery views

Jumping back on the bikes after our leisurely brunch, we passed the BIG4 Holiday Park and Feathertop Winery on route to our final destination on the trail, Ringer Reef Winery. A small winery and cellar door with big views over the Buckland Valley and Mount Buffalo, Ringer Reef is a family owned winery with a range of red, white and sparkling wines hand-made and bottled on site.

exploring bright and porepunkah
With Mark and Julie from Ringer Reef Winery

A glass of the local bubbly with our eyes on the picture-postcard view was the perfect way to end our cycling adventure (not forgetting to tuck a few bottles away in the bicycle pack rack for later!).

Other experiences we love in Bright and the surrounding region:

  • Bright Brewery – sample the local craft beers with a beer flight and some live music!
  • Mount Buffalo Olives
  • Milawa Cheese
  • Pizzini Wines 

Have you been to Bright and the surrounding region? We’d love to know about your experience – drop us a comment below!

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Comments

  1. Peter McKiernan All Briyish Classics Car Club says

    March 8, 2018 at 2:53 pm

    I took a group of car club members for lunch at Ringer Reef Winery which was a very delightful occasion and was enjoyed by all 38 participants. The Platters were terrific not to mention the wine, fortunately we were not driving and had hired a coach for the day

    Reply
  2. Lauris Niclair says

    March 8, 2018 at 3:12 pm

    enjoyed reading about bright, heading there next month from perth. Going down memory lane as this was one of the places my parents would take us for school holidays. Have’nt been back for forty five years.

    Reply
    • Jen Adams says

      March 11, 2018 at 10:49 am

      Hi Lauris, thanks for your message… I bet a lot will have changed in 45 years that is for sure, but one thing always stays the same, and that is that fresh mountain air, and the sparkling river. Enjoy your trip!!! Jen

      Reply
  3. pauline turner says

    March 8, 2018 at 10:23 pm

    I spent the first 21 Christmas’s of my life camping with my parents and extended family in the Council Caravan Park on the Morses Creek in Bright and being born in November I was placed in a cot when I was 13 months old so I wouldn’t wander around while the tent was dismantled around me !
    My memories of those times and my love of Bright and environs is a combination of the love of family and friends;and the amazing beauty of the area from the picture perfect Wandiligong to the amazing mountains of Buffalo and Bogong; and the innocent era we were part of in the town,from the “Greeks Cafe ” where many a choc milkshake was consumed with our “summer” friends to Pat Dickens driving around the Camp Ground with his loudspeaker letting the campers know what was happening in the town,to the milk being delivered in a milkvan to campers daily –there is hardly a day goes by when I don’t yearn to have one more day back there in those wonderful times.

    Reply
  4. Clare says

    March 10, 2018 at 4:02 pm

    Hello Places we go team. I missed the programme this afternoon, would love to have seen it. We are going to Bright for a week from 14 to 21 April this year and we will visit some of the places you have mentioned.
    What else would you recommend for a retired couple in their early seventies? Love your show.
    Cheers,
    Clare.

    Reply
    • Jen Adams says

      March 11, 2018 at 10:48 am

      Hi Clare, thanks for you message, you can actually watch the episode here on Places We Go – https://placeswego.com/videos/australian-bucket-list-bright-victoria/
      Alongside the places we highlight in the TV show, make sure you drop into the Bright Brewery especially on a Sunday when they have live music – it’s a lovely atmosphere.

      Reply
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