Events
High Country Hijinx
Join us for a 5 day / 4 night trip to Bright for fabulous mountain roads and delicious local produce. We're staying at a wonderful motel on the bank of the Ovens River where you can watch platypus in the evenings.
UPDATE 11 August 2023
FULLY BOOKED! Please register if you'd like to go on the reserve list.
Accommodation
- 12 rooms have been reserved at Riverbank Park Motel for "MX-5 Club". There is no need to book directly with the motel - just complete the booking form and I will confirm the booking for you with the motel.
- All rooms have river views and 5 rooms are on the ground floor. The ground floor rooms have sliding glass doors on the river side, opening onto a grassy lawn/BBQ area (see photo above).
- Cost is $170 per night for a double / twin (some are family rooms but they’ll do them at the same rate for 2 people)
- Breakfast available at the attached restaurant for $15pp continental, $22pp full hot breakfast, both including unlimited coffee and tea.
- "Fives" and post-dinner drinks will be outside on the lawn with fold-up chairs or blankets. If the weather is poor, we have been offered access to a dining room (where drinks must be purchased from the bar).
- The motel has a pool but better still, the Ovens River is gorgeous to swim in and the motel backs onto it. The river has platypus and rakali living in it that you might be lucky to see in the evenings.
- Total cost per couple for 4 nights would be $680 room only, $800 with continental breakfast, $856 with full hot breakfast
Itinerary:
Wednesday 10 January
- Illawarra to Bright via Hume Hwy. 6 hours total driving time. Potential for some back roads, but it would be a long driving day.
- Lunch at Jugiong at The Sir George Hotel
- Optional walk along the Canyon Walking Track to stretch the legs after a big driving day.
- Dinner: The Star Hotel. It is 5min / 350m walk from the motel to the pub.
Thursday 11 January
- A short driving day with 2.5hr total https://goo.gl/maps/4Mu5ZnbNf8ipnYeb8.
- Drive to the summit of Mt Buffalo and picnic lunch beside Lake Catani
- Visit to Wandiligong Cider
- Visit Harrietville fish farm (catch your own trout or salmon for dinner)
- River swim in the late afternoon (bring your togs and beach towel!)
- Dinner: Outdoor BBQ at the motel with fresh trout or salmon caught at the fish farm (or a steak from Woolies if you prefer)
Friday 12 January
- Drive circuit – Mt Hotham, Omeo, Falls Creek, Tawonga Gap (5 hours round trip) https://goo.gl/maps/3ZUshVyAydxSNJay9
- Beer tasting at Bright Brewery. 8min/ 600m walk from the motel to the brewery
- Dinner: Woodfired pizza at Don Mungos. It is on the way back from the brewery.
Saturday 13 January
- Gourmet trail (3.5hr driving, https://goo.gl/maps/5NYp6X72aya15v3b9)
- Cheese tasting at Milawa Cheese
- Lunch and wine tasting at Chrismont in King Valley
- Option: quick stop at Brown Brothers
- Afternoon tea at Beechworth Bakery and walk around the historical precinct or pick-your-own strawberries at Beechworth Berries
- Dinner: TBC
Sunday 14 January
- Bright to Illawarra via Hume Hwy. DIY 6 hours driving plus stop for lunch.
- OR do your own thing. Fiona and I will be staying on in Bright for a few extra days.
