The trail is flat and fully sealed, suitable for both road bikes and mountain bikes. The trail is removed from the trafiic lane by 3 - 6m,but where it is close to traffic guardrail is being installed to ensure riders feel safe and protected. Something went wrong. 6 The Track , Bright VIC 3741. Via Bright, Harrietville, Hotham Snowball Express : Melbourne to Dinner Plain (snow season only) Via Southern Cross station, Melbourne Airport, Wangaratta station, Myrtleford, Bright, Harrietville, Mount Hotham Hotham Bus : by AIR. bright harrietville rail trail bright harrietville rail trail. At Tom Bibby Bridge one of the four new crossings built specifically for the trail six alpacas and a donkey are munching on grass in a field, while an emu strolls around a neighbouring paddock. There are so many to choose from, different tracks and trails that showcase the picturesque townships, rivers, forests and wildlife of the area. We recommend the use of environmentally friendly plastic-free compostable bags. Something went wrong. The Great Valley Trail project is brand new - 16 kilometres of family friendly shared trail, completing a 27 kilometre link between Harrietville and Bright, and extending the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail to the base of the Alps. We pay our respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging. The project will utilise approximately 300 tonnes of recycled rubber and finely crushedglass that would otherwise end up in landfill, or as a pollutant in our natural environment and Alpine Shire Council is excited to be able to trial a high quality, more sustainable product. On the approach to the Smoko Streamside reserve the trail has pine plantation on one side, and native veg (and the Ovens River) on the other. For more about the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, read Kerri's article about the section between Beechworth and Everton. The November update (after Melbourne Cup weekend) will contain some detailed dates around programmed closures of sections to allow completion of final pavement preparation works and the asphalt application. PHOTO: Anita Coia Id:23174 BRIGHT is expected to, yet again, swell by thousands of people this weekend as tourists flock to the town to celebrate the Easter holidays. More detail will be provided on the scheduling of this work as we approach the construction phase. The trail will be offset from the road on McMahons Lane for approximately 600m, and once the trail gets to the HVP pine plantation the Great Valley Trail will be constructed on the existing HVP perimeter road all the way to the end of the plantation. TTY users phone 133 677 Mount Beauty, a side trip off the Great Alpine Road through the Tawonga Gap, with its spectacular lookout over the Kiewa Valley sits at the base of Victorias highest peak, Mt Bogong. > 96% > 90% > 80% > 70% > 50% < 50%; bi-directional trail . frozen kasha varnishkes. From Bibby Lane the trail follows the top of the Ovens riverbank all the way to Stony Creek. A bunch of us are heading up to a great Italian woodfired pizza place in Myrtleford tonight. The construction program has been adjusted slightly to allow works to continue during wet weather. The total cost of the project is $2.6 million. The trail leaves the Smoko campground on an existing vehicle track, which will be closed to public vehicles and only open to shared trail users. Its here, on the morning of our ride, that we fuel up with a heroic breakfast at Ginger Baker Cafe. Serious road cyclists would make mincemeat of the Great Alpine Road as they access its other pretty towns and villages, but its not known as one of Victorias best scenic drives for nothing. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 23 min to complete. By closing this banner or browsing this site you agree to the use of cookies and the terms outlined in the Privacy andCookiepolicies. ', Discover The Bright to Harrietville Trail. If you have padded bike pants- take them. For bike maintenance and repairs find a bike station on the corner of Great Alpine Road and Feathertop Track at the Harrietville Hotel Motel. Signage, crossing treatments, tidy up works etc. All the best events happening in your state this March, The best restaurants to try around Australia right now, A drool-worthy guide to Australias best cheese toasties, The best high teas in hotels around Australia, All the best things happening in your state this April, Top 10 Aussie food and wine festivals youve never heard of. - The Mountain Fresh Trout and Salmon Farm, 5km from Harrietville village Trail formation works are well underway on the northern half of the trail(maps1-4), Trail formation works will continue on the southern section of the trail in September McMahons Lane to the Trout Farm(maps5-8), In October and November pavement works will be undertaken, generally working from map 1 map 8(northto south), Bridge site works will commence this month - there are four bridges on the Great Valley Trail, and an additional recreational bridge across the East Ovens River in Harrietville, Trail sealing works is planned for December, Weed spraying and re-vegetation work is continuing in previously blackberry and willow infested areas. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Our region is home to a number of endangered species, such as platypus, for which litter can cause death, injury or serious illness. A unique opportunity to own your piece of Harrietville with an outstanding aspect and views looking straight down the valley. 1. The Great Valley Trail project will deliver 16 kilometres of family friendly shared trail, completing a 27 kilometre link between Harrietville and Bright, and extending the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail to the base of the Alps. The newly established section, approx. Dysons Wangaratta. The mountains provide dramatic backdrops to any walk in Bright and surrounds. Crews are working to install minor drainage, and to prepare the final pavement layer for asphalt works. The trail will follow the Ovens River and the Great Alpine Road and will create an iconic national trail . . 2km). Melbourne to Bright by Car Depart Melbourne by The 27-kilometre trail extends the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail to the base of the Alps. The Great Valley Trail project adds 16 kilometres of family friendly shared trail, completing a 27 kilometre link between Harrietville and Bright, and extending the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail to the base of the Alps. Over 100kms of sealed off road trail links the popular towns of Wangaratta, Beechworth, Rutherglen, Bright, Myrtleford and Yackandandah. Great Valley Trail: Bright to Harrietville. Signage is only in place when required we know people are keen for access into these areas and we are endeavoring to minimise the closure times, and open up these public spaces for you to enjoy as soon as we can. The 27-kilometre trail extends the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail to the base of the Alps. Bright (pronunciation: / b . The trail will also provide a connection between the Alpine Shirescommunities of Germantown, Freeburgh, Smoko and Harrietville. Kerri has also recently completed the Camperdown to Timboon Rail Trail. Here's where to get your groove on. Myrtleford's Mosaic Trail follows a sealed shared path alongside the Ovens River, also known as the Ovens River Loop ride. The trail will meander through existing large trees along the river bank until it approaches aroad reserve, where it makes its way back to the Great Alpine Road. The trail crosses Snowy Creek, and follows an existing (informal) vehicle track all the way to the Ovens River where a bridge will be built that crosses the Ovens River. I have yet to cycle Wangaratta to Everton & the newly completed Bright to Harrietville sections but look forward to doing so. This trail is great for hiking, running, and walking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. By closing this banner or browsing this site you agree to the use of cookies and the terms outlined in the Privacy andCookiepolicies. - Alpine Perennials, Harrietville. Read our travel guide to Bright and start planning your High Country escape. Time to let this beast go. COME RIDE THE RAIL TRAIL: Cyclists of all ages are invited to ride the rail trail in Tour de Trail on March 13 Id:20961. Mindful that Ziggy our 2 y/o Kelpie X Lab needed intermittent rests, we pulled up in the sunshine that filtered through the trees by the banks of the river where he was able to quench his thirst and rest his legs. "Or the same tour guides will take you rock climbing, abseiling and caving.". The Great Victorian Rail Trail is Australia's longest continuous rail trail, with Victoria's longest rail trail tunnel at Cheviot. Cyclists must wear a helmet while riding. Along the ride (no matter which leg you choose) youll savour some of Australias finest. The growth in ongoing economic activity will benefit existing businesses along the route, as well as stimulate the development of new businesses in Harrietville, broadening its appeal as a tourism destination and improving the resilience of the local tourism industry. We are endeavoring to minimise the closure times, and open up these public spaces for you to enjoy as quickly as we can. The line closed in on 30 November 1983 between Bright and Myrtleford, and back to the junction with the North East line at Bowser on 13 April 1987, the Yackandandah line from Everton having closed in December 1976. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 23 min to complete. 100 Things To Do In Australia Youve Never Heard Of, Great Valley Trail: the Great Alpine Roads equally great bike trail. The Trail from Wangaratta to Wahgunyah ( on the Murray near Corowa ) has not been completed yet. There are also plenty of gentle short walks around the village, or you can simply do your forest bathing with a latte or lager from the verandahs of the pubs and cafes. If youve packed a cooler bag, you might pick up some fresh or smoked fish from Mountain Fresh Trout and Salmon Farm; otherwise, you can drop in when youre back in the car for the Great Alpine Road drive. Walks and Trails. This includes twopedestrian bridges at Freeburgh (which are steel bridges currently being fabricated off site) and one concrete bridge crossing Smoko Creek in Smoko. Henry . Rail Trail Cafe. The hotel was accommodating of dogs, even inside, however with the warm sun on our faces, we opted to stay outdoors. The Upper Ovens Valley includes Bright and Porepunkah, but also the historic gold mining towns of Wandiligong and Harrietville are nearby. The fourth bridge(overStony Creek) will be built during December. The 4 Peaks was a well organised and fun trail running or hiking event, a great way to enjoy Melbourne Cup long weekend. Get the latest travel news, reviews, offers and more, direct to your inbox. Thank you and enjoy! The path makes it easy for the younger rider or parents who are towing smaller children/ dogs in the carrier with minimal road crossings. The Myrtleford Rail Trail currently consists of approximately 94 Km of bitumen sealed path that is built over the disused railway line from Bright to Wangaratta. It has some rewarding bush trails, from the short loop track linking a pair of swimming holes known as Mermaid Beach and Rockpool, to the Mount Beauty Gorge Walk, which may involve some wading across the shallow river to reach an impressive canyon. Mountains may surround you but the rises on this track arent even molehills, and youll barely raise a sweat on the uphill leg towards Harrietville. Bright to Harrietville - Great Valley Trail. We expect the areas to get busier and busier over the next couple of months, and would please ask your continued assistance in staying out of the areas when requested so that we can build it as quickly as possible for you. The trail will follow the Ovens River and the Great Alpine Road and will create an iconic national trail, significantly contributing to North East Victorias tourism economy. Following asphalt works, there will be items such as signage to go in, bridge works to complete, fencing work and the install of road crossing treatments which will take us through December and into January, so we will continue to ask you to abide by the signage when it is in place. Having arranged a shuttle to take us to Harrietville, we get fitted out with wonders of modern cycling at Bright Electric Bikes. Line Information. When heading up the valley from the Hume Freeway, Myrtleford is a beautiful place to rest a while. Eventually, we realise no one else is going our way, as every other cyclist is heading towards Harrietville. We pay our respect to their Elder's past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. After working up a healthy appetite, there are many restaurants in Bright to choose from. From iconic music festivals to an intima Adventurous epicureans can plot their itineraries around awesome Aussie food and wine festivals that happen year-round. In Victoria's high country, more than 225,000 people visit the Great Valley Trail every year, a 27-kilometre path linking Bright to Harrietville that is popular with cyclists. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bright_railway_line&oldid=1139525896, Closed regional railway lines in Victoria (Australia), All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 15:59. Bright to Harrietville by bus The bus journey time between Bright and Harrietville is around 25 min and covers a distance of around 24 km. The 27-kilometre trail extends the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail to the base of the Alps. Victoria's most iconic cycling route, the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, has finally reached the mountains, and in the great tradition of these things, they've left the best to last. Ahhh, thats a shame, says Pete. There will be one more bridge built in Harrietville in December (near the trout farm) - which is the final one required to link the trail up. Middle Kinglake Primary School. This leg is called the Great Valley Trail, and thats a clue to its benevolent nature. The trail eventually breaks away from the Ovens, and meets up with the existing section of trail at the Harrietville Trout Farm(approx. Other operators. Thanks for subscribing! The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction. We ask your assistance to please refrain from using them until they are opened. Did you hear the guy in the store say you can ride all the way from Harrietville to Wangaratta on this path, or even up to Beechworth and Yackandandah? MURRAY TO THE MOUNTAINS RAIL TRAIL. The track alignment through this section follows existing walking and vehicle tracks through the site. Take in views of the rolling mountains at every turn. Bright - Harrietville Trail (stage 1: Bright to Germantown) 10 km / 2 hours return No bushwalking experience required. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Should you kick-on with the locals? 103 Ford Street, Beechworth, Victoria, 3747 MAP. With Miss 12 & Miss 13 with us for the holidays, we had opted for the e-bikes for us girls and Shan on a mountain bike with a dog carrier in tow for when Ziggy conceded defeat and took up the offer of resting his legs. With the assistance of a significant grant from Sustainability Victoria the entire surface of this section of the trail(16.7km)will be surfaced with an asphalt product which contains a significant amount of recycled content in the mix(rubberand glass). Generous covered luggage storage perfect for large groups with all provisions and ski gear. The line carried a variety of traffic . A sophisticated centrepoint for a Great Alpine Road experience, Bright is where the mountains start closing in on Ovens Valley, and you feel you can reach out and touch them from almost anywhere in town. Please check your email for further instructions. With the dredge hole detour and stops for water and photos, weve taken three hours to make it back to Bright. We share the places where you can buy right from the source. The Upper Ovens River valley is a rich source of historical and cultural heritage and this trail will provide places for people to meet and interact, increasing community and social connection to each other and to the history of the valley. It has been a wet winter and spring which has necessitated some changes to the program to ensure the project timeline stays on track, and at this stage the projected completion date remains unchanged at January 2022. It is anticipated that it will take approximately twoweeks to prepare the gravel base and asphalt each section (approx. You get to chatting. Stopover at Dollys caravan across the road. Thank you to all that have worked on the trail. Consider this your guide to Australia's best cheese toasties, slathered with butter and g Keep your pinky finger poised. . Harrietville is just 22 kilometres from Bright and is a gorgeous and peaceful mountain village with a population less than 400 people. Departing from the front of the bike shop we continued along the Delany Ave shared pathway before crossing the road and continuing alongside the Great Alpine Rd for a few kilometres. Amanda, Shan, Girls & Ziggy hit the trails for adventure Where: Bright is 320km North-East of Melbourne in Victoria, a popular Alpine Region, and gateway to Mt Hotham Distance: 55km . Construction of the rail trail began at Bright in 1993, and finished in 2002 with the opening of sections to Wangaratta and Beechworth. ISBN09 596751 0 8. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Our preferred drink is the excellent coffee, produced by another local hero, Sixpence Coffee. But four legs can be better than two, so a day-long or multi-day horse trek is a great alternative. The gently undulating trail follows the Ovens River and explores the beautiful valley between Bright and Harrietville. 15kms from Germantown to just after Smoko offered an escape from the busy Alpine Road and into a Nature wonderland. 219km south of Perth/ 75km from Bunbury. Later, were serenaded by a kookaburra. At the South end the trail crosses Old Harrietville Road, and stayson the East of the Ovens River. The Great Valley Trail enters the Germantown Streamside Reserve and generally follows anaccess track for the full length (approx 2km). Decisions, decisions. Just past Discovery Parks Bright, a series of tight bends through the forest adds a bit of frisson to the ride, and we need to be alert to the possibility of other cyclists around blind corners. will commence in December and continue through to January. Kookaburras seemingly laughed at us from the tops of the trees. Although trains no longer run from the township, the 95 km Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail allows cyclists to travel . Round Oneof weed spraying (in areas of willow andblackberry removal) is underway. For a fun family holiday, Bright has lots of things to do - from walking or cycling along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, cooling off at the Splash Park, enjoying a movie at the cinema, or just enjoying a meal at one of the many cafes or restaurants. Always stop at road crossings and give way to vehicle traffic. Rail Trail Cottage is a comfortable and cosy two bedroom home, an easy 10 minute walk or even shorter bike ride to cafe's, shops and the gorgeous Ovens River. The Bright railway line was a railway line in Victoria, Australia constructed by the Victorian Railways as a branch from the previously constructed Yackandandah line to Beechworth, with the Bright line branching at Everton.The line followed the Ovens Valley opening as far as Myrtleford on 17 December 1883 being extended to Bright on 17 October 1890.. Taxi from Harrietville to Bright. Great Valley Trail: Bright to Harrietville. This has been a large, complex project and wouldn't be where it is now without the continued support from the community, partner land managers and statutory authorities. With cathedral ceilings. Harrietville is just 22 kilometres from Bright and is a gorgeous and peaceful mountain village with a population less than 400 people. Please check your email for further instructions. For those looking for a flatter scenic ride, the 48km-return ride to Bright from Harrietville along the Great Alpine Road is an enjoyable sprint. Canyon Walk and Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Loop, Murray to Mountains: Bright to Porepunkah, Coopers Road, Steves Super Highway, and Bakers Gully Loop. Starting at Jubilee Park on Myrtle Street in the centre of town, the shared path runs north to Rotary Park, turning west past the Barwidgee Creek swimming area, across the footbridge then turning south through natural bushland alongside the Ovens River down to Apex Park and the Nimmo Bridge swimming and fishing area. There are so many more experiences, walks, rides, gourmet food, wine and spirit offerings, as well as incredible accommodation options and things to do in Bright and beyond. Young or inexperienced cyclists should dismount when crossing a road. This section continuesalong the Ovens River, and crosses Smoko Creek as it connects to the Smoko Campground. Military 6x6 vehicle for all the mountain secrets. 3 Bedroom House and 10 Bedroom Lodge looking North with great valley and mountain views. The Harrietville shared trail is a great outing for all riders wishing to take a leisure option and head to the Mountain Fresh Trout Farm for fishing or walking amongst their extensive garden and ponds. Whilst we shared the trail with very few other riders or runners this day, the animal encounters were aplenty.