Waterside glamping near Bright
Nature lovers, history fans, and skiers love this colourful town, the gateway to the Alpine region.
Popular camping styles for Bright
Waterside glamping near Bright guide
Overview
The picturesque, historic town of Bright, in the heart of Victoria’s High Country, offers a diverse, action-packed getaway: great restaurants, breweries and wineries, plus walking and biking trails. Bright is also the starting point for the popular Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. During Autumn, the township’s oaks, elms, poplars and Japanese maples explode into colour. Campers to the area are spoilt for choice. The 230-kilometre Bogong Alpine Way loops through Bright, as well as Mount Beauty, Falls Creek and over Dinner Plain and Mount Hotham. Holiday parks closer to town cater well to families, with caravan sites and cabins, while elsewhere, bush camping is at specified sites within Buckland Valley State Forest, Mount Buffalo National Park and Alpine National Park.
National Parks
Bright is a useful base for exploring Mount Buffalo National Park and Alpine National Park as well as Mount Hotham, a popular ski resort, and the nearby alpine village of Dinner Plain. Mount Buffalo National Park is a magnet for nature freaks and adventurers. The unique rock formations are perfect for climbers and alpine fun includes hiking, cycling and fly fishing. Winter brings cross-country ski trails. Mount Buffalo has two remote hike-in camping experiences, plus Lake Catani campground that is suitable for caravans and campervans, as well as tent campsites (it’s BYO water here).
Local towns: Harrietville, Porepunkah, Myrtleford, and Wandiligong
A range of attractive High Country hamlets, former gold-mining settlements, surround Bright and all are within a half hour drive or less. Harrietville sits at the base of the Victorian Alps. Like Bright, the town’s draw card is the blast of colours of autumnal foliage. Local cuisine and wine are special to Mytleford, a half hour north of Bright. Here, Ardern's Caravan Park has a handy access to the local biking route, the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail. A 6km walking trail connects Bright to Wandiligong, a former gold-mining settlement with quaint, historic buildings. Wandiligong Camping Ground is a relaxed spot surrounded by tree ferns and set on a creek. Tiny Porepunkah, only six kilometres from Bright, offers big things for campers: three holiday parks.
When to go
Bright is lovely at any time of year, especially in Autumn when the leaves turn (the Australian Fall foliage). Winter (June to August) brings freezing temperatures and snow, especially in the national parks and alpine regions of Mount Buffalo.
Know before you go
- Reserve ahead in Autumn, especially on weekends, when the hoards arrive to see the Autumnal leaves (fall foliage).
- You may need to book while regional events take place. These include: the Mansfield Lantern Festival (June), the Beechworth Harvest Celebration (May), the Rutherglen Winery Walkabout and King Valley Balloon Festival (the Queen's Birthday weekend in June), and the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues (November).
