Activities in The High Country
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Active Flight
Introductory paragliding course (from $225) or tandem flights (from $130).
reviewed
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Milawa Cheese Company
The excellent Milawa Cheese Company is 2km north of Milawa. It offers cheese tastings and a bakery and cafe. It excels at soft and washed-rind cheeses. The restaurant here is fabulous – a must-stop on the ‘Gourmet Road’. For good measure, in the same building is Milawa Chocolates, offering handmade chocolates.
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Adventures With Altitude
Adventures with Altitude runs fabulous hiking, biking ($15/60/90 per hour/half-/full day) and horse riding ($80/150/200) jaunts. You won’t get lost, and you’ll see all the good bits: trout-filled rivers, historic huts, snowgum forests, gold mines, wildlife and views. And you get fed! Bike hire ($15/40/60) is also available.
reviewed
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Australian Alpine Institute
Year-round staff at the Australian Alpine Institute run a variety of outdoor adventures, including rock climbing, abseiling and fly-fishing. Its sports hall (Level 2) and gym (Level 1) have fab indoor activities (casual visit $10) and massages (per 30 minutes $55).
reviewed
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Bright Brewery
This small boutique brewery produces a quality range of beers (sample five for $10) and beer-friendly food like pizza, kransky and nachos. There's a guided tour and tasting on Friday at 3pm ($18), live music on Sunday, and you can learn to be a brewer for a day ($360).
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Altitude
In summer, mountain biking is big, big, big, with the Horse Hill chairlift operating on weekends lifting you and your bike up to the plateau (all-day lift and trails access $45). Bike hire is available from Altitude.
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Mountain Top Experience
Mountain Top Experience can provide food-parcel drop-offs and car shuttles (from $30) for walkers on the Australian Alps Walking Track (p310). It also has a range of 4WD tag-along tours (per day $100) and 4WD hire.
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Breathtaker on High Spa Retreat
Breathtaker on High Spa Retreat offers the chance to soak and revive with a range of luxurious treatments, a 20m lap pool and a hydrotherapy ‘geisha tub’ ($45 per 15 minutes in aromatic bath milk).
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Onsen Retreat and Spa
When the agony ends, head to Onsen Retreat and Spa, a totally divine Japanese-influenced, indoor-outdoor experience where the body gets to feel beautiful. Ritual onsen bathing plus swim, sauna and gym is $40.
reviewed
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Karrs Reef Goldmine
An exciting new attraction is the extraordinary tour of Karrs Reef Goldmine. For 1½ hours you’re guided through the hard-dug tunnel to see the way it all worked. Departs from the visitors centre.
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Adrenalin White Water Rafting
If the adrenalin is still flowing, let it rush with Adrenalin White Water Rafting, which will take you out on the King River. Try the indulgence package (raft, wine, dine) and stay the night for $295.
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River Mountain Guides
River Mountain Guides runs snowsports and treks around the Bogong High Plains. Four people can take a three-day snowshoe shuffle with food and camping gear provided for $370 per person. Go, go, go!
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Hedonistic Hiking
Hedonistic Hiking runs walks ranging from dead-easy to challenging, always including a gourmet food experience, a glass of wine and a lively chat about the culture, nature and history of the area.
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Cyclepath
The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail travels 30km from the old train station to Myrtleford via Porepunkah. You can hire mountain bikes, tandems and kids’ bikes from Cyclepath.
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Red Stag Deer & Emu Farm
Between Myrtleford and Bright, stop at the Red Stag Deer & Emu Farm. You may get to bottle-feed a baby deer, or be fed yourself – the lunches are delicious and the views amazing.
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Flytrek Fly Fishing
Once the snow melts, fly-fishing begins, with Flytrek Fly Fishing. Rod (that’s his name) will teach you how to handle a rod. Prices include accommodation and everything you need.
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Alpine Helicopter
Alpine Helicopter runs themed helicopter flights, such as ‘Cattlemen’s Huts’, ‘Ned Kelly Country’ and ‘Rivers & Waterfalls’.
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Packers High Country Horseriding
The High Country is famous for its horsemen. Join in the fun with Packers High Country Horseriding, riding through river valleys and snowgum forests, down the road to Omeo.
reviewed
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Brown Brothers Vineyard
This winery produced its first vintage in 1889 and is still run by the same family. The swanky complex features a tasting room, an excellent restaurant, and picnic and barbecue facilities.
reviewed
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Australian Adventure Experience
Fairly new in Hotham is snow-kiting. If you like some extreme action, contact Australian Adventure Experience and get some air with the help of a little parachute.
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Bright Brewery
Bright Brewery produces a range of beers (sample five for $9) and runs tours (ring to book a time). Love it? Be a ‘Brewer for the Day’ ($320).
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Beechworth Adventures
For extreme activities contact Beechworth Adventures, which will take you abseiling and rock climbing around the area’s stunning cliffs and crags.
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Bogong Horseback Adventures
Bogong Horseback Adventures runs excellent trail rides over the Bogong High Plains, including packhorse rides lasting three to seven days (from $1050).
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Rocky Valley Bikes
Rocky Valley Bikes offers mountain-biking for all levels, with bike hire from $30 per day up to $45 for cross-country bikes. Also has internet access.
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