Bright Victoria

Hi Malcolm:
Have you considered the Great Ocean Road? I am from NSW, did this trip last year. Positively awesome if you've not done it before. Easy driving, lots of stops along the way ... no "bumpy bits". Should keep the kids enthralled and the "trouble and strife" happy too.
Jack

Hi Malcolm,
I agree with what Jack said. Was there a few years ago for a few days...well i ended up staying 3 weeks it was that good.
If you decide to do that trip, dont forget to look inland too. The ocean is great to look at while you drive, also a great place to stop and let the kids dip their feet in to keep them happy from time to time. I would stop whenever they started to annoy each other. Problem solved and a nice break for the driver too.

If you check out the tourist information places along the way, they will mark out the waterfalls, which i have to say are to die for.
We actually walked down to the base of some waterfalls and went for a swim in some of them. Also if time allows, take a walk down and follow the water, increadable rainforest down there. The ferns look beautiful too and soooo cool weather wise.

Regards Angelo

G'day - you had Bright in your heading so I presume you are heading that way - heaps of places to go - Buffalo River Road - Mount Buffalo - up to Falls Creek - spectacular even with no snow - Mt Beauty - head over to Elderado - old gold town - gold dredge there took out more gold than anywhere else - museum there can tell you all about it - Beechworth - (the bakery is famous) - etc. etc.
But if you head to the Great Ocean Road - look for the Otway Fly - a walkway in the treetops - fantastic - several camping spots through the Otways - and the Great Ocean Road is pretty spectacular - though very windy and narrow.
Enjoy.

http://users.netlink.com.au/~maptrap/
go there and check out some of the books Rudi has forsale. They have detail down to GPS co-ords to get you on your way.

Wonnongatta Valley is a day trip from Bright, The drive around the Back of Mt buffalo is scenic this time of year, ( you will find some icy patches though). Lake Cobbler is not far away from Bright. Their are planty of tracks around Bright to test both man , missus and machine. Agree with driving around Beechworth and Stanley from which you can drive around endless tracks of all difficulties. After the fires all around the area it is worth taking a camera. Go for a drive along Tea Tree Range Track to the snow at Mt Sarah if their is any left. Easy drive, good track.

If you can get a hold of one the cfa put out a map book for the north east of Vic and all recognised tracks are in it. Ask for a Region 23/24 map book at your local CFA office.

cheers

having lived there a while back i agree with jules15 and mad cow .
support the country areas too there is plenty to see and do!

no poetic licence intended.

lovely area down there the caravan park will no doubt be full !

are you using a van or tent or in local hotel/motels;/b & b?

try Rebbeka's of bright for a gourmet treat or Simones on the outskirts of town .

the chef's are A1

also drive up the local range near the old water supply and up further to see the crazy ultra lights and powered gliders take off.

cheers

Malcolm,
The Bright area is a very nice place to visit. I suggest the following for the novice, which will allow many side tracks if desired to varrying degree of difficulty. If its wet, it could get very slippery, and travel with a second car if getting of the main tracks. Day trips only.
(1) From Bright, travel to Porepunkah, then up the Buckland Valley to Mt Selwyn onto Mt Sarah for a view. Wok back to Mt Selwyn, then follow Alpine Walking Trail (Left) to Buffalo Valley, out via Myrtleford.

(2) Myrtleford up Buffalo to Lake Cobbler vis Abbeyyard Tk (not when wet), then to Mt Speculation, return.

(3)as one to Mt Sarah, but drop into Wonangatta and come out via Buffalo River as 2.

Need a good map, as many tracks are in the area. CFA 23/24 is very good but hard to get.

There a heaps of tracks just out of Bright in the pine forests to have fun.

The food tips are also spot on.

Thommo

I was in Bright a couple of weeks ago but didn't do any off road driving. i can recommend The Cost Kangaroo in Bright as a greaat place to take the kids for tea. We went there several times and it was good every time. There is a good hedge maze t Wandiligong (sp) which was good although a little pricey IMO.