ABOUT BRIGHT
The riverside town of Bright, located in the foothills of the Australian Alps, is renowned for its picture-perfect tree-lined streets, mountain views, local food and wine, boutique stores, markets, and outdoor adventures such as hiking, cycling and paragliding. All this, within close proximity to Victoria's alpine ski resorts, has firmly established Bright as one of Australia's most popular tourists destinations.
THE TOWN
Bright has changed dramatically since the gold mining days of the mid-1800s, when thousands seeking their fortune survived in shanties along our creeks and rivers. Now, reclaimed by nature, you can see remnants of this distant past as you walk the scenic trails surrounding the town. These days, Bright is a much loved escape full of vibrant eateries, boutique stores and markets, craft brews and local wine, set to a backdrop of mountain views where endless adventures await. With a wide-range of accommodation, and just over three hours from Melbourne along one of Australia's most scenic drives – the Great Alpine Road – you'll soon discover that one trip to Bright & Surrounds isn't enough.
THE SURROUNDS
Bright may be the popular place you know by name, but it's only a small part of the stunning region of Bright & Surrounds – an area of fertile valleys carved between alpine mountains by three rivers: the Ovens, Kiewa and Buckland. Cross the hills to Mount Beauty for dramatic views of Victoria's highest mountain; escape to the tranquility of Harrietville at the foot of Mount Feathertop; discover hidden mosaics in Myrtleford or drive Australia's highest sealed road to the alpine village of Dinner Plain. Get ready to pull up a chair at one of our region's country pubs, breweries and wineries, enjoy a bushwalk or go for a swim in our lakes and rivers, and get to know the places that make up our beautiful Surrounds.
EXPERIENCES YOU'LL LOVE
Gather and Harvest
Gather and Harvest hand crafts a range of luxury candles, soaps, lip balms, bath bombs and diffusers in its studio in the pristine Victorian High Country. Gather and Harvest’s soy candles are poured into recycled glass bottles, that have been hand-cut by a women’s community group in Bali. Each candle directly helps to improve a…
Red Ramia Trading
Red Ramia Trading is an enormous globe-trotter’s emporium from fishing floats and hand painted tiles to larger than life gorillas. There is certainly more to see than the front entrance suggests. Take a trip through Japan, Morocco and India as you wander through a mixture of hand picked antiques, artisan crafted good and recycled items.…
Grass Valley
Nestled at the bottom of the Kiewa Valley in Mount Beauty, Grass Valley is a reflection of the place they live, and the place they love. With decades of hospitality experience, their team are passionate about offering Mount Beauty and Tawonga the best coffee and food served with delicious wines, cocktails and good times.
Bright Brewery
Nestled in the heart of Bright, with the stunning Victorian Alps as its backdrop, Bright Brewery is a proudly independent craft brewery, bar, restaurant, and bike hub. It’s a place where great beer meets the great outdoors. Driven by the values of being active, sustainable, authentic, and inclusive, Bright Brewery brews bold beers inspired by…
Reed and Co. Distillery
Craft distillery, bar and restaurant Reed and Co Distillery was established in 2016 by hatted-chefs-turned-distillers Hamish Nugent and Rachel Reed. Reed and Co’s philosophy is inspired by the beautiful natural landscape of their home in Victoria’s High Country, and the flavours of North East Victoria are carried through everything they do. This started with their…
Alpine Hotel Bright
Set in the heart of the Alpine Shire within the township of Bright, the Alpine Hotel has been established since 1852. This family-orientated hotel serves great food from local producers, is locally owned and prides itself on its customer service and warm hospitality. Facilities include two restaurants, bar and bistro, beer garden, café style breakfast…
OUR STORY
THE THINGS THAT HAVE SHAPED US
Delve into our past to discover how the towns of Bright & Surrounds came to be here among the rugged mountain ranges of the Australian Alps.
HISTORIC HUTS
DISCOVER OUR HIGH COUNTRY HUTS
Dotted throughout the wild Australian Alps are historic huts with a story to tell. Here’s how you can find them.