Bright, Echuca & The Grampians: Different Corners of Country Victoria
An itinerary that is all about exploring country Victoria's diverse wonders, from Bright's alpine adventures to Echuca's river history and The Grampians' breathtaking hikes.
Despite being one of Australia’s smallest states in land size, Victoria offers an amazing array of diverse experiences for those exploring it and this itinerary is all about highlighting three different but fantastic spots. Start your journey in Bright, where alpine views and outdoor adventures await. Head to Echuca for water activities and a taste of history along the Murray River. Finally, explore The Grampians, a stunning landscape perfect for hiking and wildlife spotting.
Distance: 3 Stops, 518 km total drive distance, Medium
📍 Stop 1: BRIGHT
Where to stay in Bright?
Tasman Holiday Parks Bright offers a variety of sites and roofed accommodation options in a boutique style setting on the banks of the Ovens River. Facilities are clean and well maintained and it’s just a short walk to the town centre. It’s a smaller sized park which we love, and accommodation wise you can choose between Cabins & Villas, Powered Sites and Ensuite Sites. Our preference is always the Powered Sites located by the river.
What to do, eat and drink in Bright?
This region is famous for its wine, but our favourite cellar door isn't at a vineyard; it's in the town of Bright. Billy Button Wines Cellar Door, just 350m from your accommodation, offers award-winning wines paired with small goods, cheeses, and local produce from their deli. If you prefer a cellar door at a vineyard, we highly recommend Gapsted Estate. The slopes of Mount Hotham are less than an hour away which are great to visit at all times of the year, don’t just restrict your thinking to the snow season. There are some great walking trails around and a favourite is the 1.5 km trek to Huggins Lookout, starting in Bright, offers fantastic views over Bright and up the Ovens River towards Porepunkah.
What’s the onward drive to Echuca?
It will take roughly 3 hours to travel the 245 km to Echuca. About an hour into journey you’ll pass through the town of Milawa, famous for the Milawa Cheese Company which his always worth stopping past.
📍 Stop 2: ECHUCA
Where to stay in Echuca?
We are cheating ever so slightly here and despite our focus being on the town of Echuca, our accommodation is just over the border in NSW in Echuca’s twin town of Moama where we like to stay at Tasman Holiday Parks Merool On The Murray. It has a serene riverside location, and accommodation includes Powered Sites as well as Cabins, some of which are themed in original pioneer-era buildings.
What to do, eat and drink in Echuca?
Our favourite spot for a meal is Sunago, which offers classic Greek fare in a bustling atmosphere with great hospitality. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu but the slow-roasted lamb is always a crowd pleaser and you’ll never find us starting a meal here without ordering some saganaki. There’s several pubs in the area and the American Hotel is our favourite, particularly on a sunny day where you’ll find us enjoying a drink up on the rooftop. A great way to experience this beautiful river area whilst also enjoying some nostalgic charm is aboard a classic Paddle Steamer Boat. Murray River Paddlesteamers have a variety of options, ranging from pure sightseeing cruises through to lunches and dinners.
What’s the onward drive to The Grampians?
It will take 3.5 hours to get to The Grampians covering 286 km on the road.
📍 Stop 3: THE GRAMPIANS
Where to stay in The Grampians?
Our favourite place to stay in the area is Tiny Away Escape @ Grampians Edge, located roughly 40 minutes drive from The Grampians National Park. It’s a park that focuses on its Tiny Home accommodation, but there’s also plenty of Unpowered and Powered Sites available.
What to do, eat and drink in The Grampians?
Our accommodation of choice is in a remote location, but if you’re going for a drive amongst the several townships of the Grampians area we highly recommend a morning or lunch stop at a bakery. Our two favourites are the Dunkeld Old Bakery and the Halls Gap Bakery. This region boasts some fantastic wineries, especially known for their delicious Shiraz. Pomonal Estate and Seppelt, both about 30 minutes away, are must-visits. For a meal, head to Pomonal Estate, where the restaurant serves a sharing-focused menu for lunch Wednesday-Sunday. Sharing a grazing platter and a bottle of wine on these beautiful grounds is a top way to spend an afternoon in the Grampians. Plus, there's a microbrewery and cider house on site. For wine tasting, Seppelt is your go-to, offering great tastings and tours of their historic underground cellars, built in 1868. This area is all about exploring nature and there’s several great walking trails around. “The Balconies” is our favourite, a 2km return track where you’ll enjoy stunning views over the stunning views over the entire Victoria Valley, Lake Wartook, Mt Difficult Range and Victoria Range from the top. Note there are several stairs and slopes along the track. The Halls Gap Zoo is well worth a visit, it is Victoria's largest regional zoo exhibiting over 160 native and exotic mammals.
What’s the onward drive?
Our itinerary ends here but there’s a few options for extensions. If you’ve finished at The Grampians, you could continue over to South Australia through the Coonawarra and on to Robe. If you’ve finished at Bright, make the 3 hour drive down to Lakes Entrance and explore the Gippsland Lakes area.
