Plenty of fantastic wine is made in this region and our favourite cellar door isn’t actually at a vineyard, but instead in the town of Bright. Billy Button Wines Cellar Door is just 450m from the park and showcases this award winning wineries delicious drops which can be enjoyed with  small goods, cheeses and local produce from their deli section. If you’re keen to visit a cellar door at an actual vineyard, our go-to is Gapsted Estate, located approximately 30 minutes drive away which has a great restaurant to go with its cellar door. Be sure to book ahead if you’re planning lunch here on a summer weekend. 

For a night out, Elm Dining is a brilliant fine dining restaurant which is also a short walk from the park. The menu changes with the seasons but is always approachable and well priced. Last time we visited we had a fantastic piece of Eye Fillet. Note that the restaurant is open seasonally, and usually closes from the start of June through to the end of October.

Bright is home to several fantastic pubs and our favourite is the Star Hotel. We particularly love sitting out on the deck area with a cold drink when the sun is out - even in winter when the skies are blue it is beautiful here. 

If you’re serious about your beers then a visit to the Bright Brewery is also a must. If you’re staying and cooking on site then you’ll enjoy one of the several purpose built deck areas each with their own BBQ spot, there’s also a well stocked and recently renovated camp kitchen. 

There’s several great walks and hikes in the area and one of our favourites is the 1.5 km journey up to the Huggins Lookout which starts in Bright. It’s a short distance but can be steep at times, once you make it to the lookout you’ll enjoy fantastic views over Bright and up the Ovens River towards Porepunkah. The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail is an iconic cycling route and one that you can explore as far as you’re happy to ride. There’s a 27 km section between Bright and the nearby town of Harrietville which is all sealed and well signed which we recommend sticking to if you’re not an experienced cyclist. The path snakes along the foot of the Alpine ranges through beautiful green bushland alongside the river. 

Speaking of rivers, The Ovens River is home to both Perch and Murray Cod if you’re keen to do some fishing, and you can easily cast a line from the banks behind the park. If you’re here in the snow season, both Mount Hotham and Falls Creek are less than an hour drive away and great spots for a day trip to the snow. 

Lucky enough to be here on the third Sunday of the month? Make sure you visit the local Market to stock up on delicious fresh produce. 

Due to its location in Victoria’s High Country region, Bright can get particularly cold in winter - much colder than the nearest capital city of Melbourne. If you’re visiting in these months, be sure to pack your warmest clothes.