The Great Alpine Road Touring Route
The Great Alpine Road touring route is 308 km long, extending from Wangaratta in Victoria’s north-east, to Bairnsdale on the Gippsland coast. The Buffalo Motel and Country Retreat is located on the first leg of the route, which covers 76 km stretching from Wangaratta to Bright. The journey winds alongside the Ovens River, passing vineyards and farms and taking in lofty mountain scenery. Side trips to the historic gold-rush town of Beechworth, and the Milawa Gourmet Region, are popular. From Bright, the route traverses the Victoria high country, utilising Australia’s highest year-round accessible sealed road.
Yarra Valley to High Country Touring Route (300kms)
The Buffalo Motel and High Country Retreat recommends the Yarra Valley to High Country Touring Route to our guests as the most scenic journey in Victoria, also packed with gourmet food and wine experiences.
The route commences the Yarra Valley, famous for its cool climate wines. Travel from Healesville to Alexandra via Maroondah Highway (68km). This leg follows the Acheron River Valley, passing the spectacular Cathedral Ranges, which are easily viewed between the villages of Buxton and Taggerty. From Alexandra, continue on the Maroondah Highway through Yarck and Bonnie Doon, passing Lake Eildon before reaching the high country town of Mansfield (68km). The next leg of the route, from Mansfield to Whitfield (62km), traverses a mountain plateau which affords spectacular alpine scenery. Whitfield is situated in the King Valley, which is renowned for its Italian varietal wines. The area features the ‘Prosecco Road’: a trail visiting different producers of this delightful sparkling wine. From Whitfield, it is a short journey down the King River Valley to the Milawa Gourmet Region (45km), famous for Brown Brothers’ winery, Milawa Cheese Factory and Milawa Mustards. The final leg of the journey from Milawa takes in the first section of Australia’s premier alpine valley touring route, The Great Alpine Road. This leads directly to The Mount Buffalo Motel and Country Retreat at Porepunkah (57kms).
