The Australian Bucket List

Victoria

PorepunkahA gorgeous laidback village along the Great Alpine Road. Peaceful campsites, a plethora of local food producers and a wide range of outdoor activities make Porepunkah the perfect family escape! Plus it's a great base from which to explore Mount Buffalo National Park!

Tucked into the junction of the Ovens and Buckland rivers, Porepunkah is a great base for exploring Victoria's alps and sampling the bountiful local produce and wines of the High Country. Pretty Porepunkah is a welcome stop along the popular Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. The renowned trail takes in the Ovens River Valley as it makes its way through the townships of Wangaratta, Beechworth, Myrtleford, Porepunkah and Bright, Rutherglen, Wahgunyah and Milawa. With a gentle gradient and no traffic to contend with it's perfect for all ages and fitness levels. The local produce and wine at farm gates and wineries in the surrounding valleys, including Boynton's Feathertop Winery, is worth travelling for. Fill your basket and prepare a locally-sourced feast at any of the self-contained accommodation around Porepunkah. Choose from bush cabins, camping and caravan sites, and B&Bs, many of which are located in peaceful spots with river views. Porepunkah's waters entice anglers, with trout and spiny freshwater crayfish in abundance. Relax at riverside picnic areas and take a dip at river swimming spots. For something more adventurous, head to the Porepunkah airfield for powered hang-gliding, microlighting, ultralight flying and scenic light aircraft flights. Base yourself in Porepunkah for winter adventures in Victoria's ski resorts. Porepunkah is approximately 320 kilometres from Melbourne, or around three hours and 25 minutes by car along the Hume Freeway and the Great Alpine Road.

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Things to do

Enjoy a vino at Feathertop Winery

Come and discover your new favourite wine at Feathertop Winery, located in the heart of the Alpine Valleys wine region that is home to 22 different varietals, planted and nurtured lovingly by hand over the last 30 years. Create your own Insta-worthy moment in the beautiful estate overlooking Mt Buffalo, whether it be enjoying a relaxing long lunch on the terrace on a balmy summer’s day or staying in the onsite apartments as a base for exploring the great outdoors. If you are keen to do just more than a wine tasting, make sure you check out the range of winery experiences that really give you the 'meet the maker' experience. General public trading hours are Friday to Sunday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, with extended hours during public and school holidays. Please check the website for more details.

Explore Mount Buffalo National Park

Mount Buffalo National Park has sheer cliffs, imposing granite tors, tumbling waterfalls, snow gums and stunning wildflowers. The park features over 90 kilometres of walking tracks, panoramic scenery, waterfalls and scope for adventurous pursuits such as rock climbing and hang-gliding. Mount Buffalo is an all-seasons playground. In summer, wildflowers are plentiful and the park is a cool retreat from the heat of the lowlands. Take in superb 360-degree views from the summit of the Horn and the delightful Gorge Heritage Walk. Enjoy picnics, canoeing and camping at Lake Catani in the summer months. In winter the park is ideal for cross-country skiing with its gentle undulating landscape, spectacular sub-alpine environment and the convenience of over 14km of marked ski trails. The park offers safe and accessible tobogganing and snow play areas, providing great fun for the whole family. Before you go Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website.

Go hiking!

Hedonistic Hiking is a small company, owned and operated by Jackie and Mick Parsons, offering gourmet guided walking holidays in Australia, Italy, Slovenia, France and Austria. Hedonistic Hiking specialises in tours in the Victorian High Country and along the Great Ocean Walk and offers a mix of scheduled and tailor-made itineraries. The tour groups are small and friendly and the walking is enjoyably challenging, while the support vehicle enables you to walk as much or as little as you please. A mixture of fine dining experiences and gourmet picnic lunches ensures that you sample the very best food and wine that the region has to offer, and the emphasis is always on premium quality, locally-sourced produce. Hedonistic Hiking is committed to sustainability, so through the tours, you contribute directly to supporting small businesses in the area. Jackie and Mick spend half the year in northeast Victoria and are passionate about the food, the wine and the walking of this region. Perhaps, more importantly, they offer unsurpassed personal service on each and every tour, and it is this above all which brings people back to Hedonistic Hiking year after year.

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