OH! Magazine - Australian Version February 2014 (Australian Version) | Page 30

(Where, Oh Where? )
ANALEE
MATTHEWS

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
Analee Matthews packs the family wagon
and heads for beautiful Bright
in Victoria’s Alpine country.
nyone who knows me knows I am
not the camping type. I loathe
sleeping on the ground, I detest feeling
cold, I adore hot showers on demand,
and I love a cosy comfortable bed to greet
me at night – every night.
So when the opportunity arose to
experience BIG4 Bright Holiday Park, my
first instinct was to clarify exactly what
type of accommodation we would be
‘enjoying’. Much to my delight the ‘luxury
villa’ option was bestowed upon us,
which meant free WiFi, power points
aplenty, a fully equipped kitchen, reverse
cycle air conditioning and all those other
creature comforts I would otherwise
complain about the lack of, in a ‘typical’
camping situation.
Bright is just one of the many gorgeous
destinations within the Great Alpine
Valleys in Victoria. With nearby Myrtleford,
Mount Beauty and Harrietville sharing
the same mountainous backdrop, there is
no shortage of opportunities to enjoy
Mother Nature’s seasonality and immerse
yourself in the region’s unique scenery,
blooms, wine, produce, colours and
climate. Plus, the crisp alpine air and
extensive outdoor trail network makes

A

Bright

a

year-round

family-friendly

destination.
A true cycling and walking mecca,
Bright’s landscape is peppered with
inspiringly fit-looking, lean, buff, athletic
types with meticulously shaven legs (and
those are just the male visitors!). Of

course, if two-wheeled pedal power is not
your bag, then you’ll be excited to
discover the plethora of available water
sports, thanks to the Ovens and Kiewa
Rivers, which both punctuate this region.
The adrenalin junkies will also be
thrilled with an extensive menu of
activities, including abseiling, climbing,

How To Get There
• By car: Bright is situated on the Great Alpine Road (B500) about 75km from the Hume
Highway (M31), which is the main road connecting Melbourne to Sydney. Bright is just
over three hours drive from Melbourne, seven hours drive from Sydney, five hours drive
from Canberra and 12 hours drive from Adelaide.
• By air: The nearest commercial airport to Bright is approximately 115km away in
Albury. There is a small grass airstrip in Porepunkah, just 5km from Bright, but
arrangements need to be made to use this.
• By Train/Bus: V/Line Railways run a bus that connects to the train in Wangaratta to and
from Melbourne. A limited bus service also goes to Mt Beauty. Bicycles can be carried
on the V/Line bus. Phone V/Line on 13 6196 for general enquiries.

30

ISSUE 7 ( OH! MAGAZINE )