OH! Magazine - Australian Version February 2014 (Australian Version) | Page 31

(Where, Oh Where? )

Where to stay
(youtube.com/watch?v=7YlA9jKxqGs)

off-road four-wheel driving, caving,
rafting, hang gliding, horse riding,
paragliding, and that’s not even
mentioning any of the snow sports you
can enjoy at nearby Mt Hotham, Falls
Creek and Dinner Plain (in the winter
season only, of course).
What really impressed me during our
summertime visit is the community’s
focus on the Ovens River as the epicentre
of the town. Known as Centenary Park,
from any angle at every glance there are
big and small kids floating down the
gentle rapids on inflated tyres, rafts and
surf mats. The man-made diving board
and mini waterslide are in constant
demand, as they provide an exciting entry
into this unexpectedly deep river.
The pinnacle attraction of Centenary
Park however, is the Rotary Club-built
waterslide that snakes it’s way into the
river, providing a unique and surprisingly
fast thrill for both children and adults
alike. The Rotary Club originally built the
slide for $35,000 and to date has raised
in excess of $580,000 (which at $1 per
ride is very impressive!).
Our accommodation is delightfully
situated, enabling us to retire the car for

• BIG4 Bright (www.BIG4bright.com.au ph: 1800 033 188) caters to all types of
visitors by offering self-contained accommodation (ranging from top of the line
luxury villas to cosy and complete cedar cabins), to the more traditional camping
or caravanning experiences, via grassy and flat powered and ensuite sites.

Join up and save!
• If you love holidays, then you’ll love the BIG4 Loyalty Club; it’s the little card
with big benefits that include savings on BIG4 accommodation, as well as
access to great offers from the BIG4 Loyal Partners. Find out more or join up
online at www.BIG4.com.au/loyalty
the weekend and get around on foot. The
main drag of Bright offers an abundance
of quaint shops offering local and unique
homewares, apparel, footwear and food,
and it’s all within walking distance of our
luxury cabin. In hindsight we realise we
should have taken our bicycles with us,
but even without them access to all the
fun and activities were within reach.
Unless you’re keen on impersonating
Lance Armstrong (sans the alleged
drugs), you’ll need a vehicle to explore
the neighbouring towns. It’s quite a
winding ride up and down the mountains
to get to the likes of Mt Buffalo and Mt
Beauty, but it’s definitely worth the effort
to do so; just be sure to pack the ginger
tabs or whatever motion sickness
preventatives work best for you.
It’s a fairly positive sign that your
holiday spot is a winner, when you find

yourself planning your return, even before
you’ve departed. Having never visited
this town before, my family and I are
already looking forward to returning in
autumn when, apparently, the cascading
colours create a gorgeous backdrop. For
us, the future is definitely Bright.

Essential Eats
Give your tastebuds a treat and head to:
• Simone’s of Bright
• Bright’s Old Fashioned Lolly Shop
• Le Blanche Ice Creamery
• Katsu
• Ginger Baker Cafe
• Cafe Velo
• Sole é Luna.

What’s On and When
If you love festivals and markets that
celebrate local music, food, produce,
wine or sporting events, then Bright is
the place to be.
For a full calendar of events visit
www.greatalpinevalleys.com.au

For more information, tips and ideas
about visiting Bright, go to:
• www.brightvictoria.com.au/
• BIG4bright.com.au

( OH! MAGAZINE ) ISSUE 7

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