VICTORIAN ALPS CYCLE TOUR - DAY 6

Eurobin Station on the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail

Route: Harrietville, Bright, Myrtleford.
Distance: 53km

Today's cycling is flat day of cycling, much of it on a sealed cycleway, following the Ovens River. From Harrietville it is 20km to Bright along the Great Alpine Road. The Ovens Valley is narrow at this point but begins to widen, as you pass through farmland and state forests.


The upper Ovens River Valley, along the Great Alpine Road

Approaching Bright, two features that will accompany the scenery over the next two days make themselves apparent. One is the increased number of cyclists: Bright is at one end of Australia's premier rail trail experience. The second feature is the Mount Buffalo massif which, at 1723m above sea level, dominates the landscape.

Entrance to Bright with Mt Buffalo in the background

Bright is a beautiful town beside the Ovens River with the alps as a backdrop. Before reaching the main shopping centre, you will pass the tourist information centre on the right-hand side. If you do not have a copy of the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail brochure, you should stop and pick one up here. This contains maps, local information (accommodation, restaurants, tourist attractions) that will be indispensable for the next two days. Importantly, the brochure shows how to find the beginning of the rail trail and details water and toilet stops along the way. Bright has a good shopping centre (the best since Albury) and a bicycle shop.

From Bright, join the rail trail for 100km of idyllic, rural, sealed surface, car-free cycling. Six kilometres west of Bright lies the town of Porepunkah. By the river is a picnic area and would make a great swimming spot on a hot day. The town has a general store and hotel.

Further along the rail trail is Myrtleford, the end point of today's trip. This town of 3000 has a bike shop, hotels, supermarket, restaurants and two caravan parks. A leisurely stroll along Myrtleford's historic walk leads to a lookout with unrestricted views of the town and Mt Buffalo. For those wanting to cover more kilometres on the bike, the cycle from Myrtleford to Lake Buffalo and back (40km return along a sealed, relatively flat road) would be worth considering.


Scenes around Myrtleford on a late afternoon

Alternatively, rather than staying at Myrtleford you may want to cycle a further 42km along the rail trail to to Beechworth. This would allow enough time to enjoy the town on the morning of Day 7. Staying at Bright (instead of Harrietville) the night before would facilitate this goal.