# The Great Alpine Road in Spring: Victoria's High Country Loop
There is a road in north-east Victoria that climbs higher than any other sealed road in Australia, and right now it is shaking off winter. The Great Alpine Road runs 304 kilometres from Wangaratta to Bairnsdale, crossing the roof of the state past Mount Buffalo, Mount Hotham and the Bogong High Plains — and September is the month to drive it, when the last snow season crowds have gone, the waterfalls are running full and the high country is waking up.
Why Spring Is the Sweet Spot
Victoria's alpine resorts wind down their ski seasons through late August and mid-September, which means the alpine villages empty out just as the weather starts turning. Mornings are still crisp enough for a jacket and a campfire, days warm into shirtsleeves, and the light over the granite and snow gums gets that long, clear quality that photographers chase all year.
The road itself was built to be driven year-round, but spring is when it rewards you most. Waterfalls are at their fullest with the snowmelt, the first alpine wildflowers are appearing in the valleys, and wombats and eagles are out in the quiet hours. You will also beat the summer school-holiday convoys that turn the lookouts into car parks from December onwards.
Getting There
The road is sealed all the way and suits everything from a hire car to a fully loaded touring rig. Most people start at Wangaratta, about two and a half hours up the Hume Freeway from Melbourne, and drive the full 304 kilometres through to Bairnsdale on the Gippsland coast — or run it as a loop back down to Melbourne via the Princes Highway.
Plan for weather at altitude. The road stays open through winter, but if you are driving before the official snow season ends, chains are required between Harrietville and Omeo during declared snow conditions — check the seasonal road alerts before you set out. Fuel up at Wangaratta, Bright and Omeo, because the middle section between Harrietville and Omeo is long on scenery and short on bowsers.
Highlights Along the Way
Bright and the Ovens Valley
Bright is the classic alpine base town — poplar-lined streets, the Ovens River running through town and a rail trail that follows the old railway line for an easy morning ride. It is the last full-service town before you climb, so stock up on supplies and picnic gear here. The riverbank camp spots and caravan parks fill fast on weekends in spring, so book ahead.
Mount Buffalo National Park
The great granite plateau looms over the road from the Eurobin side, and the side trip up to the summit is worth every switchback. Lake Catani campground sits in the park's forested valley and is one of the best-value alpine camps in the state — you sleep under snow gums and wake to kookaburras. Walk the path to The Horn lookout for the full panorama across the Ovens Valley, and stop at Eurobin Falls on the way down, where the spring melt sends water thundering over the granite slabs.
Harrietville to Mount Hotham
This is the section that gives the road its reputation. From Harrietville the bitumen climbs steadily through mountain ash forest before breaking out above the treeline, swinging around the flank of Mount Hotham to the road's highest point at 1,840 metres. On a clear day the view takes in the whole alpine massif. Pull over at the designated lookout points — the drop-offs are sheer and the photo opportunities are frequent.
Dinner Plain to Omeo
Dinner Plain is a purpose-built alpine village that is quiet in spring, with a great pub and a network of easy walks across the high plains. From there the road descends into the historic gold-mining country around Omeo, a town that feels untouched since the 1860s rush — heritage shopfronts, a real country pub and a working history museum. The section over The Gap between Omeo and Swifts Creek is the classic Great Alpine Road photograph, the bitumen snaking down through the trees.
Omeo to Bairnsdale
The final leg drops out of the mountains through grazing country to the Gippsland lakes and Bairnsdale. If you are running the loop, this is where you pick up the Princes Highway back to Melbourne, or you can detour south towards Lakes Entrance for a night on the water before heading home.
Where to Stay and Camp
The high country offers the full spread. Lake Catani campground in Mount Buffalo National Park is the standout bush camp — book it through Parks Victoria. Bright has caravan parks right on the river and the town is walkable from all of them. Hotham and Dinner Plain have resort accommodation that is dramatically cheaper in spring than in peak ski season, and Omeo has a friendly riverside caravan park. If you want to stay up high without the resort price, the designated rest areas and bush camps along the lower sections suit self-contained rigs — just follow the signage and leave no trace.
Practical Tips
- Check the seasonal road alerts and carry chains until the declared snow season officially ends — late snowfalls happen in September.
- Fill up at Bright and again at Omeo; the middle section is 150 kilometres of mostly nothing between bowsers.
- Book Lake Catani and the Bright caravan parks ahead of weekends — spring school holidays are not far off.
- Altitude catches people out: it is genuinely cold at 1,800 metres even on a sunny day, so pack layers and a warm sleeping bag.
- Download the Parks Victoria app for camping bookings and closures, and carry paper maps as a backup — coverage drops out in the deep valleys.
- Leave early for the mountain sections; afternoon wind squalls are common over Hotham in spring.
Staying Connected in the High Country
This is big, empty country and the phone drops out for long stretches between towns — which is fine until you need to check a road alert, book a camp or call home. A Starlink Mini on the roof rack changes that completely: set it up at the Lake Catani campground or any roadside camp and you have real internet while the rest of the valley has none. Pair it with a 12V setup in your vehicle and you can keep the link and the fridge running all weekend off-grid.
More Outback and Alpine Guides
The high country is one of several standout touring regions we have covered — head to our New South Wales travel guide for the Snowy Mountains and the Darling River Run, or the Tasmanian guide for the West Coast loop, and start planning the next one.
