Our Stories

The jewel in the crown of Victoria’s Alpine region, Bright provides the perfect backdrop for couples wishing to celebrate their love and unity in a truly spectacular setting. We know it can be tricky to coordinate everything your guests need for a seamless celebration so let Alpine Valley Getaways help.  With a wide range of accommodation options & services throughout Bright & Surrounds you can point your guests in the right direction with a few easy steps.

While the Victorian High Country is famous for its world-class snowfields, there is so much more to this beautiful area than just skiing and snowboarding. An easy 3-hour drive from Melbourne, Bright and the surrounding Alpine High Country is the ideal destination for a fun-filled family holiday or a luxurious romantic getaway at any time of the year. You will be spoilt for choice with places to stay in Bright, and Alpine Valley Getaways can help with the perfect Bright accommodation house for...

Aussies are now taking every opportunity to get away for a quick holiday and explore their own backyard, so regional hidden gems like Bright are no longer the well-kept secret they once were. The secret is well and truly out and Bright and surrounding townships are seeing visitors all year around, attracting return holiday makers and new visitors, keen to discover what the Victorian High Country has on offer. 

Lucky for you, and us, Bright has plenty going on all year around, and if there...

Bright's spectacular Alpine scenery and opportunities for outdoor fun and adventure outdoor lifestyle are already well known.

What's becoming equally pronounced is the exciting range of restaurants, bars and eateries in Bright, many run by top class chefs and offering an array of delicious fare crafted from quality local produce.

Add in a well-stocked bar, which many of these restaurants also offer, and you've got the perfect night out in Bright! 

Take your pick from these top...

If you're looking for an excuse to make plans and direct your thoughts to the future, our heavily reduced deposit for all new holiday accommodation bookings in Bright and Surrounds could do the trick!

To make it easier for you to plan for life after the current travel restrictions end - whenever that might be - we've slashed the deposit required to lock in your dream holiday to just 10 per cent of the booking total.

Reducing your upfront commitment is one small way we hope to make your ...

While the staggeringly beautiful colours of Autumn are a prime reason to visit Bright in the coming months, there’s a diverse array of local celebrations and events that are also worth your attention. 

Whether it’s the adrenalin-inducing thrill of watching skilled mountain bikers plunge vertically down a mountain; the inspiring open gardens of the Bright Autumn Festival; the sheer comic genius of Ginger and Tonic at the Bright Cabaret Festival; or the delicious foods and generous hospitality...

If you’re eager to tackle the world-class mountain bike trails of Bright but you’re not sure your skills are up to it, a lesson with an experienced local might be the solution. 

Bright, and North East Victoria more broadly, is renowned for its mountain biking trails which cater for a diverse range of skills and interests.  

One day can see you plunging through the pines on the gravity trails of Bright Mystic, the next tackling the technical, rocky descents of Mount Beauty; another day...

“Perfect. Reliable, quick to respond and excellent communication. Highly recommended.”  

This succinct review, posted on pet minding services website Mad Paws on October 19 by Claire H., would be music to any pet lover’s ears.  

What’s even better is this glowing review is written about local pet minder Kris Marr – which is particularly exciting if you’re thinking of bringing your furry friend to one of our pet-friendly properties in or near Bright. 

While your pets can be left in an...

It’s my turn. 

I’ve purposely waited to go last in our group of seven, trying to learn as much as I can about how best to kayak the torrent of water that gurgles and gnarls before me.  

“Aim to my left,” yells our guide, Tim, who’s strategically positioned in the midst of the approaching rapids. The water quickens beneath me. A thrust of my hips to the right doesn’t quite get me orientated correctly, so I quickly stab my paddle into the water, only to head further right. Damn. I’ve dipped...

With its stunning Alpine backdrop, delicious food and wine scene and close proximity to Melbourne, Bright is the perfect location for your wedding, corporate event or special family gathering.

To help with your planning, we’ve uncovered a wide range of venues to hold your special gathering.

Whether it’s a formal corporate event, a family gathering celebrating an anniversary or birthday, or a wedding, Bright and the surrounding towns of Wandiligong, Freeburgh, Harrietville, Harrietville...

If you think skiing is best in winter, think again – a decent snow base, bright sunny days and fewer people can mean spring is the better time to take your skiing holiday. 

While snow falls and depths are hard to predict, what’s for certain is if there’s good snow coverage at Falls Creek or Mount Hotham in September – and that’s not uncommon - it’s a great time to be out on the slopes. 

For one, there's generally fewer people at the ski fields in September, which means you’ll have shorter...

Cyclists – spring is the ideal time to saddle up for a cycling adventure in Bright, Australia’s premier biking destination.

Warm, mild days followed by crisp mornings and evenings make for ideal riding conditions, and you’ll avoid the busier summer periods, particularly in terms of traffic.   

Whether it’s tackling one of the country’s most challenging mountain ascents of Mount Hotham, Falls Creek or Mount Buffalo, taking on the downhill thrills of fast single-track descents in Bright’s...

Take a former mechanics workshop, decades old and nearing the end of its working life. Add in two chefs with a passion for new flavours and delicious, local produce. Mix in a taste for gin, and a close relationship with a coffee roaster and bakery business. 

Stir thoroughly, and you’ve got the fresh, vibrant space that now houses Reed & Co Distillery and Sixpence Coffee. 

Reed & Co Distillery, which opened in late 2017, is the creation of local chefs Rachel Reed and Hamish Nugent, former...

Bright is the perfect holiday destination for you and your pet, with a wide selection of pet-friendly accommodation and activitives for you (and your pooch!) to choose from.

Alpine Valley Getaways offers 40 pet-friendly accommodation options in Bright and the surrounding towns of Harrietville, Porepunkah and Wandiligong. What’s more, many of the local businesses – including cafes, restaurants and Bright Brewery – allow you to bring your precious pet with you.

Parks are also plentiful,...

Darker Days, held at Bright Brewery, is a popular day-long event that brings together many of the region's top craft brewers in a celebration of rich, dark beers.

Held on Saturday June 29 in the depths of the Alpine winter, you'll be spoiled for choice as you sample the delicious brews on offer.

Beyond the fabulous range of local beers, Darker Days will have kids' entertainment from 12pm, which includes stories and music under the children’s teepee, face-painting, wooden toys and ghost...

While Bright is an ideal base for nearby snow-based activities, rest assured if you're not skiing there's still plenty to do in and around this Alpine town mecca during the colder months.

Whether you're here for a romantic weekend getaway, a kids-focused family break, or you're looking to indulge in the region's foodie delights and fine wines, Bright and its surrounds caters for it all. 

If your children are with you, a trip to Red Stag Deer Farm should be on your itinerary. Located in...

For the first time the iconic Villa Gusto Private Estate can be exclusively yours.

Imagine having this delightful seven room Estate just for your group - your family, your friends. The people you want to experience the Valleys with, and the quiet moments of the Villa under the stars.

Villa Gusto, luxury accommodation near Bright, offers all of the decadent amenities your group could dream of, for any memorable destination celebration. Corporate retreats and weddings are also welcome!

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