Series 4: Episode 10
G'Day and welcome to Discover Downunder.
On this week's show we travel The Great Alpine Road in Victoria.
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From Bairnsdale to Wangarrata, with our convoy, on an adventure based discovery.
We learn the intricate art of fly fishing, try our hand at mountain bikes and horse riding.
We duck in to the Blue Duck Inn for a bit of a chinwag with the locals.
There are some wonderful historic buildings along the way, great views and good fun for all.
We begin in the Victorian township of Bairnsdale, the gateway to East Gippsland and the beggining of the Great Alpine Way.
Close to forests, rivers and mountains, with a very relaxed country atmosphere.
A great place to stop on your journey to the cooler climes of the The Great Alpine Road.
Omeo is approximately a one and half hour drive north.
A very pretty town steeped in gold field history.
In fact this town was one of the most lawless goldfields of its time.
We visited the Omeo Historical Society to learn a little more, we viewed the courthouse and the old gaol.
The gaol was built from alpine logs, and is still in very good condition, but now unused, unlike the courthouse which is still operational today.
There's loads of memorablia here, so take your time to learn about the goldfield days and the conditions under which the people of these times lived, for the pursuit of gold.
It certainly wasn't an easy life.
The Omeo Caravan Park, located in the township, occupies around 7 acres with generous spacing and no length limit.
A great range of accommodation options from tent sites to cabins.
And is dog, and horse friendly!
But we must move on, and about a 30 minute drive North West of Omeo is Angler's Rest, the place for fly fishing and we are about to learn a thing or two about catching the elusive brown trout.
Presenter Dean Allen-Craig spent time with Graham Brown, a dab hand at the art of fly fishing.
And pretty soon Dean was in the water and getting the hang of it.
Perhaps next time he'll actually land a fish!
And when the angler in you needs a rest, drop by the Blue Duck in for a warm welcome and a chat with the locals, they have great tales of trout fishing and a few tips as well.
A great way to end a great day's fishing, whether you catch a fish or not, it is a very relaxing past time.
It's around an hour and fifteen minutes drive, north, to our next port of call, Dinner Plain.
Packed full of activities and sights, we decided to try our hand at a bit of physical activity, with a spot of mountain bike riding to take in the views, followed by and easy horse ride.
The crew at Adventures with Altitude can tailor your rides to suit, with short rides to long rides and overnight treks.
The bikes got the heart racing, and with the stunning views of Mount Hotham and Mount Feather Top, who could want for anything more.
Riding the mountain range is definately worth the effort.
You won't be sorry, it is a great adventure.
Back on the trail again, and three hours later we're in Wangaratta Caravan & Tourist Park, our last stop before home.
Peacocks wander the grounds here, and the accommodation is excellent, whatever your preferences.
Wangaratta is close to great historical towns, such as Rutherglen, Beechworth and Glenrowan. So it is well worth it to base yourself here and tour the district.
While we were discovering the town we found a bit of history in the bowels of the Vine Hotel.
And being Ned Kelly country, there has to be a connection.
According to the locals here, the tunnel was dug by Ned Kelly to enter and exit the pub without being seen.
The Kelly Gang legend lives on.
Well that's it for this week, we hoped you enjoyed our Great Alpine Road escape, as much as we did.
Take the time to discover this area and find some amazing history for yourselves.
On next week's Discover Downunder, we explore this country's smallest state, Tasmania.
It may be small in size, but it's big in colonial history.
See how the convicts from England settled in this country, and the hardships that they endured to survive.
It's a fascinating insight into our beautiful country's beginnings.
Join us next week on Discover Downunder.
The 2008 Victorian Caravan, Camping and Touring Supershow starts 23rd April at Caulfield Racecourse.
Pop along for a visit, it's chock full of Caravans, campers, tents, motorhomes, camping equipment, four wheel drives, tourism displays, activities and seminars.
Open from 9.30am daily, don't miss a minute of it!
And don't forget our competition, the good folks at Jayco are giving you a chance to win a Dove camper trailer worth $21,500 and you've got to be in it to win it.
So check out our Discover Downunder video streaming this week, for details.
Products & Contact Details
- RV SHOWCASE : TRU BLU CAMPER TRAILERS
247 Boundary Road
Mordialloc Victoria 3195
Ph: (03) 9580 2444
Fax: (03) 9580 3038
Email: sales@trublucampers.com.au
www.trublucampers.com.au
- JAYCO
1 Jayco Drive,
Dandenong South 3175
Victoria
Ph: (03) 8792 2000
Fax: (03) 8792 2192
www.jayco.com.au
- ECO TOURER
www.ecotourer.com.au
- COROMAL
Ph: (08) 9352 0900
Fax: (08) 95449291
www.coromal.com.au
- ROADSTAR INDUSTRIES PTY LTD.
260 Hume Highway
Somerton
Melbourne Victoria 3062
Ph: (03) 9305 5633
Fax: (03) 9305 5737
Email: sales@roadstar.com.au
www.roadstar.com.au
- BAIRNSDALE VISITOR CENTRE
240 Main Street
Bairnsdale 3875 Victoria
Freecall: 1800 637 060
Fax: (03) 5153 1563
Email: bairnsdalevic@egipps.vic.gov.au
www.discovereastgippsland.com.au
- OMEO HISTORIC PARK
Great Alpine Road, Omeo
Ph: (03) 51 591 515
Email: omeohs@tadaust.org.au
- BLUE DUCK INN
Omeo Highway, Anglers Rest
Victoria 3898
Ph: (03) 5159 7220
Fax: (03) 5159 7212
Email: info@bludduckinn.com.au
- ADVENTURES WITH ALTITUDE
P.O. Box 11,
Dinner Plain 3898 Victoria
Ph: (03) 5159 6608
Email: info@adventureswithaltitude.com.au
- THE VINE HOTEL
27 Detour Road
North Wangaratta, Victoria 3678
Ph: (03) 5721 2605
- OMEO CARAVAN PARK
Omeo township on the Livingstone Creek
Ph: (03) 51 591 351
Email: omeocp@bigpond.net.au
- THE WANGARATTA TOURIST PARK
79 Parfitt Road,
Wangaratta, Victoria 3677
Ph: (03) 5721 3368
Fax:(03) 5722 3832
or email wctp@westnet.com.au