Great Victorian Alpine and High Country walk
A guided 6 day walk
Victoria’s High Country region encompasses an extensive area of alpine mountain terrain about 380km north-east of Melbourne. This walk traverses diverse landscapes of forests, alpine grassland, winters snow-blanketed mountains, precipitous ridges and high plains. There is much to discover about the area’s rich pioneering history, from settlement by cattle graziers and the beginning of the Hydro-Electric Power Scheme to pre-European history as an important seasonal migration path for indigenous Australians.
From our base in Falls Creek, we will access the Bogong High Plains, an area of high undulating country interspersed with streams and granite outcrops that are snow-covered during winter. Above the snow gum treeline, the plains are covered with herb fields and grasslands resplendent in summer. After the snow melt alpine wildflowers such as alpine marsh-marigold, mountain heath-myrtle, yellow kunzea and shaggy peas, mint bush, snow and silver daisies together with everlastings put on a brilliant display. Snow gums have gnarled and twisted trunks, ridged branches and a patterned white and pink bark.
A Pack Free Walking Experience
Walk with just a day pack
This walking holiday has been designed for those looking for a guided multi-day walking experience where everything is taken care of for you. Our guests won’t be asked to carry their clothes or overnight bags for the entire tour, as our tours are designed to be pack-free experiences. This is a big advantage for our guests, in that you will avoid carrying a heavy rucksack on your back every day. With Life’s An Adventure, you will carry as little as your water bottle, camera and lunch.
QT Falls Creek Hotel
3 nights luxury stay
Spend 3 nights at the QT Falls Creek, a boutique hotel overlooking the rolling green hills of the Kiewa Valley at Falls Creek. Enjoy indoor and outdoor plunge pools with steam room and sauna, the Stingray lounge, restaurant and a day spa. Our guests will stay in a two bedroom designer apartment featuring two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a separate lounge. Enjoy a private outdoor terrace with a hot tub, and a fully equipped kitchen and laundry.
2 bedroom apartment room configuration:
Room 1: Queen size bed
Room 2: Twin Beds or Queen Bed
1 bedroom apartment upgrade:
Upgrades are available to a 1 bedroom apartment for an additional amount.
Please note these apartments have a queen bed so are only suitable for couples.not friends wanting twin beds (unless one guest is prepared to utilise the sofa bed in the lounge area).
Superb dining with Local Produce
Matched with Victorian wines
During your walking experience, you will indulge in sensational high-quality produce that makes the region unique. We pride ourselves on supporting local businesses and producers and your evenings will often be spent savouring delicious cuisine in local restaurants, perfectly matched with local wines. You can be expected to taste fresh seafood, local meats, hand-crafted cheeses, all perfectly marched with Victorian fine wines.
Personalised Tours
Maximum group of 12
Our tours are designed to be personal and intimate with a maximum group size of 12 people
Our CEO Guides
100% Victorian Chief Experience Officers
Our Guides
Our guides are proudly 100% Victorian. We call them our CEOs – Chief Experience Officers and it’s their job to ensure your tour exceeds your expectations. Our guides have grown up walking the trails of Victoria. Their wealth of knowledge and expertise ensure your tour is relaxing, fun and informative.
21 Tourism Awards of Excellence
including Australia's best Adventure Tourism Company
Life’s an Adventure have won 21 Tourism Awards of Excellence including the Qantas Australian Tourism Award for Australia’s Best Adventure Company. Awards are great, but our biggest accolade which we value even more, is that our clients come back and travel with us time and time again.
Genuinely All-Inclusive
Nothing more to pay
Our walking tours are all genuinely all-inclusive and once you pay for your tour there are no hidden extras. During your evening meals, you won’t need to put your hand in your pocket to pay for wine as this is included in the price of the tour. Everything down to the smallest detail has been taken care of, we won’t even ask you to pay additional credit card fees.
To find out more click on any of the below links:
Why Choose Us
Tour Itinerary
Your 4-day walking holiday includes:
- Fully supported Pack Free walk with no overnight packs to carry
- 3 nights at the QT Falls Creek Hotel
- 2 nights in Bmp04.2eachworth
- 1 night in Mansfield
- 6 delicious lunches to enjoy whilst walking
- 1 celebration lunch at the historic printery, The Press Room Wine Bar
- 6 x superb dinners served with Australian wine
- 7 x Hot and Cold breakfasts
- Fresh fruit and trail mix to enjoy while walking
- Professionally guided by local guides – Our guides are locals who are passionate, well trained and enthusiastic with the ability to bring to life a depth of information
- Transfers to and from Melbourne CBD
- National Parks Fees
- NO Credit Card Fees
SUGGESTED PRE NIGHT ACCOMMODATION: Grand Chancellor Melbourne
DEPARTURE TIME: 7.30am
TRAIL NOTES: 6kms. 2.5 hours walking with breaks. Medium Grade.
TERRAIN: Narrow foot track through Alpine grassland and woodland. Open walking with very few obstacles but some short, steady ascents and descents.
WALK ITINERARY: Meet your Life’s An Adventure representative in the foyer of the Grand Chancellor Melbourne at 7.00am. From here we drive north with stops at Euroa and Bright on the way to Falls Creek. On arrival, we head out on our walks from the Wallaces Hut Track, just beyond Falls Creek, on this lovely historic circuit walk. These huts are amongst the oldest on the Bogong High Plains. Wallaces Hut, dating from 1889, is classified by the National Trust and is a stunning piece of bush architecture. Built by brother Arthur, Stewart and William Wallace using snow gum drop-log construction it originally had split woolybutt shingles on the roof. The internal rafters carry the carved names of cattlemen and visitors. Cope Hut, the only hut on the high plains built specifically for ski-tourers, dates from 1929 and is equally enthralling. The hut was called “The Menzies of the High Plains” by early skiers because of its size and comfort.
Our accommodation for the next two nights is at the stylish QT Hotel in a stylish one bedroom apartment. Tonight our accommodation, where we have time to relax before joining the group for dinner in the restaurant featuring local produce and Victorian wines
TRAIL NOTES: 13-18 km, approx. 6 hours, moderate. Medium Grade
TERRAIN: Mostly gentle undulations with a short, steep climb to Mt Jaithmathang; compact surfaces shifting between uneven/rocky narrow foot track to gravel management/4WD tracks.
WALK ITINERARY: Enjoy breakfast in the hotel restaurant before heading out on the day’s adventures. An easy climb over the Bogong High Plains leads to an old cattle yard and stream at Tawonga Huts, with impressive views of Mt Feathertop and The Jaithmathangs along the way. We start today’s walk along the Mt Fainter Fire Track from Pretty Valley Pondage to Tawonga Huts where we stop for morning tea and on to Mt Jaimathang for lunch. These huts nestle in a small snow plain below the rocky top of the mountain ahead. On the return trip, guests can choose to return to the vehicle on the Mt Fainter track at 13km, for those who are keen to continue we walk back along the trail and then find the summit of Mt Jim after some steady but not steep climbing. After our walk, we return to our accommodation with time to relax before joining the group for an a la carte dinner in the hotel restaurant served with Australian wines.
TRAIL NOTES: 12.5 km approx. 3.5-4 hours. Grade: easy-moderate
TERRAIN: Mostly gentle undulations but some steeper climbs. Compact surfaces shifting between uneven/rocky narrow foot track to gravel management/4WD tracks. Open walking with very few obstacles through Alpine grassland and woodland.
WALK ITINERARY: This morning enjoy a hearty breakfast before we head out walking. A pleasant stroll through grassy plains and snow gum forest this morning leads to two huts with an interesting history. Each was named after graziers who ran cattle on the nearby plains. The original Fitzgerald Hut was one of the oldest and most appealing of the cattlemen’s huts in the Alpine National Park. It was destroyed by fire in December 1991 but skilfully rebuilt in 1993 using salvaged and recycled timbers. Later we return to our accommodation with time to relax before dinner in the restaurant. Enjoy a la carte dining accompanied by local wine.
TRAIL NOTES: 6kms. 2 hours
TERRAIN: Well formed, compact path interspersed with some rocky sections. Some slippery rocks and unfenced cliff lines. Gently undulating.
WALK ITINERARY: This morning enjoy a hearty breakfast before setting out on our last day of walking. Located in the Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, Woolshed Falls is a popular destination for nature lovers and history buffs. The area was once the centre of one of the richest goldfields in Australia, where up to 8,000 prospectors camped along the banks of Spring Creek, in search of their fortune. The bushranger Ned Kelly had many links with Beechworth – he spent time in HM Prison Beechworth and gang members Aaron Sherritt and Joe Byrne came from the Woolshed mining camp.
The falls are a ten-minute drive north from Beechworth, where you can view the cascading falls, and take a self-guided walk around the alluvial gold workings. An observation deck provides views to falls and the valley below, which is particularly spectacular after heavy rainfalls.
Lunch will follow at The Press Room Wine Bar created from a passion for great food, delivered in a beautiful setting with warm professional service. Set in the historic printery, The Press Room Wine Bar makes the most of the historic setting, with its open fire in the Twisted Chimney Lounge for a pre-dinner drink or perhaps a muscat and coffee after dinner. The menu is Spanish-inspired Tapas and changes regularly to reflect seasonal produce and to present a fresh and vibrant offering. The wine list features heavily with wines from Beechworth and surrounds and some Spanish wines and craft beers. Afterwards, we make the return journey to Melbourne.
ARRIVAL TIME: Approximately 5.30pm into the Melbourne CBD
Photos courtesy of Victorian Tourism and David Kirkland, David Hannah and Peter Dunphy
TRAIL NOTES: The Monolith,Lake Catani, Chalwell Galleries & The Gorge 11km 4 hrs moderate. The Horn 1km return 1hr moderate.
TERRAIN:
WALK ITINERARY: After a hardy Breakfast, we start at the Park Office and walk ascends to a huge balancing tor sitting precariously atop a group of boulders. It is here that excellent views of Lake Catani and distant peaks are revealed. We then make our way towards the Chalet. The trail to Lake Catani undulates through alpine woodland, skirting the side of the lake we meander through Lake Catani Campground and onto Chalwell Galleries; an area frequented by rock climbers. The walk circuits back through the Lake Catani campground and onto the Gorge track divulging lookouts and other interesting features as you return to the Chalet.
A short drive to The Horn; not to be missed, it is the highest point on Mt Buffalo at 1723m. This 1km return climb takes you to a remarkable viewpoint. Not only spectacular views of the Wall of China and Back Wall are revealed, but panoramic views of distant alpine peaks can be seen as well.
Travel 35mins from Bright or 1hr 15mins from Beechworth
TRAIL NOTES: 4km, 2-3hrs, moderate, steep
TERRAIN:
WALK ITINERARY: North Jawbone and South Jawbone.After Morning tea we cross MacLennans Gully and climbs up a spur to cross a creek and then steeply to the Farmyard. The Farmyard was named after the lyrebirds in the area which imitate domestic animals on farms in the valley below. The trail branches to the right towards North Jawbone Peak (795m). With further climbing we arrive at the rocky summit for excellent views over Little River valley. Retracing our steps, we access the main trail and head south. It is from this trail that fine views of the Acheron Valley and across the range are revealed. After a short distance South Jawbone Peak (798m) is reached. Both North and South Jawbone Peaks are popular with rock climbers. We descend to Jawbone Carpark via the Farmyard.
TRANSFERS: Head back Melbourne with a stop off at TarraWarra Estate Winery for lunch arriving back in Melbourne at approx. 5pm
Tour Availability
We run this tour a couple of times per year during November to April. Dates are listed below however availability changes by the hour – to see real-time availability click on the monthly calendar at the bottom of the page and select the month you require. We will also consider opening up a new departure date if we have enough demand. Email us at walks@lifesanadventure.com.au
SPECIALS
Check below to see if your preferred departure has a special savings. Conditions apply see pricing page.
PRIVATE GROUPS:
Date of your choice is available for groups of 10 -12 people. Subject to availability. Free Group T’shirts also available – see details.
Please contact us for more details on (02) 9975 4553 or email: walks@lifesanadventure.com.au
| Departure dates | Availability | Specials / Notes |
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| 2022 DATES: | ||
| Dates to be advised soon. |
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Tour Prices
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FIRST TIME TRAVELLER SPECIAL
$
2099
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First time traveller with Life's An Adventure |
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DEPARTURES Special Price*……………….$2099 Super Earlybird savings available on all departures only when you pay in full by 10 November 2020. Normal Price requires deposit then final payment due 8 weeks prior to departure. |
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PAST PASSENGER SPECIAL
$
1999
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Travelled with Life's An Adventure previously |
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DEPARTURES Special Price*……………….$1999 Super Earlybird savings available on all departures only when you pay in full by 10 November 2020. Normal Price requires deposit then final payment due 8 weeks prior to departure. Email us for your discount code |
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Private Group Price
$
1999
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Departure of your choice of groups of 12 or more |
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PRIVATE GROUPS Special Price*……………….$1999 Additional Past Passenger discount not available for groups. Super Earlybird savings available on all departures only when you pay in full by 10 November 2020. Normal Price requires deposit then final payment due 8 weeks prior to departure. |
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OPTIONAL
$
Xtras
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The following extras can be purchased with your tour: SOLO TRAVELLERS ROOM UPGRADES: |
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COVID Booking Guarantee
For terms and conditions on our special COVID-19 Booking Guarantee click here.
Discount Information
PAST PASSENGER DISCOUNT: Those who have travelled with Life’s An Adventure previously, receive a past passenger discount of $100. In order to receive this discount please email us for your special “promo code” to use when booking. In your email, you should outline what Life’s An Adventure tour you have done with us in the past so we can cross-check.
EARLYBIRD & SPOT SPECIALS CANCELLATIONS: Refunds and cancellations are not permitted for Earlybird Deals or Spot Specials, however, transfers to another date are permitted 8 weeks or more prior to departure. We advise taking out travel insurance, in case unexpected circumstances prior to the trip, prevent you from joining this tour. Early bird or Spot Special discounts cannot be used in conjunction with another offer. To receive these special discounts, full payment must be made at the time of initial booking.
Travel Insurance
We advise taking our Travel Insurance to cover items such as cancellation of tour due to minimum numbers not met, or adverse weather conditions, injury, evacuation, delayed flights, illness, etc. We have organised through NIB Insurance for you to purchase travel insurance directly with them – please click here for details.
Additional Information
- Prices are per person in Australian dollars and include GST.
- A deposit of $300 per person is required to secure your booking. (unless taking advantage of Earlybird or Spot Specials in which full payment is required at time of booking).
- Note: If you are booking within 90 days of your departure date – we will require full payment at the time of booking
- Prices are based on twin share of rooms. If you are travelling solo you may be required to share with someone of the same gender. If this is not suitable you can request to pay a single supplement, however, limited single rooms are available per trip so are on a request basis.
- Payments must be made online via our NAB (National Australia Bank) secure payment page via credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or over the phone.
- NO Credit Card fee applies.
- We advise taking our Travel Insurance to cover items such as cancellation of tour due to minimum numbers not met, or adverse weather conditions, injury, evacuation, delayed flights, illness, etc.
Booking Terms and Conditions
Before you book please read our Booking Terms and Conditions. Click here.
To find out more click on any of the below links:
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