Summer is just around the corner and that can only mean one thing in the Alpine region: it’s time to pack away those skis and bring out the hiking boots or mountain bike ’cause Mount Buller’s stunning mountain trails are progressively reopening.
The mountain crew have been dutifully cleaning and clearing away any leftovers from winter on the vast trail network for what is expected to be a huge summer, meaning adventurers will have ample pristine nature to explore.
Serious mountain bike riders will be relieved to hear the world-class cross-country and gravity trails at Mount Buller will all be accessible from November 3rd, while the full network will reopen by December 5th. From the legendary 40km Australian Alpine Epic trail to the beginner “Billy Buttons” track in the Mount Buller village, all trails all fair game – and best of all, still free to use.
If a quiet amble through the alpine trees is more your thing, don’t worry, Buller’s got something for you too. You could try the Summit Nature Walk, winding your way through a glade of snow gums to a rather Kodak-worthy view. Or perhaps a tranquil walk following the Delatite River up through lush mountain ash forests.
Trails at Mount Stirling are also reopening to the public, so walkers can experience views of the regions without interruption. If that isn’t the perfect lockdown antidote, we don’t know what is.
THE DETAILS
WHAT: Mount Buller Trail Reopening
WHERE: Mount Buller and Mount Stirling
WHEN: November 3 – December 5
MORE INFO: Mount Buller Summer Activities
The 2019/20 bushfire season has been horrific for vast areas of Australia. But if you want a close-to-home reminder of how the bush recovers after a catastrophic fire season, you’ll find the well-managed Kinglake National Park an uplifting experience. The bush here was devastated by the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. It’s now ten years in to its regeneration cycle, and you can see it going through a transition stage, with dense undergrowth now dying back and falling to the ground under the taller re-grown large tree species. The die-back forms floor compost that retains water and provides composted nutrients for the further growth of the larger trees. This mid-stage regeneration is fascinating. It’s a great reminder of the natural order of regeneration, and despite the magnitude of our summer just gone, also a visual pointer of hope to the mighty come-back we hope to see.
Mason’s Falls is just one of many parks and picnic facilities in the National Park. It has some terrific walking tracks, including wheel-chair accessible ones. There are tracks that are a decent run for the training-minded visitor. The walk to the falls is relatively easy, and well worth it for the view up the gorge to the actual falls. There are several walking loops that take in longer routes, for those who like a challenge. Most importantly, the BBQ facilities are excellent.
Put your hands in the air if you fit any of the following:
Nature-lover, environmentally aware, recycler, re-user, lover of anything to do with sustainability. Well, that’s most of us. So, here’s something pretty exciting – a botanic garden built entirely on top of a landfill site.
You read that correctly. A botanic garden, high atop a landfill site. It’s seriously amazing. It’s been a long time coming because no-one has done this before and there are so many things to iron out. But through dedication and community support, the amazing team of landscapers and gardeners have done it.
The hilltop site takes in a panoramic view of the Shepparton area. It’s built with re-used materials and planted out masterfully in Australian native plants. It’s still a work in-progress, but how often do you get to see the beginning of something so significant?
There are a range of cycling and walking paths to explore, from the river paths to the hilltop track. All are accessible and vary in length. There are also themed gardens around the park, like the Refugee Garden, which celebrates the ‘melting-pot’ that is created by the welcoming of refugees to the region, and the Children’s Garden –which promotes play and sensory experiences.
Beechworth is bushranger central. At least, it was in the 1800s. That’s where this walking tour takes you back to – the heady and dangerous days of the frontier and goldfields in Victoria’s high country, centred in Beechworth. It’s Ned Kelly and Harry Power country, and the streets come alive with the aid of a professional guide. They’ll fill in the blanks and point out the large and small points of historical significance.
Walking down the streets of Beechworth, where buildings have remained largely unchanged since they were constructed during the gold rush, and listening to stories and characterisations that give voice to the moments we learnt about at school is an immersive experience. Imagining the likes of Ned Kelly walking through the door of the pub or being escorted from the courthouse is easy when the story is told so vividly.
Tours run daily and are well worth the small price, which also provides entry to the Burke Museum, Ned Kelly Vault and Courthouse.
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