|
|
|
|
If ever there has been a name that fits a destination perfectly, it has to be Mt Beauty, Australia. Mt Beauty is one of the premier hotspots for travelers to Victoria's alpine region, one of Australia's great inland playgrounds. While the region is well-known to skiers and snowboarders, who flock to close by Falls Creek and Mt. Hotham, it is an increasingly popular destination for summer tourists looking for adventure and/or relaxation. Whatever you're looking for, winter, summer, spring or fall, Mt Beauty has it all.
Mt. Beauty is tucked away at the foot of Mt. Bogong, Victoria's highest mountain. You get a real feeling of being in an alpine village when you're there in winter. In the hotter months, you discover that you're surrounded by rich farming country. If you're lucky enough to visit over the harvest season, you can enjoy the bountiful produce that is sold out of quaint roadside stands along the quiet country roads. What better way to stretch your legs when you're out exploring the countryside than to stop in and buy fresh picked veggies and fruits? The only thing that can compare is to call in at one of the numerous great restaurants in the area and enjoy freshly cooked culinary delights.
The same rich soil and cool climate that produces such excellent produce also produces some of Australia's finest cool climate wines. Mt. Beauty and the other alpine towns are renowned for their wineries. In fact, the local wineries are one of the area's prime summer attractions for visitors looking for a leisurely getaway in a stunning setting. In all, there are eight different High Country wine growing regions, each of which produces award winning wines. The local vintners are well-known for combining delicious food with wonderful wines, making a visit to a local winery a gourmet's dream come true.
Excellent food, great scenery and wonderful local hospitality are what make the Great Alpine Road one of Australia's much loved touring roads. In all, the Great Alpine Road is about 200 miles (300km) in length and is Australia's highest year-round accessible road. Although it could be driven in a day, many visitors prefer to take a more leisurely approach and take it in stages, stopping off in towns like Mt. Beauty, Bright and Omeo for a day or two of local exploration on foot, bicycle or horseback.
Mt. Beauty, being at the foot of Mt. Bogong, is on one of the most well-liked sections of the Great Alpine Road. Often known as the Bogong Alpine Road, it takes you through Bright, Mt. Beauty, Falls Creek and on to Mt. Hotham. While this road is used in winter to reach the ski and snowboard slopes of Falls Creek and Mt. Hotham, in the warmer months it becomes one of Australia's most spectacular drives.
Mount Beauty itself, aside from being part of the alpine region, has been singled out by mountain bike lovers as the Mountain Bike Capital of Australia. In a country that hosted the first ever Olympic mountain bike event, that's quite a title, but it's one the cyclists gave to Mt. Beauty themselves. Bring your own bike, hire one in town or even use one provided by your Mt. Beauty accommodation, but whatever you do, get out and enjoy beautiful Mt. Beauty with a bike. Wherever you go, whether it's along a quiet country road or down an thrilling single track trail, you will have the time of your life.
|
|
