Walking Trails around Bright
The walking tracks around Bright are picturesque and showcase the beautiful township, rivers, forests and wildlife of the area.
Explore the area’s gold mining past and present day landscapes by wandering along the short and long walking trails around Bright, Wandiligong and Porepunkah.
There are many short walks which show you the natural beauty of Bright while longer treks allow you to explore the area in greater detail. The numerous walks around Bright and its neighbouring towns take you along peaceful riversides and get you to the surrounding lookouts. The history of the area is evident on many walks and there are interpretive signs along the paths.
A special feature of the district is its many creeks and rivers. Snow-fed rivers tumble down from the alpine region and flow through the Ovens Valley on their way to the Murray River. Many of the trails in the area allow walkers to experience the sights and sounds of the valley’s ever changing waterways.
These rivers and foothills forest walks provide a completely different landscape and experience to the walks in the nearby Alpine and Mount Buffalo national parks. Take some short walls in both areas to sample the natural wonders of the mountains and the valley.
Some of the popular trails around Bright include the 3km loop Canyon Walk, 4km Cherry Walk and a 6km track to Wandiligong that follows Morses Creek.
With so many choices of formed tracks you will find a walk to suit you in Bright and its surrounds.
Grading Information
Walks mentioned below have been graded using the Australian Walking Track Grading System.
Recommended Walking Trails
Bakers Gully Reservoirs
Start/end: | Bright/Bright |
Highlights: | Reservoirs |
Gentle hills | |
Time: | 30-45 mins |
Distance: | 0.5 to 1 km |
Difficulty level: | Easy |
Grade: | 2 |
No bushwalking experience required. Formed track with gentle hills and occasional steps. Clearly sign posted.
Park at the information shelter approximately 1.3km up Bakers Gully Road. Follow the walking track that leads from the information shelter then follow the signs to circle one of both reservoirs. The first reservoir was built in 1892 and the second in 1916 to provide a permanent supply of water to the township of Bright, the railway station and trains. The reservoirs no longer provide water to Bright but they do offer a peaceful place for walking.
Blue Plaque Walk
Start/end: | Bright/Bright |
Highlights: | Township walk |
Historical sites | |
Time: | 40 mins |
Distance: | 1 km |
Difficulty level: | Easy |
Grade: | 1 |
No bushwalking experience required. Township walk.
Start from your desired point in town and make your way around Bright looking out for the blue plaques providing information about the most significant historical sites in the town.
Porepunkah River Walk
Start/end: | Porepunkah/Porepunkah |
Highlights: | Ovens River |
Historical sites | |
Time: | 45 mins |
Distance: | 2.5 km |
Difficulty level: | Easy |
Grade: | 2 |
No bushwalking experience required. Formed track with some obstacles and occasional steps. Sign posted.
Start at Riverside Park and head east along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. Cross at the old Porepunkah Bridge and continue along the track to the suspension bridge crossing the Ovens River.
Cross the bridge and return via the track on the north side of the Ovens River before reaching the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. Along the way enjoy the views of the Ovens River while looking out for evidence left behind from the gold mining era. You can return to Riverside Park via the Rail Trail.
Cherry Walk
Start/end: | Bright/Bright |
Highlights: | Cherry family history |
Parks, rivers & bridges | |
Time: | 1.5 hrs |
Distance: | 6 km |
Difficulty level: | Easy |
Grade: | 2 |
No bushwalking experience required. Formed track with gentle hills and occasional steps. Clearly sign posted.
Starting from Howitt Park this walk is named after the Cherry family of which descendants still live in the area. Head east towards the Rotary Waterside in Centenary Park then follow the southern bank of the Ovens River to the suspension bridge at the end of Hawthorne Lane, and cross the bridge to the northern bank.
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Continue to the second suspension bridge, cross and return along the southern bank. Interpretative signs have been placed along the track at regular intervals. A comprehensive Landcare brochure detailing local flora corresponds with numbers found along the track and can be picked up from the Alpine Visitor Information.
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Bennett’s Trail
Start/end: | Bright/Bright |
Highlights: | Historic Bright |
Cemetery | |
Morses Creek | |
Time: | 2 hrs |
Distance: | 10 km |
Difficulty level: | Easy |
Grade: | 1 |
No bushwalking experience required. Sealed track with gentle hills and no steps. Clearly sign posted.
Start in the centre of Bright and head a short distance down Burke Street along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. Turn east down Railway Avenue and then south onto Bakers Gully Road before turning east into Park Street, before the school.
Walk or cycle along the widened footpath and trail to Alpine Park, Wandiligong. On the way you will pass by the historic Bright Cemetery, the Mystic Flight Park (landing site for paragliders) and travel alongside picturesque Morses Creek.
Wandiligong Walk
Start/end: | Wandiligong/Wandiligong |
Highlights: | Morses Creek |
Gorges, rapids & swimming holes | |
Time: | 2.5 hrs |
Distance: | 6 km |
Difficulty level: | Easy |
Grade: | 2 |
No bushwalking experience required. Formed track with some obstacles, short steep hills and no steps. Sign posted.
This track follows Morses Creek from its confluence with the Ovens River in Howitt Park, Bright through to Alpine Park in Wandiligong. With tracks on both sides of Morses Creek for much of the way and numerous crossing points over the creek, Wandi Walk provides a chance to see the evidence of gold mining activity as well as rocky gorges, rapids and quiet secluded swimming holes.
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The track from Howitt Park follows Morses Creek south under the Great Alpine Road and through the Bright Holiday Park to Hawthorn Lane Bridge. From here the track passes Pioneer Park Recreation Reserve to Dougherty’s Bridge. After crossing Coronation Avenue the track continues on the eastern bank of Morses Creek before crossing at a swing bridge and finishing up at Alpine Park in Wandiligong.
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Murray to Mountains Rail Trail
Start/end: | Bright/optional |
Highlights: | Choose your distance |
Rivers & lakes | |
Time: | Dependent |
Distance: | Up to 80 km |
Difficulty level: | Easy |
Grade: | 1 |
No bushwalking experience required. Well-formed flat track with no steps. Clearly sign posted.
This popular bike and walking track is ideal for all visitors. The fully sealed track spans 80 kilometres between Bright and Wangaratta with many tributaries along the way into Milawa, Beechworth, Wandiligong and surrounding townships. The Trail is perfect for all, being mainly flat and allowing visitors to choose their distance. Facilities are located at varying points along the track.
Huggins Lookout Walk
Start/end: | Bright/Bright |
Highlights: | Scenic views over |
Bright & up the Ovens River towards Porepunkah | |
Time: | 1 hr |
Distance: | 1.5 km |
Difficulty level: | Medium |
Grade: | 4 |
No bushwalking experience required. Formed track with gentle hills and occasional steps. Sign posted.
This walk can be accessed from either McFadyens Lane (off Bakers Gully Road) or from the corner of Deacon Avenue and Zivan Court. The track winds its way steeply up the side of the valley and rewards the walker with beautiful views over Bright and up the Ovens River towards Porepunkah. Return on the same track. Please note there is no access to McFadyens Lane via Zivan Court.
The Diggings Walk
Start/end: | Wandiligong/Wandiligong |
Highlights: | Chinese bridge |
Historical sites | |
Time: | 1 hr |
Distance: | 2 km |
Difficulty level: | Medium |
Grade: | 3 |
No bushwalking experience required. Formed, flat track with occasional steps. Clearly sign posted.
There are many starting points for walks in the Diggings area. The main starting points are the Chinese Bridge car park off Centenary Avenue and at the Royal Bridge on the Royal Bridge Track. The Diggings loops take you through some of the former goldfields of Wandiligong.
This area has been subjected to almost every type of mining. The first diggers in the 1860s sluiced for alluvial gold with gold pan, sluice box and cradle. Deep mine shafts were then sunk to locate deep leads of gold bearing rock. Dredging was undertaken in the area between 1905 to 1914.
Historic Town Walk
Start/end: | Wandiligong/Wandiligong |
Highlights: | Township walk |
Historical sites | |
Time: | 1.5 hr |
Distance: | 3 km |
Difficulty level: | Medium |
Grade: | 3 |
No bushwalking experience required. Well-formed flat track with some hills and no steps.
Start at the Wandi Pub (Mountain View Hotel) on Morses Creek Road, opposite Growlers Creek Road. Walk north on Morses Creek Road and turn left onto Royal Bridge Track. Cross the bridge and continue back onto Morses Creek Road as far as the Manchester Unity Public Hall, passing the original Post Office, General Store, the former Public Library and a number of historic churches.
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Return to the start of the walk the same way or extend your walk by taking the steep (Grade 3) route up Gillards Lane to School Road. Turn right onto School Road and pass the beautiful Wandiligong Primary School and St Peters Catholic Church to Kaighins Lane where you can turn right back to Morses Creek Road.
An alternative return route is to continue past Kaighins Lane onto Police Paddock. Walk and down a rough bush track to Williams Road (this track is steep and may be slippery). Turn left and walk along Williams Road looking out for a small park on the right. Cross Growlers Creek via a small bridge in the park and climb up the track which brings you out opposite your starting point.
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Canyon Walk
Start/end: | Bright/Bright |
Highlights: | Canyon Lake |
Birds & flowers in spring | |
Time: | 1.5 hrs |
Distance: | 4 km |
Difficulty level: | Medium |
Grade: | 3 |
No bushwalking experience required. Formed track with some obstacles, short steep hills and occasional steps. Clearly sign posted.
Starting from Howitt Park head towards the Star Road bridge. The track on the northern bank of the Ovens River has steep steps and may be difficult for people with limited mobility. The track on the southern bank from Howitt Park to Canyon Lane is sealed and wheelchair friendly (Grade 1). For a longer loop, continue past the two suspension bridges to the railway bridge and return along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail.
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Otherwise, cross either of the suspension bridges to create a short or long loop. The short loop is easy and accessible for prams. Interpretative signs highlight the local history of this area. This walk takes you past a small canyon carved by the Ovens River and water races dug by early miners. Watch for birdlife and wildflowers especially in spring.
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Apex Lookout Walk
Start/end: | Bright/Bright |
Highlights: | Apex Lookout |
Mountain views | |
Time: | 2 hrs |
Distance: | 3 km |
Difficulty level: | Medium |
Grade: | 3 |
No bushwalking experience required. Formed track, some obstacles, very steep with occasional steps. Clearly sign posted.
Park at Quinn’s Gap 1.5km up Mt Porepunkah Road. Walk a short distance up the gravel vehicle track to the east until meeting the Apex Lookout walking track which is signposted. The steady climb rewards you with views of Mount Feathertop (1922m), Mount Fainter (1833m) and Mount Bogong (1986m), the highest peak in Victoria.
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