Bright is a popular destination no matter the season. It’s a delightfully friendly part of the Great Alpine Road that welcomes visitors with open arms, and in the winter months, open fires, too! When you arrive, treat yourself and your companions to lunch at the Ringer Reef Winery in Porepunkah or the Bright Brewery.

The Ringer Reef Winery has magnificent views of the Alpine valleys and a beautiful selection of boutique, handmade wines for all tastes and all seasons. With the Ovens River front and centre in Porepunkah, this rural town will relax even the most highly strung of travellers. You’ll find the Mt Buffalo Olives and Karoonda Olive Grove Retreat here; or if it’s more wine you’re after, there’s Boynton’s Feathertop Winery and its scenic surrounds.

The Bright Brewery, which is conveniently located on the Great Alpine Road, offers tasting tours and the occasional live music performance. This area is renowned for its produce – the combination of cool climate and fresh mountain air in the Alpine region seems to have an uncanny talent for producing various delicious foods, including apples, asparagus, walnuts, berries and hazelnuts, as well as locally grown salmon and trout that can be purchased at the trout farm.

A well-kept secret of this region is the small town of Wandiligong, which is tucked away about five kilometres from Bright, and is set among apple orchards and nut groves. The town is National Trust–classified, and its history is humbly reflected on the Diggings Walk and in many of the local buildings erected in the mid 19th century. There’s also the Wandi Maze – the largest living hedge maze in Australia – which promises an afternoon of family fun followed by a delicious homemade lunch or snack at the café.

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