Travel advice

During the warmer months, the High Country can be prone to bushfires and road closures. We'll update this page as hazards occur, but for the latest bushfire advice, visit emergency.vic.gov.au and traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au. For park closures in the region, check out parks.vic.gov.au.

Read about bushfire safety

Travel in Victoria

For the latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19) within Victoria and Melbourne, visit the Department of Health and Human Services website.  

Getting here and around

Travelling by car

The High Country region is easily accessible from both Melbourne and Sydney on the Hume Highway, which passes the towns of Benalla, Glenrowan, Wangaratta and Albury Wodonga.

From Melbourne, head on the Hume Freeway to Wangaratta to access the all-weather sealed Great Alpine Road, which heads through the Ovens Valley, past Mount Buffalo and across the Great Dividing Range before winding down to Bairnsdale on the Gippsland Lakes. Turn off to visit Mount Buffalo National Park, just before Bright at the Porepunkah roundabout, or take the Tawonga Gap Road turn off after Bright to access the Kiewa Valley Highway to get to Falls Creek. Stay on the Great Alpine Road from Bright to get to Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain.

You can also travel north through the region from Bairnsdale, passing through Omeo on the Great Alpine Road.

If you are heading to Eildon, Mansfield and Mount Buller, take the Maroondah Highway. You may want to continue on to Benalla via the Midland Highway. For a more direct route to Benalla, Milawa and Rutherglen take the Hume Freeway from Melbourne.

Don't forget snow chains when going up the mountains during snow season, and take a 4WD if you're planning to head off the main roads.

Transport options

V/Line runs frequent train services from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne to Albury via Benalla and Wangaratta – check vline.com.au for detailed information on timetables and fares. The region is also serviced by NSW TrainLink from interstate and there are numerous coach services into the region. Flights into Hotham Airport take approximately 45 minutes from the Melbourne regional airports of Lilydale, Essendon or Moorabin, 30 minutes from Albury and Canberra, and 50 minutes from Sydney.

Visitor information centres

Contact a visitor information centre in the High Country region to book accommodation, or get advice about local events and things to do.
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