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Vivid is a small city within the Victorian Excessive Nation that’s identified for its picturesque mountain panorama.
Though the city is small, there are such a lot of issues to do in Vivid, and it’s considered one of Victoria’s hottest locations – particularly for Christmas and across the Vivid Autumn Pageant.
Greatest generally known as the gateway to Mount Buffalo Nationwide Park and Alpine Nationwide Park, there’s extra to see and do right here than simply out of doors adventures.
These visiting within the winter can hit the ski slopes, whereas in the summertime, the cross nation snowboarding routes flip into wonderful mountain biking tracks.
It’s additionally a prime wine rising area with a number of vineyards and cellar doorways to discover, and foodies can relish within the contemporary produce sourced from it’s many surrounding farms.
Whether or not you’re passing by means of on the Nice Alpine Highway otherwise you’re in search of a small city to chill out in for some time, listed here are all one of the best sights in Vivid, Victoria, to be sure you don’t miss out on.
1. Bike the Rail Path
Our favorite strategy to get round Vivid is by bike.
In case you take pleasure in a mild bike journey, then journey alongside the Rail Path, an overhanging, tree-lined part of the 94km Murray to the Mountains Rail Path (cycle manner).
The bitumen sealed observe is nicely suited to each biking and strolling and hyperlinks the townships of Wangaratta, Beechworth, Myrtleford, Porepunkah and Vivid.
We additionally cycled the 6km observe to Porepunkah to have lunch on the Rail Path Cafe, which is the place you’ll discover among the greatest Mexican meals in Australia – for actual.
We suggest going just a little additional in case you can to Feathertop Vineyard (10km a technique journey from Vivid.)
2. Seize a pint of craft beer at Vivid Brewery
You realize that rail path into city? It took us proper to the Vivid Brewery and a pint of among the nicest cider you’ll ever attempt. In addition they have fairly good beer.
And get this mother and father of young children – the beer backyard appears straight out over the children playground.
Excellent for folks and youngsters.
Craig and I loved a uncommon second of trip and grownup dialog. No surprise we grew to become frequent guests.
3. Go for an Ovens River Swim
Throughout the summer season, the Ovens River is dammed up in the principle a part of city to create a deep swimming gap space simply off Howitt Park.
There are springboards, slides, and water slides into the river making it enjoyable and refreshing for these scorching alpine summer season days. It’s additionally an excellent place for a picnic.
The Vivid Market is held each third Saturday alongside the river.
5. Take the children to Vivid playground
Proper beside the Ovens River, the earlier than talked about playground is likely one of the greatest we’ve come throughout.
This playground is a part of the rationale Kalyra wished to reside in Vivid for 10 years and though we’re not followers of visiting playgrounds on our travels, this one we visited day by day.
In the summertime, the Splash Park is a welcome respite from the warmth!
6. Admire the gorgeous views at Huggins Lookout
In case you’re in search of a fast hike in Vivid, then take into account strolling as much as Huggins Lookout.
The stroll is a 1.5km out and again stroll from Deacon Avenue and Zivan Court docket up the steep aspect of the valley, which then ends on the Huggins Lookout submit.
The hike is sort of steep with some obstacles and steps, however it is going to be value it for the views.
Fashioned observe, some obstacles, very steep with occasional steps. Signal posted.
7. Go snowboarding, tobogganing or sledging
In case you’re visiting Vivid within the winter, then make sure to hit The Excessive Nation Alps for a little bit of snowboarding motion.
There are numerous resorts close to Mount Hotham, Falls Creek and Mount Buffalo Nationwide Park, that are all inside quick access from Vivid.
Whether or not you’re a posh newbie or an skilled, Vivid places you in a central location to among the greatest runs in Australia.
8. Go Mountain Biking in Mystic Mountain Bike Park
Opposite to the above, in the summertime, Mystic Park is what Vivid is all about. It’s a community-run bike park, set within the midst of an energetic plantation.
It’s thought of to have among the greatest mountain biking runs in Australia.
Whether or not you’re a newbie or an skilled, there are trails designed for all ability ranges. There may be over 50km of path to discover, some dropping from 800 meters!
9. Cool off at Vivid Splash Park
For these visiting Vivid in the summertime, you’ll wish to cool your jets on the Vivid Splash Park, particularly in case you’re travelling with children.
The park is a playground with pipes and previous gold dredge buckets dumping water on these ready beneath. Surrounding the world are a couple of water cannons to actually up the enjoyable.
There are slides, bridges, and a creek with a river the place you possibly can swim within the shallow swimming pools.
And are you aware what one of the best factor about this park is? It’s free!
10. Stroll the Vivid Canyon Stroll
The Vivid Canyon Stroll is a 3km loop hike that takes you alongside the Ovens River and thru a scenic gorge, generally known as Vivid Canyon.
The stroll is gorgeous all yr spherical. Plus, it’s a straightforward stroll that’s best for households to do.
11. Go to the wineries and distilleries
I discussed earlier that Vivid was set in a wine area, so you can not make a visit right here with out visiting a vineyard. The Ringers Reef Vineyard is likely one of the greatest locations to pattern native wines.
It was based within the late 1800s by a gold specimen. At present, the world is much less about mining gold and extra about producing wine.
In 1998, Annie and Bruce Holm established the Ringer Reef winery on the mining space, the place they produce handmade wines.
You possibly can take guided vineyard excursions right here or seize a picnic basket with cheeses and native produce and sit out on their garden.
In case you’re extra into spirits, head over to Reed & Co Distillery, which is one other family-run enterprise in Vivid. They’re well-known for producing different Gins equivalent to Yuzu gin and Koji spirits.
12. Discover the City of Mount Magnificence
Only a 30-minute drive from Vivid is the small city of Mount Magnificence, which sits on the base of Mount Bogong and Falls Creek.
It’s a quaint and relaxed city with a surprising lake at its middle. It additionally has a snowboarding and mountain biking tradition.
In case you’re visiting along with your mountain bikes, head to the Large Mountain Bike Park, or in case you’d choose a recreation of golf, head over to the Mount Magnificence Golf Membership for a recreation or two.
13. Go climbing in Alpine Nationwide Park
Alpine Nationwide Park is likely one of the greatest parks in Australia for climbing.
You possibly can hike up a few of Victoria’s highest mountain ranges, such because the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing path which takes you over the craggy ridges.
You may as well hike alongside The Razorback, a ridge that results in Mount Feathertop, Victoria’s second highest peak.
You may as well discover some world-class mountain bike trails and white water rafting experiences within the park. If you wish to up the journey, take into account a four-wheel drive tour alongside the Wonnangatta 4-wheel Drive.
Within the winter, it makes for the proper spot for cross-country snowboarding.
14. Go to Mount Buffalo
Solely a brief 40 minute drive from Vivid is Mt Buffalo, an attractive place to probe for the day. It’s good in the summertime because it’s normally a lot cooler than down within the valley.
We spent the morning kayaking at Lake Catani, and having fun with a picnic at The Horn, the very best level of Mt Buffalo.
You possibly can stroll up the highest for 360 diploma views of the plateau and Australian Alps, the place you will see that picnic tables for guests to make use of.
On the best way again down cease at Women Bathtub Falls for a dip within the refreshingly clear waters.
15. Wander round Dinner Plain
Dinner Plain is a few 10 minute drive from Mt Hotham, proper on the peak. It’s a contemporary city and is a unbelievable different to the Mt Hotham ski city, particularly in the summertime.
There are many strolling trails—don’t neglect your picnic lunch to benefit from the views with. The drive itself is gorgeous.
It’s fashionable to cycle from the Valley flooring as much as Mt Hotham. I’d a lot moderately the gentler trails across the Dinner Plain space. Loads of nice views and alternative for train.
N.B. Once we visited Dinner Plain the flies up there have been horrendous, so pack your repellent.
16. Wander round Beechworth
Beechworth has legendary standing for its Ned Kelly historical past and a bakery. Solely in Australia can bakeries have such a cult following—the queue resembled that of an Offspring mosh pit.
It’s additionally well-known for its Gold Mining Historical past, which noticed main progress within the space – not that main although, as Beechworth has lower than 3,500 residents!
Beachworth Bakery is the rationale individuals come right here. It’s not solely a spot to select up freshly baked break and donuts, however an leisure venue.
It’s the place the legendary Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Pageant is held yearly!
Craig and I reckon the city’s greatest function is the Bridge Highway Brewers, although. It’s a small micro-brewery inside an old-timey lodge and serves superb housemade craft beer and scrumptious pizza.
There may be loads of historical past, nature and boutique procuring within the space too.
17. Go to Feathertop Vineyard
Feathertop Vineyard is positioned 10km from Vivid, simply previous Porepunkah.
You may make your entrance to Feathertop an expertise in itself by biking the gorgeous Rail Path from Vivid.
We didn’t really feel Kalyra would deal with the 10km a technique cycle, so we drove. Since I really like wine greater than Craig he nominated himself because the DD.
Feathertop Vineyard was established in 1988, and was the primary vineyard to open in Alpine Valleys. They make award successful Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Prosecco.
18. Go berry selecting at Mount Stanley
Simply up the street from Beechworth at Mt Stanley is likely one of the greatest berry selecting experiences you’ll ever have.
We had a lot enjoyable at Excessive Grove Berry And Cherry Farm, operating from rows of blueberries, boysenberries, raspberries and berries we’d by no means heard of like Loganberries.
One of the best factor about this farm is that for $3 you possibly can eat all you want whilst you decide.
The women realized tips on how to discover and decide a ripe berry and tips on how to style one like a connoisseur of wine, we shared our ideas on every one and whether or not it was worthy to make the bucket.
Solely blueberries, boysenberries and raspberries made ours. These berries are additionally tremendous low cost to purchase.
Although you must word, that is solely accessible when berries are in season – normally from mid December till the tip of January.
19. Cafe and restaurant hop round Vivid
Vivid is the place to bask in scrumptious meals and drinks. There may be an incredible variety of selections for locations to eat, and so a lot of them are household pleasant.
Listed below are a couple of of our fave locations to eat in Vivid:
Blackbird Cafe
Free Wi-Fi, youngsters’s play part, comfortable couches and nice meals and low. Blackbird Cafe shortly grew to become our native.
Inform me that you just don’t spend the remainder of the day singing The Beatles music: Blackbird singing at the hours of darkness!
Coral Lee
Coral Lee is a unusual and comfy cafe. Stated to have among the greatest espresso in Vivid. Our decide is the the pesto toast for breakfast.
Meals Wine Mates
We love Meals Wine Mates, a small cafe and providore in Downtown Vivid. The meals is contemporary and constructed from native produce and the espresso is superb.
Deal with your self with a gourmand picnic hamper to take as much as Mt Buffalo. We liked what Luke ready for us and I liked not having a hand within the making and gathering of it. For time strapped mother and father like us it’s such an excellent concept.
The Riverdeck Kitchen
A nice spot to sit down with a cuppa within the solar is the Riverdeck Kitchen overlooking the Ovens River and play space.
Is Vivid value visiting?
The city of Vivid in Victoria checks off most of our standards for making a spot habitable; it’s secure, it’s enjoyable, it has a neighborhood spirit, and it has loads of issues to do, particularly in case you love the outside.
Due to it’s rural location on the Ovens River in Victoria’s Excessive Nation, Vivid is all about nature.
It’s surrounded by mountains, quiet rolling countryside hills, and due to its cool local weather, it has some unimaginable wine producers working right here.
The one draw back is it’s just a little too removed from a serious metropolis (3 hours drive). I can’t shake Craig off this level to think about it as a spot to finally reside.
However for these in search of a peaceable small city in Australia to go to on their subsequent trip, it’s good.
I LOVE stunning Vivid. Kalyra can be a serious fan and has emphatically declared that she’s going to reside there someday for 10 years. I hope she invitations her Mamma to go to typically.
The place to remain in Vivid
Lodging in Vivid is usually targeted on vacation leases or caravan parks. Now we have skilled each and have a couple of that we suggest:
Bear in mind to e book your lodging as far upfront as attainable. You may as well use the map beneath that will help you discover the fitting lodging for you!
Closing Ideas
We spent two weeks over Christmas in Vivid, staying at a beautiful residence with a magical view of Mount Hotham and kangaroos visiting of a night and early morning.
Who wouldn’t need that, proper?
As you possibly can see from this information, there are such a lot of superb sights in Vivid, you could find an journey right here it doesn’t matter what time you go to.
We’ve been 3 times and wouldn’t hesitate to return!
Prime tip: Keep away from visiting Vivid for the weeks after Christmas in case you can. The city inhabitants swells from 2,000 to close 20,000. Yep, advised you it was good. The weeks main as much as Christmas are simply divine.
Extra Vivid Journey Ideas
Want extra inspiration on your journey to Vivid? Then take a look at these different guides…
Extra Victoria Journey Ideas
Are you planning to go to different components of Victoria? Then these assets could also be helpful to you…
What are you most trying ahead to doing in Vivid? Tell us within the feedback!
