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Vivid is a small city within the Victorian Excessive Nation that’s recognized for its picturesque mountain panorama.
Though the city is small, there are such a lot of issues to do in Vivid, and it’s one among Victoria’s hottest locations – particularly for Christmas and across the Vivid Autumn Competition.
Finest referred to as the gateway to Mount Buffalo Nationwide Park and Alpine Nationwide Park, there’s extra to see and do right here than simply outside adventures.
These visiting within the winter can hit the ski slopes, whereas in the summertime, the cross nation snowboarding routes flip into glorious 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 via on the Nice Alpine Highway otherwise you’re on the lookout for a small city to chill out in for some time, listed below are all one of the best sights in Vivid, Victoria, to ensure you don’t miss out on.
1. Bike the Rail Path
Our favorite method to get round Vivid is by bike.
When you get pleasure from a delicate bike trip, then trip alongside the Rail Path, an overhanging, tree-lined part of the 94km Murray to the Mountains Rail Path (cycle manner).
The bitumen sealed monitor is effectively suited to each biking and strolling and hyperlinks the townships of Wangaratta, Beechworth, Myrtleford, Porepunkah and Vivid.
We additionally cycled the 6km monitor to Porepunkah to have lunch on the Rail Path Cafe, which is the place you’ll discover a number of the finest Mexican meals in Australia – for actual.
We suggest going a bit of additional should you can to Feathertop Vineyard (10km a technique journey from Vivid.)
2. Seize a pint of craft beer at Vivid Brewery
You already know that rail path into city? It took us proper to the Vivid Brewery and a pint of a number of the nicest cider you’ll ever attempt. Additionally they have fairly good beer.
And get this mother and father of babies – the beer backyard appears straight out over the youngsters playground.
Good for fogeys and youngsters.
Craig and I loved a uncommon second of outing and grownup dialog. No surprise we turned frequent guests.
3. Go for an Ovens River Swim
Through the summer time, 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 time days. It’s additionally a fantastic place for a picnic.
The Vivid Market is held each third Saturday alongside the river.
5. Take the youngsters to Vivid playground
Proper beside the Ovens River, the earlier than talked about playground is among the finest we’ve come throughout.
This playground is a part of the explanation 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 each day.
In the summertime, the Splash Park is a welcome respite from the warmth!
6. Admire the beautiful views at Huggins Lookout
When you’re on the lookout for 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 Courtroom up the steep aspect of the valley, which then ends on the Huggins Lookout put up.
The hike is kind of steep with some obstacles and steps, however it is going to be price it for the views.
Fashioned monitor, some obstacles, very steep with occasional steps. Signal posted.
7. Go snowboarding, tobogganing or sledging
When you’re visiting Vivid within the winter, then you should definitely hit The Excessive Nation Alps for a little bit of snowboarding motion.
There are lots of 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 professional, Vivid places you in a central location to a number of the finest 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 lively plantation.
It’s thought-about to have a number of the finest mountain biking runs in Australia.
Whether or not you’re a newbie or an professional, 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 need to cool your jets on the Vivid Splash Park, particularly should 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 realm are just a few water cannons to actually up the enjoyable.
There are slides, bridges, and a creek with a river the place you’ll be able to swim within the shallow swimming pools.
And have you learnt 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, referred to as Vivid Canyon.
The stroll is beautiful all 12 months spherical. Plus, it’s a straightforward stroll that’s perfect 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’t make a visit right here with out visiting a vineyard. The Ringers Reef Vineyard is among the finest locations to pattern native wines.
It was based within the late 1800s by a gold specimen. As we speak, the realm 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 may take guided vineyard excursions right here or seize a picnic basket with cheeses and native produce and sit out on their garden.
When 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 various Gins resembling 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 heart. It additionally has a snowboarding and mountain biking tradition.
When you’re visiting along with your mountain bikes, head to the Large Mountain Bike Park, or should you’d want 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 among the finest parks in Australia for climbing.
You may 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 also hike alongside The Razorback, a ridge that results in Mount Feathertop, Victoria’s second highest peak.
You may also 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, a ravishing place to probe for the day. It’s excellent 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 may stroll up the highest for 360 diploma views of the plateau and Australian Alps, the place you can see picnic tables for guests to make use of.
On the way in which again down cease at Girls 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 improbable various 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 beautiful.
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 explanation individuals come right here. It’s not solely a spot to choose up freshly baked break and donuts, however an leisure venue.
It’s the place the legendary Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Competition is held yearly!
Craig and I reckon the city’s finest function is the Bridge Highway Brewers, although. It’s a small micro-brewery inside an old-timey resort and serves superb housemade craft beer and scrumptious pizza.
There may be loads of historical past, nature and boutique purchasing within the space too.
17. Go to Feathertop Vineyard
Feathertop Vineyard is situated 10km from Vivid, simply previous Porepunkah.
You can also make your entrance to Feathertop an expertise in itself by biking the beautiful Rail Path from Vivid.
We didn’t really feel Kalyra would deal with the 10km a technique cycle, so we drove. Since I 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 choosing at Mount Stanley
Simply up the highway from Beechworth at Mt Stanley is among the finest berry choosing experiences you’ll ever have.
We had a lot enjoyable at Excessive Grove Berry And Cherry Farm, working from rows of blueberries, boysenberries, raspberries and berries we’d by no means heard of like Loganberries.
The very best factor about this farm is that for $3 you’ll be able to eat all you want whilst you choose.
The ladies realized easy methods to discover and choose a ripe berry and easy methods to style one like a connoisseur of wine, we shared our ideas on each 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 need to word, that is solely out there 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 take pleasure in scrumptious meals and drinks. There may be a tremendous variety of selections for locations to eat, and so lots of them are household pleasant.
Listed here are just a few 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 turned our native.
Inform me that you just don’t spend the remainder of the day singing The Beatles track: Blackbird singing at midnight!
Coral Lee
Coral Lee is a unusual and comfy cafe. Stated to have a number of the finest espresso in Vivid. Our choose is the the pesto toast for breakfast.
Meals Wine Associates
We love Meals Wine Associates, 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 connoisseur picnic hamper to take as much as Mt Buffalo. We beloved what Luke ready for us and I beloved not having a hand within the making and gathering of it. For time strapped mother and father like us it’s such a fantastic 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 price 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 should 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 a bit of too removed from a significant 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 on the lookout for a peaceable small city in Australia to go to on their subsequent trip, it’s excellent.
I LOVE stunning Vivid. Kalyra can be a significant fan and has emphatically declared that she is going to reside there sooner or later for 10 years. I hope she invitations her Mamma to go to typically.
The place to remain in Vivid
Lodging in Vivid is generally targeted on vacation leases or caravan parks. We now have skilled each and have just a few that we suggest:
Bear in mind to e-book your lodging as far prematurely as attainable. You may also use the map beneath that will help you discover the best lodging for you!
Last 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’ll be able to 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 should 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 Suggestions
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Extra Victoria Journey Suggestions
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!