Holiday houses in Harrietville

Nestled in the foothills of Mount Feathertop in the beautiful Victorian Alps, the former gold-mining settlement of Harrietville is now better known for its extensive walking trail network. You can follow short, family-friendly wanders around the subalpine township or tackle vigorous mountain climbs and many levels in between. Some trails are also suitable for cycling.

Only 30 kilometres from an alpine resort, Harrietville also makes a convenient base for snow sports enthusiasts during the winter months, with a ski rental shop in town. Meandering past the village, the Ovens River is lined with leafy green spaces including Pioneer Park, home to a historical museum set in a restored gold miner’s cottage. Look out for other Gold Rush-era relics on the grounds, including a four-headed stamping battery. Selling local produce from berries to salmon, a number of farm-gate stalls can be found in the surrounding valley — don’t forget to bring small change.

Harrietville is a year-round destination, with each season ushering in new tourism draws. The ski season runs from around mid-June to mid-September, with September’s Victorian Backcountry Festival program including a range of workshops catering to nonskiers through to advanced skiers and snowboarders. Hikers and bikers arrive soon after to soak up the warmer months, with Harrietville’s deciduous trees erupting in a blaze of colour in autumn. Less than 20 minutes’ drive to the north, Bright hosts several festivals throughout the year, including three days of family-friendly fun at the Brighter Days Festival in March, and the Bright Cabaret Festival in May. On the third Saturday of each month, you can also catch the Bright Markets in Howitt Park, which features homebaked, homemade, and homegrown goods.

Spur Walks

Among Harrietville’s most spectacular hiking trails are the Bon Accord Spur (24 kilometres return) and Bungalow Spur (22 kilometres return) walks. Both tracks lead you up to the Razorback, a rewarding hike to Mount Feathertop (1,922 metres), Victoria’s second-highest peak, with magnificent alpine views along the way. Be prepared for snow and high winds at all times of the year.

Dinner Plain

Around an hour’s drive southeast of Harrietville, just past Hotham, is the village of Dinner Plain. Home to a low-elevation mountain bike park with 23 kilometres of trails open from October to May, a nine-hole Frisbee golf course, a wellness centre, and walking trails including a two-kilometre-return walk to Carmichael Falls, it’s a great destination for a summertime day out.

Fishing

A popular activity among families, the trout and salmon farm just north of Harrietville supplies rods and bait for free, with your catch priced after staff gut and clean it for you. If you’re not much of a fisher, you can purchase fresh and smoked fish, as well as smoked trout pâté, directly from the farm.