Holiday houses in Bonnie Doon

Bonnie Doon is a small town on the northern tip of Lake Eildon, a two-and-a-half-hour car journey from Melbourne in the countryside. It sits between scenic Lake Mountain Alpine Resort and Mount Buller, which are easily accessible by car for a day trip to enjoy the excellent hiking in summer and skiing in winter. You can also easily spend the days here on the lake, gazing at the waters from a rented houseboat, fishing, water-skiing, or hiking a lakeside trail. Given its quiet rural location, Bonnie Doon is within easy reach of fertile, rolling farmland, making it a great place to visit at harvest time. Pick up some cherries, blueberries, or raspberries from a farm here or get a taste of the local produce at a family-run eatery in town.

In the spring, there’s plenty of pleasant weather for active outdoor travellers. During summer, the weather can get quite hot, so sun protection is vital. However, it is not particularly humid here, which means it’s a great time for outdoor activities like exploring Lake Eildon and discovering its surrounding trails. During autumn you’ll want to visit the town markets of Alexandra or Mansfield for seasonal products. In the winter, things can get quite cold. Given the town’s proximity to the Victorian Alps, this is the perfect time to head into the mountains for some skiing or snowboarding.

Mount Buller

Mount Buller is a well-known resort town just one hour and 15 minutes drive away from Bonnie Doon. It’s a popular destination because of its excellent skiing conditions in winter. Its proximity to Bonnie Doon means visitors can spend the day on one of the resort’s 85 runs. In the summer, people come to Mount Buller to hike and mountain bike along the trails.

Lake Eildon

The lakeside town of Eildon, a 45-minute drive from Bonnie Doon, is a popular place for hiking, water-skiing, and renting houseboats. Alternatively, you can explore the shore and venture to the many lookout points with panoramic views of the lake, such as Easts Lookout, the Spillway Lookout, or Mount Pinniger Lookout, and Trig Point.

Yarra Ranges National Park

This enormous rainforest is a protected bio reserve located just under two hours away by car. Cruise down the iconic Black Spur Drive on the Maroondah Highway, surrounded by tall mountain ash trees. At the park’s Rainforest Gallery, you can walk among the treetops on the 40-metre long observation platform, which is one of only three found in Australia. There are also a number of hikes that end with breathtaking lookouts, such as Mount Donna Buang via Mount Victoria.