Holiday houses in Porepunkah

Just five kilometres northwest of Bright on Great Alpine Road, Porepunkah is a laid-back village with easy access to the High Country, offering an array of year-round activities and outdoor experiences under big skies. Porepunkah is nestled at the base of Mount Buffalo, which dominates the southern skyline and delights adventure seekers with forested trails leading to epic lookouts and crystal clear waterfalls. The entry point to the rolling Buckland Valley, the village is a favourite among families, offering a river pool in the summer months, where visitors can float leisurely in a tyre, cool off with a swim, or launch a canoe.

Several vineyards and wineries in the area provide stunning views of Mount Buffalo and the surrounding valley, while the slow, gentle waters of the Ovens and Buckland rivers are popular with swimmers, fishers, and kayakers. Porepunkah is the nearest town to Mount Buffalo National Park, home to a wealth of outdoor activities, including year-round hiking and biking trails. Carpets of wildflowers bloom during the warmer months, and tobogganing and skiing are popular here during the winter. Keen cyclists enjoy pedalling to Bright or Myrtleford on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail and sampling fresh farm gate produce along the way.

Porepunkah is a year-round destination, but if you’re looking for more room to explore and all-around pleasant weather, April to May and October to December are great times to visit. Summer sees the hottest temperatures. And with the most daylight hours in December, visitors have even more time to enjoy the fantastic views over the Alps from the Gorge in Mount Buffalo National Park. The beautiful colors of autumn are on full display during the Bright Autumn Festival with its market, live music, and a parade starting in the last week of April. Winter months bring colder temperatures and skiers looking to enjoy the slopes and snow-blanketed trails of the surrounding Australian Alps. The month of August tends to be the wettest time of year, so be prepared if you’re planning a day’s hiking or biking.

Mount Buffalo National Park

Around 45 minutes’ drive away, Mount Buffalo National Park features over 90 kilometres of hiking trails with waterfalls, summit views, and daring adventures such as rock climbing. As an all-season destination, you can hike through Snow Gum forests, toboggan in Cresta Valley, and canoe at Lake Catani. Climb to the summit of the Horn for spectacular panoramic views. The gentle landscape and over 14 kilometres of marked ski trails are ideal for cross-country skiing in winter.

Murray to Mountains Rail Trail

The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail stretches over 100 kilometres from Wangaratta to Bright. The sealed off-road trail takes cyclists through the ever-changing landscape of North East Victoria, from bushland to farmland, hidden valleys to spectacular mountain ranges. With multiple entry points and varied sections, the trail suits adventure and casual cyclists alike. The trail includes bicycle shuttle services, gourmet tours, bike rentals, and repairs — perfect for day trips or longer tours.

Lady Bath Falls

Just a few kilometres from the base of Mount Buffalo and a ten-minute drive from Porepunkah lies Lady Bath Falls. In the early 20th century, travellers would stop here to cool off before climbing the final leg up the mountain. Today, visitors climb well-kept steps before descending a small ridge and scrambling over granite boulders for a refreshing swim in the clear, tranquil pool.