The best walks and hikes in Porepunkah Plantation

Morses Creek is rarely far from you here, with the track slipping between native bush, patches of pine and the water’s edge on the way towards Wandiligong. Little bridges and creek crossings break up the walk, while rocky gorges, rapids and quieter swimming holes appear along the way. It’s mostly easy underfoot, so you can spend more time looking along the creek than concentrating on every step.

Bennetts Trail is a smooth, sealed stretch linking Bright with Wandiligong, with small hills and no steps to worry about. You’ll pass the historic Bright Cemetery, Morses Creek and the Mystic Flight Park before reaching Alpine Park in Wandiligong. The route is shared with cyclists, so keep an ear out behind you, but otherwise it’s an easy, relaxed section where you can enjoy the valley scenery without watching every footstep.

Mystic Flight Park is Bright’s main paragliding and hang-gliding hub, and on a good flying day you’ll often see colourful wings circling above the valley before coming down into the landing paddock beside Morses Creek Road. The actual launch sits high on Mystic Mountain, around 500 metres above the landing zone. Even if you’re staying firmly on the ground, it’s a fun spot to pause and watch the pilots coming in.

At the summit of the Apex Lookout Track sits Apex Lookout, where it's hard to miss the large clearing with huge communications towers and sweeping panoramic views. The view unveils the town of Bright and the Ovens Valley below. On clear days, the viewpoint offers distant view toward some of the region's highest alpine giants, including Mount Feathertop at 1922 metres, Mount Fainter at 1833 metres, and Mount Bogong at 1986 metres, which stands as the highest peak in Victoria.

The Apex Lookout Track is a dirt track that climbs into steeper, rockier sections before reaching the Apex Lookout Track. The track passes through shaded alpine vegetation, with birdwatching opportunities, and a rewarding lookout at the end.

Mount Porepunkah Road is a gateway for exploring the alpine landscape around the town of Bright. It rises from the heart of the Ovens Valley, with the Ovens River flowing at its southern side. Mount Porepunkah Road branches outward from near the river, transitioning from a paved town street into an incline that leads up toward forests and ridge lines. Have navigation ready to where there is a point at which 7 trails converge at one junction point.

A footbridge here passes over the Ovens River, with a scenic swimming hole sitting beneath the bridge. It's a popular recreation spot epically on hot summer days.

The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail is a network of more than 120 kilometres of sealed, off-road going through Victoria’s High Country, linking towns including Wangaratta, Beechworth, Myrtleford and Bright. This Bright to Porepunkah section is a much shorter 6.6-kilometre stretch, following the old railway corridor past trees, open countryside and Bright Golf Club, with Mount Buffalo becoming more prominent as you approach Porepunkah.