Bright - Walks Around Bright
There are a number of shortish walks around the Bright township area. Explore the area's gold mining past and present day landscapes by wandering along the short walking trails of Bright.
Map of Walks Around Bright
1. Canyon Walk
(Easy - 3 km, 1.5 hours return)
Bright's most popular walk takes you past a small canyon carved by the Ovens River and amazing water races carved by the hands of early miners. Enjoy the ever changing river in all seasons and watch for birdlife and wildflowers especially in spring. Interpretive signs explain the local history.
A - Start at Star Bridge or the end of Riverside Ave. The northern track (B) which has steep steps and may be difficult for people with limited mobility. The southern track from (A) to Canyon Lane is sealed and wheelchair friendly.
C - For an easy loop, continue past the suspension bridge to the railway bridge and return along the Murray to Mountain Rail Trail.
D - Along the southern bank are many deep and narrow water races cut by hand through solid rock. The deeper the race, the further the mining site was from the river
NB. Caution - cliffs and steep banks
2. Murray to Mountain Rail Trail
(Easy)
This popular bike and walking track is ideal for families with pushers. It officially starts at the "old" Bright Railway Station (now the museum) but you can join or leave this converted railway line at many different places along its length to create your own walk route.
3. Valley View Walk
(Medium - 2.5 km; 2 hours return)
E - The best place to park is near the school on Hargreaves Street. Look for the signposted start of the walking track where the eucalypt forest meets Hargreaves Road. In spring, look for native orchids on Walks 3 and 7.
4. Bakers Gully Reservoirs
(Easy 0.5 or 1 km; 0.5 or 0.75 hour return)
Stroll around one or both of these reservoirs. The first dam was built in 1892 and the second in 1916 to provide a permanent supply of water to the town, railway station and trains.
The reservoirs no longer provide water to Bright but they do offer a peaceful place for walking. Enjoy watching and listening for wildlife in the former reservoirs, now home to platypus, tortoise, fish, frogs and yabbies. Try your luck at catching a trout. Lots of fungi grow among the leaf litter in Autumn. Try a spotlight walk here at night. Bring a strong torch and warm clothing.
F - Follow the walking track that leads from the Information Shelter then follow the signs to circle one or both reservoirs.
Bennetts Walk
(Easy - 2.5 km; 1.5 hours return)
Explore the quiet reaches of Morses Creek between the caravan park and Dougherty Bridge. Mines Department Battery near Dougherty Bridge was erected as recently as 1956. This five-head stamp battery provided quartz crushing facilities for gold prospectors until it closed in 1994. The battery and forge is opened for viewing during festivals and school holidays.
G - Start at either Hawthorn Lane or Dougherty Bridge, follow the track along one side of the creek to a bridge then complete the loop via the other side of the creek.
6. Apex Lookout Walk
(Medium - 3 km; 2 hours return)
H - Drive to Quinn's Gap up Mt Porepunkah Road. Park a short way up gravel track where the walking track turns right, off the gravel track. The steady climb rewards you with views of Mt Feathertop, Mt Fainter and Mt Bogong, the highest peak in Victoria.
J - Eucalypt forests of Peppermints and Box cover these lower slopes of the Victorian Alps. Crush a leaf and smell it to discover which is the Peppermint. Look for evidence of wombats or wallabies.
7. Huggins Lookout Walk
(Medium - 1.5 km; 1 hours return)
K - Park here along Deacon Ave for Huggins Lookout Walk. Walk along Deacon Ave and Zivan Court to the start of the walking track. Return the same way.
8. Cherry Walk
(Easy - 3 km; 1.5 hours return)
Stroll along the banks of the now picturesque Ovens River and reflect in its past. Once a hectic noisy scene of gold digging and dredging, it is now a place for relaxation and quiet strolls.
Stripped of its gold and plant cover, the land on both sides of the river had been left in a severely degraded state, even though the companies had promised to replace the topsoil. In 1916 this was the site of the first experimental pine plantings to reclaim a dredged area. This test planting showed that Radiata Pine survived well and other dredge tailings began being restored by planting them with Pines. Their success led to the establiahment of commercial Pine Plantations on non-mined areas.
The Cherry family name is still a common one in the area.
L - Start near the Water Slide on Mountbatten Ave. Follow the southern bank of the river to the suspension bridge and return along the northern bank.
This walk can also be started at the parking area where Hawthorn Lane meets the river.
Location
125 Gavan Street, Bright 3741 Map
Web Links
→ Canyon Walk, Bright (riverside loop) (Walking Maps)
