The Top Family Activities and Playgrounds in the Alpine Shire Region

The Alpine Shire region is located in the north-east of the state, about three and a half hours drive from Melbourne, and includes the main towns of Bright and Myrtleford with smaller towns of Dinner Plain, Falls Creek, Mount Beauty, Mount Buffalo, Mount Hotham and Porepunkah. The Shire has two major national parks, the Alpine National Park and Mount Buffalo National Park which provide a focus for activities such as walking, water sports, fishing and picnicking. The area is also a base for adventurous and more extreme activities such as mountain biking, hang gliding, abseiling and ski touring.

Snow based activities are available at the mountain resorts during the winter months such as downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, tobogganing and husky sled rides.

A map of the region is:



The best playgrounds in this region are:

Howitt Park Playground, Bright



Super playground in a great setting besides the Ovens River and receiving lots of shade from enormous trees. Long curving ramps lead to interlinking towers. The east tower has a spiral slide, tunnel, inclined walkway, fireman's pole and scrambling wall. Across a long walkway is the north tower with big wave slides, lots of levels reached by ladders and steps, tunnel, hooped ladder, fireman's pole and chain ladder. The structure also has tic-tac-toe, smaller wave slide, monkey rungs, monkey bars, flying fox and horizontal climber with half circles. Scattered around is a large pyramid rope climbing frame, standard swings, birds nest swing, see-saw, springer, four person rocker and a sand pit which unfortunately has gravel rather than sand (maybe try some gold mining in here).

Some grassy area, shaded and unshaded tables and seats, shaded BBQ and water tap. The playground is lit up at night time. The playground is located behind the Bright Brewery (a very popular spot for a drink or a meal). About 100m away is a sound shelter with a mural of activities in the Bright region. Next to this is a huge shelter with three tables, BBQs and toilets. It is also located beside the river walking track and near the river swimming pool.

Bicentennial Park Playground, Mount Beauty



Large playground with lots of elements. One highlight is a huge metal slide with two sets of steps to get to the top of the slide. The main structure has a train shaped section with tunnels and a scrambling wall which leads to a train engine, ramp access, shop front, curved slide, fireman's pole. ladder, tic-tac-toe, walkway, chain ladder, spiral ladder, spiral slide, steps, flying fox and log roll. Under shade sails there is a red wooden train engine with two steering wheels, four person rocker and a structure with slide, steps, mirrors, tunnel, binoculars and tree ladder. Swings including one with a harness are also under shade sails.

Also frog springer, stand-on spinner, two train springers, large family sized see-saw, monkey bars, horizontal bars, see-saw, climbing wall with horizontal bars, inclined monkey rungs, vertical square rope climbing frame, unshaded swings and a cubby area with shop front and abacus. There are also some balance beams. Between the playground area and the lake is a large sandpit.

Shaded seats, shelter with BBQs, unshaded tables, toilets and water tap. Next to a Skate Park and BMX Track.

Cundy Park Playground, Myrtleford



A super adventure playground with a huge wooden structure with dual steep metal slides. This structure also has a fireman's pole, ladders, high inclined walkway, high square rope net, speak and listen system, twisting tunnel slide, various steps and high climbing wall. There is also a vertical rope spiders web climbing frame, monkey rungs, balance beam, various parallel and horizontal bars, large pyramid rope climbing frame, hillock with two small slides, four person rocker, horse springer an four swings.

Shaded tables and seat, BBQ and toilets. Next to a Skate Park. Some grassy areas and areas shaded by trees. A lovely playground and park.

The skate parks in this region are:

Myrtleford Skatepark (The skate park has the original old concrete half pipe which is 4ft high and 12ft wide and another section has been added to the park which has a concrete base and metal obstacles which includes ramps, quarters, fun box and rails. Another upgrade in 2015 added a 3.5 metre-wide concrete path connecting the existing mini-ramp and a very nice new bowl. There are toilets and BBQs and it is close to an adventure playground)



Bright Skatepark (The park includes a 6ft high metal half pipe and a street section with ramps, quarters, rails, ledges and steps. A picnic shelter is located adjacent to the half pipe)



Mount Beauty Skatepark (Concrete park with an unusual design which includes a huge chunky spine, funbox with a series of ledges, rails and the ends have a combination of ramps and quarters. There are toilets, BBQs, seating and parking. Nearby is the BMX Track and a playground)



An excellent BMX track in this region is

Mount Beauty BMX Track (A really nice BMX track with concrete pad with starting gate and a large sized track in a lovely setting with plenty of trees around the track. There are plenty of jumps of different heights and banked turns. There is a second oval shaped track area with lots of jumps close together. Well worth bringing your BMX bike if you are in the area. There are toilets, BBQs, seating and parking. Nearby is the Skate Park and a playground.)



Reviews of all playgrounds, skate parks and BMX Tracks in the Alpine Shire council region are here:

Family activities in the Alpine Shire region include:

Bright

Rotary Water Slide (An waterslide which leads from the top of the river bank into the river)

Apex Park with Steam Engine (The park has an old steam engine (for viewing only) with picnic facilities)

Alpine Visitor Information Centre (Assistance with plans to make the most of your visit to Victoria's Alpine High Country)

Centenary Park River Pool (The Ovens River is dammed at from around Christmas to Easter to create a river swimming pool. There is a Rotary Water Slide and a simpler free waterslide and diving board next to this area)

Mystic Mountain Bike Park (Over 50km of trail dropping from 800m)

Scenic Lookouts (A number of lookouts are accessible via a car on forestry roads or possibly walking)

Southern Fly Fishing Adventures (Fly Fishing packages with streamside good humour & stories are also included at no extra cost)

Tawonga Gap Road Loookout Points (A number of lookout points with lovely views of the valley below)

Tour of Duty Bright (Take a trip in an ex-Australian Army 6x6 Land Rover)

Walks Around Bright (A number of shortish walks around the Bright township area)

Watch Hangliding at Mystic Hill (Many paragliders and hangliders can be seen taking off from this hill when the weather is suitable, usually from spring to autumn)

Bright Art Gallery (A permanent collection of works of art in a self-funding, community owned gallery)

Bright Historical Museum (Located in a heritage listed old railway station and has some rolling stock but is primarily a social history museum covering the history of the area)

Bright Sports Centre Pool (A four lane, 17 meter indoor heated swimming pool)

Bright Water Play Park (An interactive, natural themed splash park which is centred on the region's mining heritage)

Bright Markets (Showcases the best local produce and products on the 3rd Saturday every month)

Cycling and Mountain Biking (An active area for cycling with with superb scenery and huge variety of rides)

Alpine Paragliding (An exciting introduction to Paragliding by experienced instructors)

Dinner Plain

Dinner Plain (During summer there are a variety of walks, cycling, mountain bike riding, horse riding, free tennis court, frisbee disc golf and pump track. During winter there is a snow park, skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing walks, tobogganing and tubing)

Carmichael Falls Walk (A 1km trail descends through snowgum forest to a viewing platform overlooking the picturesque Carmichael Falls)

Dinner Plain Mountain Bike Park (Undulating ridge lines with amazing views and massive descents through layers of forest with varying terrain, coasting cross-country, single tracks through the snowgums and over river crossings, fire trails and old stock/mining routes for some real bush tracks)

Dinner Plain Trail Rides (Trail rides of different lengths with horses available to suit any level of rider)

Dinner Plain Visitor Information Centre (Local advice on activities)

Dinner Plain Disc Golf (Free outdoor disc / frisbee golf)

Dinner Plain Tubing (Tubing is open all winter and also during summer holiday periods)

Mount Beauty

Big Hill Mountain Bike Park (About 40km of trails including a number of challenging downhill and cross-country courses, as well as a network of more leisurely cross country trails within the forests, National Park and High Plains)

Mount Beauty Visitor Information Centre (help on planning your itinerary. The Centre offers state of the art interactive displays on mountain biking, ski touring, winter Olympics, hydro electricity and regional food and wine)

Mount Beauty Sports Centre (A large sports stadium that is equipped for netball, basketball, volleyball, badminton, indoor soccer and gymnastics. The outdoor pool area contains three solar heated pools - a toddler, intermediate and 33m main pool)

Mount Buffalo

Mount Buffalo National Park (The Park has sheer cliffs, imposing granite tors, tumbling waterfalls, snow gums and stunning wildflowers. It features over 90km of walking tracks, panoramic scenery, waterfalls and scope for adventurous pursuits such as rock climbing and hang-gliding)

Rollasons Falls (A 4km return walk to the lower and upper Falls)

Eurobin Falls and Ladies Bath Falls (A 1.5km return track leads to the falls and a paddling pool at the bottom of Ladies Bath Falls - kids, gentlemen AND ladies can bath here, provided they keep theie bathers on)

Crystal Brooks Falls (An easy walk to the falls from a distant viewing area)

Bents Lookout (The lookout which is close to the summit has super views and overlooks huge steep canyons. You might be able to see rock climbers or abseilers in this area)

Mount Stirling (Experience cross country skiing, snow camping, tobogganing, snowboarding and snow shoeing in winter and picnics with views in the warmer months)

Myrtleford

The Phoenix Tree Sculpture (Sculpture which was carved out of the trunk and roots of a huge river red gum tree and resembles a phoenix rising from the ashes)

The Butter Factory Myrtleford (Watch the butter production from the viewing windows, taste a range of butters and pick up some local produce)

Myrtleford Outdoor Swimming Pool (Seasonal outdoor pool has a toddler, intermediate and 25m main pool and kiosk)

Myrtleford Visitor Information Centre (Local advice and specialises in maps and trail guides of the Alpine National Park)

Other Locations

Australian Pumpkin Seed Company‎ at Ovens (See the factory through a viewing window where packets are filled and made, the oil press and chocolate panning room. Taste test pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed oil and more)

Adventure Guides Australia at Porepunkah (Single and multi-day adventures at a range of locations)

Ovens River Reserve River Pool at Porepunkah (The Ovens River is dammed from around Christmas to Easter to create a river swimming pool. There is also a children's paddling pool on the river bank)

Bogong Horseback Adventures at Tawonga (Experience riding the beautiful tracks of the Alpine National Park)

Alpine Shire Walks (Walks around the Alpine Shire at Mount Beauty, Tawonga and Bogong Village)

Mount Hotham (A range of exciting winter and summer activities including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, motorcycling, horseriding, cycling and x-country mountain biking)

Mountain Fresh Trout & Salmon Farm (Catch a fish, feed the fish or just have a stroll through the many fish breeding ponds set on 19 acres of peace and quiet with free entry)

Falls Creek (Winter activities include skiing, snow boarding, cross country skiing, fat biking, back country tours, helicopter scenic tour, night show and fireworks, night skiing, scenic chairlift ride, snow tubing, snowmobile tours, snow play, snow shoeing, terrain parks and tobogganing. Summer activities include mountain biking, fishing, road cycling, kids club, boat rentals, hiking, tennis and visiting water falls)

Falls Creek Mountain Bike Park (42km of mountain bike trails)

Bright Berry Farms at Eurobin (Pre-picked berries, ice-creams, sorbets for sale)

Red Stag Deer & Emu Farm at Eurobin (Activities include hand feeding European red deer and emus, farm tours in a US Army WWII scout car and an on-site cafe)

Dederang Outdoor Sculptures (A sculpture in front of the Dederang Hotel titled Storyteller which was inspired by Banjo Patterson's poem "The Daylight is Dying")

Things to Do - Dargo (A range of activities in the Dargo region)

Alpine National Park (There are plenty of opportunities for bushwalking, from hikes to plunging waterfalls or the summits of Victoria's highest peaks - Mount Feathertop, Mount Bogong and Mount Howitt - to the network of tracks among the Snow Gums, summer wildflowers and historic mountain huts of the Bogong High Plains. Other activities include cross-country skiing (with downhill skiing at adjoining resorts), camping, canoeing, cycling, four-wheel driving and horse riding in the warmer seasons)

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Web Links

→ www.alpineshire.vic.gov.au


The Top Family Activities and Playgrounds in the Alpine Shire Region, Bright, Victoria, 3741