An easy drive North East Victorian road trip itinerary

Everyone loves a Victorian road trip! Planning one motivates you, inspires you to discover new places in Victoria and gives you the opportunity to revisit old favourites in the state. In any season there are epic places to visit in Victoria and there are more emerging all the time. With silo art, foodie towns and activities for families in Victoria is there any reason to holiday anywhere else?

In this post we will focus on a North East Victorian road trip with accommodation recommendations, places to visit in North East Victoria and best of all some gorgeous little secrets you can’t miss on your road trip in Victoria.

Towns to visit on your North East Victorian road trip

After researching possible destinations in North East Victoria, we decided that the most convenient places to stay with family would be at three Discovery Parks. Not only did Discovery Parks offer a bunch of features you won’t find in hotels, but in many ways they far exceeded what was on offer anywhere else for a Victorian road trip.

We decided that we were going to visit Nagambie, Lake Hume and Bright on our 9-day great Victorian road trip, spending 3 nights in each destination to explore the highlights of each area.

Nagambie Lakes

Our first stop on our Victorian road trip was Nagambie Lakes. This amazing little lakeside village is a mecca for anyone who loves the water. You will find people out in abundance boating, fishing and generally enjoying the gorgeous surroundings. If you love Victorian wine then this is also a brilliant place in Victoria for you to visit.

Things to do at Nagambie Lakes

Here you will find the amazing Tahbilk winery and the highly-rated Mitchelton vineyard. Having teenagers on our Victorian road trip, we were able to incorporate visits to wineries and historic sites and have some fun around the park during our stay. Some of the things we did around the area were:

Goulburn Weir – this is a great place to have lunch, whether it be a short picnic or a full-on BBQ. The weir wall is an amazing site at one of the oldest dams in Victoria, and there is a huge grassed area perfect for picnics, ball games and general relaxation.

Whroo Cemetery and Balaclava goldmines – both of these attractions are a look back at the history of the area. As Nagambie was once a mining area, people worked hard and died young here in colonial times.

The mining area is visible from elevated viewing platforms, while a reflective walk around the cemetery brings into focus how hard life was for people living here back then.

Kirwans Bridge – this can easily be visited as part of the trip to Whroo. Kirwans Bridge Nagambie is 310m long, making it the longest timber bridge in Victoria. Built-in 1890, it’s remarkable that it’s still standing. Our children found it excellent, as they’ve rarely been over a bridge quite like it, especially in Australia.

Besides the above things to do in Nagambie, we also recommend a trip to The Black Caviar statue in Nagambie town, The Avenal cemetery, where you will find Ned Kelly’s father’s grave, and the Victoria Cross memorial at nearby Euroa. There are some fantastic Nagambie wineries nearby including Mitchelton, Fowles and Tahbilk for wine tasting and food.

Where did we stay at Nagambie Lakes?

We had 3 nights planned at our Nagambie accommodation in a deluxe cabin right on the water’s edge. Nagambie Lakes is 138 kilometres north of Melbourne, an ideal place to start any Victorian road trip adventure on a Friday night after work.

Our deluxe cabin on the waterfront had 3 bedrooms, which was just right, so our teenage daughters could have a room each and one for us parents. Separate bedrooms allowed all of us to have our own space, and anyone who travels with teenagers will know that is important to them.

The cabins actually felt like home with couches, flatscreens TVs, a kitchen and air conditioning. After settling in for the first night we were up early the next morning, cooked some egg and bacon toasties and planned our day out exploring the Nagambie region.

Facilities at Discovery Parks – Nagambie Lakes

We wanted to spend some time in the park because as we said the park had some great facilities on offer. The first thing that impressed us about Nagambie Lakes Discovery Park was the onsite Cafe and being able to grab a coffee there each morning.

For anyone on their Victorian road trip using a tent or caravan, there are some great facilities for you to use at the Nagambie Lakes Discovery Parks.

An added bonus at the Discovery Parks Nagambie Lakes – The Goulburn Explorer

One of the best attractions at Discovery Parks – Nagambie Lakes is the Goulburn Explorer. The Goulburn Explorer is a riverboat with inside seating and a rooftop deck where people staying at the park can book a 2-hour cruise on the Goulburn River.

The friendly staff will keep you informed on all the wildlife that calls the area home, while you can also enjoy a drink from the onboard bar and there are some light snacks on offer.

In the future, there will be full catering available for your cruise on the Goulburn Explorer. The Explorer is owned and operated by Discovery Parks and can be booked from the park office.

Read more: Want a full honest review of Discovery Holiday Parks Nagambie Lakes? Read our review here

Nagambie to Wodonga road trip

The trip from Nagambie to Wodonga is around 2 hours if you travel directly, but because we were on our Victorian road trip there were a few special sites we wanted to explore along the way.

The Northeast Silo art trail is easily accessible between Nagambie and Lake Hume Discovery Parks. The towns of Goorambat, Devenish, St James and Tungamah make up the trail featuring some mesmerizing artworks on Grain Corp Silos. This is not to be missed on any great Victorian road trip.

Goorambat:  There are 2 silo artworks for you to see at Goorambat as well as a mural in the local Uniting Church. There are public toilets located at the side of the Diggers Wife Cafe. Drop into the cafe for a coffee and a slice.

Devenish: Located on the main street this Victorian silo artwork is unmissable. Toilets are located to the left of the silo art. Drop into the pub for a cold drink and check out the old petrol bowsers for seriously low petrol prices!

St James: Parking is a little tricky here and if it is busy you need to be careful of people walking on the side of the road to the silos. There is a little pub right over the road with great views where you can sit on the verandah and watch the commotion the silo artworks can create.

Tungamah: The silo here is off the main street. Public toilets are located there as well as a little milk bar that sells food too. Check out the roses that are everywhere if you visit in spring on your Victorian road trip!

Expert advice: Silo artwork in Victoria is bringing back regional towns. Find some silo art here

Lake Hume, Victoria

Heading towards the border on our Victorian road trip we decided to stay in the border town of Wodonga. Visiting Wodonga, with the amazing weather, we again found accommodation on a lake, Lake Hume.

Again this area located just out of Wodonga is a mecca for people who love water sports. Any given time there will be people fishing, boating and skiing on Lake Hume and in the summer months it is packed with people wanting to cool off.

Things to see near Lake Hume, VIC

You will find plenty of things to do near Lake Hume. We concentrated our road trip in Victoria activities on the Victorian side of the border. Wodonga also has a great shopping area with supermarkets and department stores for those looking for some retail therapy while staying in Lake Hume.

Lake Hume Weir – Only a 5-minute drive from the park is the massive Lake Hume dam wall. You can walk across the wall and admire the views of the Murray River, which flows downstream from here. There is a day picnic area, public toilets, and a few heritage items on display.

Rutherglen – Rutherglen is another town in the middle of the Victorian goldfields and wine region. The town has some outstanding colonial-style buildings still standing.

Visit De Bortoli cellar door, buy a pie from the award-winning Parkers pies and pick up some meat for a BBQ dinner at Rutherglen Butchery. Our kids loved the Rutherglen lolly shop

Wymah Ferry – This is what I would call a niche attraction in Wodonga and one that is not well known except among locals. One of the helpful staff at Lake Hume told us about the last operating ferry in this region of the Murray River called the Wymah Ferry.

It is free, you can drive your car onto it, cross the river into New South Wales and drive up the road a bit and then come back onto the ferry and back into Victoria.

Chiltern – this looks like a town where time has stood still. The building and main street look the same as they did 100 years ago during the gold rush. You can visit the Chiltern lockup (ask for the keys at the tourist information centre), Australia’s oldest grapevine and the historical Federal printing press. This was a fun little afternoon for all of us. Just out of town is the famous Magenta mine area in the Mt Pilot National Park.

Besides the above attractions in the Lake Hume area, make sure you see the Bonegilla Migrant Experience. If you want a Lake Hume bike ride the High Country Rail Trail starts nearby.

For kids, the nearby Hunchback Mountain bike park provides fun and adventure. The Huon Hill Lookout is on your way to the park and provides breathtaking views of this North East Victoria location.

Explore Victoria: 13 amazing places to experience autumn in Victoria

Where did we stay in Wodonga?

Arriving at Discovery Parks Lake Hume in Victoria (there is also a Discovery Park – Lake Hume on the New South Wales side of the lake), you get the feeling that you have arrived in the tropics with palm trees growing everywhere.

We easily checked in and headed to our superior 2-bedroom poolside cabin that included a deck overlooking the lake and pool area.

Once again, the cabin had all the facilities you would expect at Discovery Parks Lake Hume Tourist Park such as a microwave, couches, dining table, dishwashing liquid and more. You really only have to bring yourselves and your food when you stay in this type of accommodation because everything else is waiting for you. 

Facilities at Discovery Parks – Lake Hume, VIC

Discovery Holiday Parks Lake Hume, VIC is like the Rolls-Royce of holiday parks in Victoria with so much to do onsite we could have stayed there for 3 days and never left! The sun was out, so we were able to use the pool area which also features a spa that can fit up to 8 people.

This Lake Hume accommodation hires out bikes and kayaks, so we grabbed 2 kayaks and hit Lake Hume for a paddle around. With the banks of the Hume Weir so close to your accommodation, Lake Hume fishing is popular for people staying at the park.

One of our favourite features was the communal rotunda on the shores of Lake Hume just near our cabin. It was a mix of a camp kitchen and a social area featuring inside couches, a fireplace, an oven, and dishwashing facilities, while just outside our door were BBQs and picnic tables.

One thing that makes holiday parks easy is washing facilities. Unlike hotels where you pay a fortune for clothes to be laundered, Discovery Parks makes it easy with washing machines and dryers that can be used for a few dollars. Anyone with teenagers knows that they go through clothes pretty quickly!

Lake Hume to Bright road trip

Lake Hume and Bright Discovery Parks are only around 100 kilometers apart. Explorers like us wanted to see more places in Victoria along the way, so our first stop was at Yackandandah, another beautiful heritage town in the northeast of Victoria.

Places to visit from Lake Hume to Bright

There are a few amazing little and big towns to visit on your way to Bright. You will find that they are stops in themselves and you can find some brilliant things to do in these towns in Victoria.

Yackandandah: There are plenty of things to do in Yackandandah if you love food! There is a brilliant pub, a magnificent bakery and a couple of specialty shops on the main street where you can stock up on some amazing local food for your Victorian road trip.

Read more: Want a full honest review of Discovery Holiday Parks Bright? Read our review here

Woolshed Waterfalls: When headed towards Beechworth stop at Woolshed Waterfalls, it is a must before entering the town.

Beechworth: Beechworth has a long history of association with Ned Kelly and gold. The main street is lined with heritage buildings and museums, while the popular Billson’s brewery is a must-stop for its tasty cordials, pre-mixed vodkas and more. Billson’s was a great stop for our teenagers as you could try any of their famous cordials at the tasting bar, then wander the cellar cave before watching them make and package the products.

From here we headed for Bright and our last 3 nights with Discovery Parks.

Bright, Victoria

Arriving at Discovery Parks Bright you are immediately surrounded by trees in an amazing valley about 10 kilometres from Bright town center. The sound of the nearby Ovens River was both relaxing and welcoming as we pulled up to our 3-bedroom cabin.

The area of the park is so peaceful, with loads of birds and shady trees shedding their flowers for Summer when we were there. Just like Nagambie and Lake Hume, our cabin in Bright had all the essentials like milk and coffee for your first cuppa of the morning and an en-suite bathroom with a walk-in shower.  

Much like most hotels, it included soap, shampoo & conditioner, and body wash which we used during our stay in Bright. One modern convenience that the Bright cabin had over the rest was USB sockets on some power points, which were handy for charging our gear.

  All the top things to see near Bright

For anyone who loves nature, relaxation and the sounds of nature then there are so many things to do in Bright. If you have not visited Bright then this should be on your Victorian road trip itinerary.

Mount Buffalo National Park – You can get to this popular Victorian National Park via a windy scenic road that has waterfalls and lookouts over the mountains and valleys of the area. The Mount Buffalo Chalet from 1910 is worth checking out and still draws visitors who appreciate the grandeur of this old building. The car park has some amazing lookouts with picnic facilities and walking trails that lead off to Alpine lakes and more

Bogong Village – is another 50 kilometres from the park via the town of Mount Beauty and is on the way to Falls Creek. Bogong Village is owned by the electrical company AGL which operates a hydroelectric power station nearby. Outside of the snow season, the town appears deserted except for day-trippers and bushwalkers enjoying the scenic alpine lake and Alpine National Park

Bright Brewery – Not far from Discovery Parks Bright is the beer capital of the Victorian Northeast! This big shiny new establishment brews traditional and seasonal beers to suit most tastes. There’s everything from Draught beers to concoctions like a Mandarin Milkshake beer! With seating both indoors and out, this is a popular destination for a bite to eat and drink. We recommend getting a tasting paddle that gives you a small sample of a range of their more interesting beers!

Bike Trails – Bright has become the biking capital of Victoria with its Mystic Mountain bike park and the Murray to Mountains rail trail. Some popular trails are the Bright to Wandiligong and the Bright to Porpunkah. These are pretty good family-friendly rides of around 6 kilometres each way.

Plan your trip to Bright with ease: All the best things to do in Bright

Where did we stay in Bright

In addition, you can find a small water park in Bright to keep cool during the warmer weather. Nearby rivers are also popular for people who like panning for gold or metal detectors. The surrounding towns of Harrietville and Myrtleford are worth visiting, and a trip to the top of Mount Hotham is certainly an experience.

Wineries like Ringer Reef serve a mean cheese platter and Nightingale Brothers Alpine Produce sell all kinds of jams, spreads, apple juices, ciders, and local artisanal produce. Yum!

Facilities at Discovery Parks Bright

Discovery Parks Bright located on the Great Alpine Road has several cool features, such as a purpose-built ramp that leads down into the Ovens River for swimming on a hot day.

The largest common area in the middle of the park has a herb garden, fire pit, stove, tv, and a communal fridge for campers. The fridge came in handy for keeping drinks cold while cooking and eating in the area. The park often brings in bands on the weekends to perform in this area of the park, which was something we had never seen before at any holiday park.

On the weekend at Bright, they open the Coffee Burgh. This is their own coffee stand with a quality barista to make your coffee dreams come true, and kickstart your day with everything from a latte to fancy chai! For anyone who loves travelling with dogs, the park has a dog washing facility which shows the length Discovery Parks goes to cater for its guests.

More Victorian road trip inspiration: Discover amazing towns on the Great Alpine Road

Want to add another Victorian destination to your Victorian road trip itinerary?

If you are looking to add another North East Victorian town to your Victorian road trip itinerary Echuca is another wonderful place to add to your Victorian staycation.

Our 9 days came and went so fast that we left each location wishing for more time! An extended Victorian staycation with Discovery Holiday Parks could also include stops at the Melbourne, Geelong and Warrnambool Parks. A road trip between these locations would include Torquay, The Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay, The Surf Coast, Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, Port Campbell and Port Fairy.

Seeing the sites and relaxing at each Discovery Park location was a Victorian road trip we’ll never forget. Staying with Discovery Parks made our great Victorian road trip easier and less expensive because of their facilities and the activities available to us as a family with teenagers!

We hope this article from us here at Explore Victoria has inspired you to embark on your adventure in Victoria, Australia, from popular caravan parks and pristine beaches to drives along the Great Ocean Road. Enjoy weekends away on the Mornington Peninsula and discover the cosmopolitan charm of Melbourne, Victoria, with a range of experiences for every traveller who wants to visit Victoria.

Whether you’re drawn to the rugged beauty of the Grampians, the cultural richness of Ballarat, or the autumn colours of Bright and Northern Victoria, there’s no shortage of hidden gems waiting to be discovered in Victoria.

Even if you love exploring Gippsland or driving the Great Alpine Road, Victoria has something special for you, and there is so much more for you to discover. If you are looking for more incredible and best places to visit in Melbourne or more travel in Victoria destinations, Explore Victoria has some more articles below for you to check out. Expand your horizons and get out and about in Victoria, Australia, for an unforgettable experience. 

If you have an idea, attraction, or top spot in Victoria, please comment or email us at contact@explorevictoriaaustralia.com.

---

More travel inspiration for your Victorian road trip

---