Omeo is your new favourite base for the ski fields of Mt Hotham, with affordable accommodation and a ridiculously easy drive up to the snow.
A five-hour drive from Melbourne will get you to Omeo. From this base, you can be at the bottom of the chairlift in 40 mins, with a gradual ascent and wide turns taking you safely to the alpine resort.
When you head to Mt Hotham from Melbourne via Bairnsdale, you are also travelling one of Australia’s greatest road trips along the Great Alpine Road. This A-lister drive connects the Gippsland Lakes with the high country, snaking through plunging alpine valleys and streams, dotted with charming villages.
We’ve planned your itinerary so you can hot-foot it to the mountain, then explore East Gippsland’s delights on your return.
What Your Itinerary Looks Like
Melbourne to Omeo
Via Bairnsdale and Great Alpine Road
5:10 hrs | 400km
Melbourne to Bairnsdale (3:20 hrs)
Brunch up at Northern Ground for inner-city café vibes, then stroll across the river to Howitt Park. This scenic and shady reserve has a kids’ playground (check out the enormous slide), and is also a site of deep Indigenous significance on the Bataluk Cultural Trail.
Bairnsdale to Bruthen (20 minutes)
Venture on to Bruthen, where you can pop into a cluster of wineries along the East Gippsland Drink Trail with a short detour en route. Once you reach Bruthen wander the town for village-vibes with the town’s galleries, vintage and collectable stores.
If you’re in need of a leg-stretch, wander along the East Gippsland Rail Trail to work off lunch.
Bruthen to Omeo (1:30 hrs)
Nestled along the banks of the Tambo River, Swifts Creek & Ensay offer a delicious array of treats, from local wines, to plump fresh fruit and bakery-fresh pastries. Check out the Great Alpine Gallery, have a snifter from the rammed earth cellar door of Ensay Winery, or enjoy a cold one at the The Junction Hotel.
As the landscape morphs into endless rolling green hills you’ll arrive at Omeo. The town has a rustic alpine feel, unlike anywhere else. Wandering the town is a delight thanks to its many ornate buildings from its gold mining heritage. Grab a beer at the Golden Age Hotel, walk along Livingstone Creek or hire bikes and head to the new Omeo Pump & Skills Track.
Omeo to Mt Hotham
45 mins | 55km
Fuel up in Omeo for the only place in Gippsland that has alpine diesel at the Omeo Service Station then head to Mt Hotham via Dinner Plain. This is an incredibly easy drive since you’re alrady starting from a high altitude. The route has wide turns and a much more gradual ascent than approaching it from the other side.
Chain hire is available from the Omeo Service Station.
Omeo to Melbourne
5 hrs | 400km + detours
Detour 1: via Buchan Caves (add 1:10 hrs)
At Bruthen, turn off to onto the Bruthen-Nowa Nowa Rd, which will have you at Buchan Caves in 36 mins. The labyrinthine network is one of Australia’s most spectacular, with still pools and a mesmerising latticework of towers. You can take tours of both Royal and Fairy Caves (advance bookings are required).
Detour 2: via Den of Nargun, Mitchell River National Park (add 33 mins)
Just before reaching Bairnsdale, turn east onto the Wyung-Calulu Rd which conveniently passes by Lightfoot Wines, serving exceptional wines and views for days from their chic cellar door. Stopping at The Long Paddock in Lindenow is a must. This cafe effortlessly transforms seasonal local produce into a feast worth the road trip. Leave room for dessert as their cake selection is renowned across the state.
Set amongst dramatic river gorges and looming ridge lines of the Mitchell River National Park is the Den of Nargun, a place of deep Aboriginal significance. The cave sits behind a waterfall above the Mitchell River, surrounded by tranquil bushlands and rainforest gullies. You can drive to the picnic area which is the starting point for some forest wanders and more adventurous hikes in the park. Meander through the rainforest gully on the Den of Nargun Loop (3.4km; 90 mins).
Detour 3: via Lakes Entrance, Gippsland Lakes (add 35 mins)
Take in the lusty Gippsland Lakes, which has a cult-like status. The water-loving town of Lakes Entrance is a lively family-friendly destination where you can take in the maritime vibe along the Esplanade. Take a sightseeing or wildlife cruise or helicopter scenic flight, then enjoy an unparalleled waterfront dining experience like the hatted seafood restaurant, Sodafish.
There’s a festival feel around the Lakes while the East Gippsland Winter Festival is in full swing (Jun-Jul annually) with more than 100 events across the region that celebrate winter, light, art and feasting.
You can also visit the Gippsland Lakes from water-side towns of Metung (add 25 mins) or Paynesville (add 13 mins).
