Route Details
The Great Alpine Road winds through mountains, valleys and forests, and past rivers, vineyards and farms. At a length of 303 kilometres, it is Australia’s highest year-round accessible sealed road. The section over Mount Hotham rises to an altitude of 1840 m, is blanketed with snow during winter months and must be cleared on a daily basis. Extreme weather conditions can sometimes still result in the road being closed between Harrietville and Omeo.
The Great Alpine Road links Victoria's North East with Gippsland. It was completed with the sealing of the section between Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain and was officially opened on 4 April 1998. The road itself has existed since colonial times in some form, but was unsealed for much of its history, and was only given the Great Alpine Road designation after being fully sealed.
The current Great Alpine Road includes the former Ovens Highway from Wangaratta to Bright, and a former section of the Omeo Highway from Omeo to Bruthen, along with the section of the Princes Highway from Bruthen to Bairnsdale. Attractions include the Mount Buffalo National Park, popular tourist town Bright, the Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain alpine resorts, the historic gold rush township of Omeo, the folk art sculpture Mr. Stringy, and stunning views and challenging driving along its length.
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