Luke Plapp is one of Australia’s most successful competitive cyclists. He’s settled on the Victorian High Country as his home base and training ground.

At Plapp's farm in Wandiligong, just outside of Bright, the six-time national champion enjoys the company of his four shaggy-haired Highland cattle between rides.

Plapp says he finds his best self in the quiet of the Ovens Valley. He uses the so-called Harrietville Hammer group ride up the Great Alpine Road and back to test his legs against local legends, and tackles giant climbs like 30-kilometre Mt Hotham.

The Victorian Alpine region is also a destination for everyday cyclists. You’ll see the full spectrum of the cycling community, from elite teams living at altitude in Falls Creek to families meandering along the 150 kilometres of sealed, flat Murray to Mountains Rail Trail.

This cycling heaven offers everything from the hellish 7 Peaks Challenge to gentler tempo rides through the Buckland Valley without a single traffic light in sight. And it invites you to bring all the bikes from your garage, because world-class rides are waiting for your mountain bike, gravel bike, and road machine.

Here, CycleHub will introduce you to the road, gravel, and mountain biking opportunities in the Victorian High Country.

Road Riding in the Alps

The Victorian High Country is the only place in Australia where you can replicate the storied mountain stages of the Tour de France or the Giro d’Italia. The region’s road cycling appeal is anchored by the 7 Peaks Challenge, a series of world-class alpine ascents that have become a rite of passage for roadies across the country.

In summer, the views across the Bogong High Plains are infinite, and the roads are populated by riders who seek a sense of vertical accomplishment. From the lush, fern-lined lower slopes to the dry and rocky summits above the tree line, these roads offer a variety of terrain that tests both your climbing lungs and your descending nerves.

Mt Buffalo is widely considered the perfect alpine climb and the best place for an everyday rider to start their mountain journey. If you start in Bright, it’s an 84-kilometre loop with more than 1,000 meters of elevation gain. The steady climb gives you plenty of time to lift your head and soak in the granite cliffs of the Gorge and the sweeping views of the Ovens Valley. Unlike the more brutal peaks, some riders find Buffalo to be a sociable climb where you can actually maintain a conversation. You top out at the historic Chalet where the "Island in the Sky" plateau offers a cool, breezy reprieve from the valley heat.

For those seeking the crown jewel of Australian climbing, Mt Hotham stands unchallenged. The 30km journey from Harrietville with 1,321 metres of climbing has three main sections: a steady 10km opening, a deceptively flat middle section, and a final 10km that features the spots where gradients spike up to 16%.

Reaching the summit more than 1.8 kilometres high feels like standing on the roof of the world, with the Great Alpine Road clinging to the ridgeline like a ribbon. It is a formidable test of endurance that explains why Luke Plapp and other pros choose this specific stretch of bitumen to find their racing legs.

The Back of Falls route is the one that haunts the dreams of Peaks Challenge finishers. Approaching Falls Creek from the Omeo side, you are immediately confronted with "WTF Corner," a brutal opening pitch with gradients well in excess 10% for several kilometres. It is a remote, rugged, and relentless ascent that offers no easy rhythm, winding through sun-bleached snow gums and across the high-altitude plateau.

For a more relaxed but equally stunning day in the saddle, the Tawonga Gap ascent from the Bright side provides a gentler challenge. While it is a "speed hump" compared to the surrounding giants, the 13.8-kilometre climb has an average gradient of 3.9% and a total elevation gain of 537 meters.

As impressive as these ribbons of smooth bitumen are, gravel riders believe the true wild heart of the High Country is found where the pavement ends.

Gravel Riding in the High Country

The Ride High Country Gravel Network contains more than 50 gravel routes. They cover more than 2,000 kilometres in total and 35,000 metres of elevation across awe-inspiring landscapes.

You can choose your own adventure, from smooth, fast-rolling white granite roads to rugged backcountry expeditions that require wide tyres and low gears.

The Ride High Country Gravel Network makes it easy to find the perfect routes with its ski-style grading system (Green to Double Black). At the heart of this network is Project 10, a partnership with cycling clothing brand MAAP that identifies ten iconic, must-ride routes that represent the pinnacle of Australian gravel.

The Beechworth – Eldorado Loop is perhaps the most famous entry in the Project 10 collection, serving as the perfect introduction to the region's rolled gold gravel. It’s considered advanced, runs for 51.6 kilometres and includes 1,032 metres of climbing. You start in the historic streets of Beechworth and descend through the Woolshed Valley. There, the road surface transitions into a fast, fine-grit granite that feels almost like velvet under the tyres.

The route winds through sun-drenched farmland and past relics of the gold rush, offering a cinematic landscape that feels miles away from modern traffic. It’s a ride that rewards a steady tempo, leaving you with just enough energy to tackle the steady climb back into town for a wood-fired pizza and a cold ale.

For those seeking a more mountainous experience, the 47.8-kilometre Mt Stirling Classic Circuit is a high-altitude masterpiece known for its smooth surface and moderate gradients that rarely exceed 5%, although you do gain a total of 1,193 metres of elevation.

This route takes you deep into the sub-alpine wilderness, circling the granite massif of Mt Stirling on wide, well-maintained management tracks. In January, the air up here is crisp and scented with mountain pepper, providing a natural air-conditioner while you grind through the snow gum forests. It is a true wilderness loop where the only other "traffic" you’re likely to encounter is a wedge-tailed eagle or a stray wombat.

If you prefer your gravel with a side of gourmet, the 76-kilometre Whitfield – Il Monte loop in the King Valley is the gold standard. This ride splits its time between the valley floor’s rolling vineyards and the rugged foothills of the Black Range. The "Il Monte" section provides a climb that tests your traction and your grit. Your reward is a sustained descent back into the heart of Victoria’s prosecco country. It is the ultimate "work hard, play hard" route, where the technicality of the unpaved sections is perfectly balanced by the sophisticated hospitality of the valley’s cellar doors.

Finally, for a ride that bridges the gap between road-like speed and mountain-bike adventure, the Bright – Mount Beauty traverse via Trappers Gap is a classic. This route takes you over the ridge that separates the Ovens and Kiewa valleys, offering a remote forest experience right on Bright's doorstep. However, it’s a double black diamond challenge with gradients as high as 19% and a total elevation gain of 788 metres over 37 kilometres.

There are some who find even a gravel road too civilised. For them, the Victorian High Country offers great opportunities.

Mountain Biking the Alpine Parks

Victoria’s High Country is home to over half of the state's formalized singletrack, centered around four premier parks. Each possesses a distinct personality and terrain. From the high-altitude flow of the ski resorts to the rugged, hand-cut legends of the valley floors, the mountain biking here has been meticulously designed to ensure that a first-timer on a rented hardtail can have just as much fun as a professional enduro racer. These parks are some of the crown jewels of Australian mountain biking.

Mystic Park in Bright is the undisputed star of the scene, known for its steep gradients and world-class gravity lines. Managed by Elevation Mystic, the park is famous for trails like Hero and Shred Kelly’s Last Stand, which offer huge berms and perfectly sculpted jumps that make you feel like you’re starring in a RedBull video. While the park is currently undergoing a strategic timber harvest through May 2026, the trail builders have used the opportunity to debut over 15 kilometres of fresh singletrack on Emily Spur, ensuring the roller coaster vibe remains intact.

For a completely different experience, Falls Creek offers a sub-alpine paradise where the trails are perched at 1,600 metres. With its ride-in, ride-out village atmosphere and a cooling alpine breeze that stays ten degrees lower than the valley, Falls is the ultimate summer sanctuary for those who prefer their gravity with a side of spectacular scenery.

Falls Creek’s legendary Flowtown is a 6 kilometre descent that feels like one long, rhythmic pump track winding through sun-bleached snow gums.

For 2026, the buzz is centered on the brand-new downhill trail built to Union Cycliste Internationale specifications. This is a rugged granite masterpiece designed to test the fastest riders in the country during the National Series.

Mt Buller holds the title of Australia’s only IMBA-accredited "Ride Centre.” That means the trail network meets global standards for trail diversity, quality, sustainability and rider experience.

The standout Mt Buller trail is the Australian Alpine Epic, a 46km point-to-point journey that takes riders deep into the backcountry before a heart-stopping 10km descent down the Delatite River Trail, crossing log bridges over icy mountain streams.

Recent investments at Mt Buller for the 2026 season have added 10 kilometres of new trails. The park rewards exploration, offering a mix of technical rock and machine-built flow.

Finally, no trip to the High Country is complete without a pilgrimage to Big Hill MTB Park in Mount Beauty, the "cradle" of Australian mountain biking. Unlike the pro-built resorts, Big Hill was largely hand-cut by locals over three decades, resulting in a "raw and rowdy" feel that is increasingly rare. It’s not suitable for beginners, however, and aims to serve only intermediate and advanced riders.

Trails like Bananarama are legendary for their technicality, requiring precise line choices through tight switchbacks and natural root sections. It is grass-roots mountain biking at its finest: unpretentious, challenging, and deeply rewarding. After a day on the Hill, the tradition is to head to the local bakery or one of the town’s two craft breweries to swap stories with the very trail builders who shaped the dirt you just rode.

Resources

Whether you're looking for a world-class road challenge, a gravel adventure, or some of the best mountain biking in the world, the Victorian High Country is the perfect destination for this summer.

To help you plan your visit, here’s the definitive list of resources for the Victorian High Country. These links cover everything you might need.

1. The Ultimate Cycling Resources

These sites are the "gold standard" for maps, route difficulty, and technical data.

• Ride High Country: The official "portal" for all things cycling in the region. It features dedicated sections for Road (7 Peaks), Gravel (Project 10), and MTB Parks.
• The Climbing Cyclist: Essential for road riders. It provides deep-dive "recons" of every major alpine climb, including gradient charts and tips on where the "false flats" are hidden.
• Rail Trails Australia: The best resource for the Murray to Mountains and High Country Rail Trails, including surface conditions and distance markers.

2. Eat, Drink, and Stay

The High Country is as famous for its "après-ride" as it is for its climbs.

• Food & Drink Directory: A curated list of craft breweries (Bright Brewery, Crank Handle), distilleries (Reed & Co.), and hatted restaurants like Provenance in Beechworth.
• Visit Bright & Surrounds: The best local directory for accommodation in the Ovens Valley, ranging from luxury "bike-in" villas to the iconic riverside caravan parks.
• Visit Victoria - High Country: Useful for broader regional info, including the King Valley (Prosecco Road) and Mansfield.

3. For the "Non-Cyclists" (Family Activities)

If the rest of the family isn't interested in vertical gain, the High Country is also a giant summer playground.

• River Swimming & Splash Parks: Bright has a famous Riverside Splash Park, and the Dredge Hole in Harrietville or Pebble Beach in Mount Beauty are crystal-clear natural swimming spots.
• Mount Buffalo Exploration: Even without a bike, the drive to the Horn Lookout is spectacular. Families can explore the underground river cave or take easy walks like the Gorge Nature Walk.
• Gold Rush History: Spend a day at the Beechworth Historic Precinct. You can tour the old gaol (where Ned Kelly was held) or try gold panning in the local creeks.
• Adventure Activities: Check out the guided hose pack treks in the Kiewa Valley or go paragliding (tandem) off Mystic Hill for a bird's-eye view of the valley.