Head to the Hills

Summer magic in the Mountains

I said beach. He said mountains.

I wanted summer in the sand, sea and saltcrust of my childhood, lobster-red on a boogie board, scooting through the surf like a seven-year-old. He wanted the languid river, spreading shady eucalypts, dusky mountain haze.

We negotiated. He won.

Not only did I lose, I was converted. Now, as heat seeps into the city and the hoards flock to the beach, we gratefully head for the hills of north-east Victoria for what seems a richer holiday - restorative and simple.

Days are spent seeking out cool, bubbling rivers and streams. The hours and city stress simply melt away in running water,
with a good book in hand and a shady canopy of green above.

Fresh trout from Harrietville. Luscious ripe berries from Eurobin, nestled beneath Mt Buffalo. Specialty cheese from Milawa and wonderful wine – perfect for sipping under the Milky Way on warm evenings – from just about everywhere in these fertile, productive hills.

And, if even the picnic proves too labour intensive, some of Victoria’s best restaurants call the north-east home. Wineries offer outdoor tables, sun umbrellas and icy whites, with many providing music to make the lazy afternoon complete.

There are weekend markets, movies and gentle local attractions from old ware stores to alpaca farms. For something a little more exciting, try a microlight flight or tandem parachute jump, catching the dizzying thermals that swirl around sentinel Mount Buffalo.

Everywhere, cyclists are exploring the excellent tracks, snaking along by streams, climbing into the mountains. Summer still brings blistering heat, but after a few seasons, you learn the escape chutes – an afternoon lounging in the cool water of Lake Catani on Mount Buffalo, a walk on one the high trails near
Mt Hotham, a visit to the brewery in Bright for something icy to drink.

As the sun sets orange while the Buckland River gently trickles through our toes, he asks me if I miss the beach. Of course, I say I do. But I don’t.

Michelle Finck