Bright

The attractive holiday township of Bright is situated on the scenic Great Alpine Road between Porepunkah and Harrietville in the beautiful Ovens Valley.

Bright is a popular tourist centre due to its close proximity to the mountain and ski resorts of Mount Buffalo, Mount Hotham and Falls Creek, and other natural attractions such as the Alpine National Park and Mount Buffalo National Park.

The commercial centre of Bright extends from the Great Alpine Road to the war memorial tower located at the roundabout in front of the Alpine Hotel, and then south along the wide boulevard of Ireland Street. The towering mountains of the Victorian Alps provide a scenic backdrop in all directions from the town centre.

A number of attractive parks and reserves are located within Bright. Howitt Park stretches along the Ovens River from Star Road to Morses Creek, while Centenary Park continues along the Ovens River from the Morses Creek junction and out to Mountbatten Road. Both parks feature attractive picnic spots and grassy areas which extended right down to the river. There is a water slide and designated swimming area at the junction of the Ovens River and Morses Creek, accessible via a footbridge.

To fully appreciate Bright, several lookouts located within the surrounding mountains provide good views over the town and adjacent forests. The most accessible lookout is Huggins Lookout, accessed via Bakers Gully Road, around 5 kilometres from the town centre. Clear Spot Lookout, 12 kilometres out of town, provides limited views over the surrounding forests. Perhaps the best views over the town itself can be appreciated from the southerly oriented Apex Lookout, accessed via the Mount Porepunkah Road. There is a steep walking track up to the lookout from the main road, however you can drive right up to the lookout via a narrow dirt driveway, but a 4 wheel drive is recommended.

Bright is particularly attractive during autumn when the blazing colours of its large variety of deciduous trees creates a spectacular display, celebrated annually by the Bright Autumn Festival. Good spots to appreciate Bright's vibrant autumn colours include along Delany Avenue where burning red leaves of oak intermingle with the dark green of cedar trees. Cobden Street, near Ireland Street, is also very colourful in Autumn, as are Howitt Park and Centenary Park.

6 kilometres south of Bright is the historic village of Wandiligong with its National Trust classified streetscape.