We got into Wangaratta late morning and stocked up on maps and brochures from the local information office ready for our adventure up the Great Alpine road. Whilst crusing through a small town called Myrtleford we stumbled across as wine festival which was of all the local wines in the area. It was really nice warm sunny day and there was live music and lots of wine! We paid $8 for a glass and went round to all the tents trying all the wines. Ash was really getting into it and showed quite a lot of interest (maybe he does pay attention to dad after all!)

After we'd got out money's worth we drove into a town called Bright and headed for Mount Beauty which was where we stayed for the night. Here we found a free camp ground which we got very excited about which was surrounded by woodland and a running stream and there was even a place to build a fire and cook dinner! Ash immediatley took up the task of making the fire and got very defensive when i tried to intervene and suggested trying it another way. But no, Ash was sure he was doing it the right way we just needed more kindling so off i went getting armfuls of kindling each time! Eventually we got a very hearty fire going between the two of us and cracked on with dinner. After the last embers went out we reluctantly got ready for bed a braced ourselves for another chilly night!

After an absolutely FREEZING night sleeps we got up and went back into Bright where we spent the day on a tandem bike! I only got to experience it from the back however as Ash just couldn't quite handle sitting behind me without having any control of the bike whatsoever!!! But it was probably for the best as i was very wobbly at the front!

After the bike ride we drive up to Mount Buffalo to take in the views and stunning alpine sceneary, only touble was the higher we climbed the cloudier it got do we didn't actually see a great deal! On the way down we stopped off at a gorge which was absolutely incredible and totally unexpected - cracking views! It was also where the paragliders launched themsleves off the mountain with a km drop below!!

By the time we got down the mountain and back into Bright it was dark and neither of us fancied another freezing night in the van so we decided to splash out on a hostel just this once! Turns out the only hostel in Bright was closed as the owners has gone on holiday. Our hearts sank, but we were determined to get a warm nights sleep so we went into the next town! Luckily we quickly stumbled across a caravan park which also had small huts. After a bit of a domestic between Ash and I about the cost of the place we had a nice hot shower, had dinner and spent the evening in front of a nice wood burning stove. It was definitely worth the money!

After a wonderfully warm and comforatble nights sleep in a hut we made pancakes and got ready for a full day of driving as we needed to get to the coast by the end of the day. After a brisk walk on Mount Hotham, which was waiting for a down pour of snow ready for the ski season, we headed for a town called Orbost where we spent the night.