Harrietville

Our travel plans to escape the Victorian winter and head to the outback took an unexpected turn when Covid19 hit our shores. We found ourselves in South Australia, one week away from our intended stay at Flinders Range National Park. Communities were locking down, caravan parks, national parks all closing and whispers of state quarantine restrictions were circulating. The decision was to head back to Victoria and find somewhere to bunker down.

Six weeks on from the mad dash, we find ourselves in the Alpine Shire in a beautiful town, that has been hit hard as a result of the bushfires earlier this year and now the pandemic.

We are staying in a log cabin, overlooking the valley. Each day I wake up and look out over the landscape and draw a breath in admiration. Nature creates its own exquisite art.

As dusk sets, the resident kooka’s call reminds you that yet another day in isolation has passed and with it the anticipation of a new day that brings hope.

In the evening as the Moon and Venus appear, the stillness is deafening. In the distance you can hear the rushing sound of the Ovens River, whilst Bogong moths  frantically flutter against the glass doors desperately seeking light.

On my daily walks through Harrietville, I managed to capture the essence of this town in Autumn and along the way waved to locals who in turn have greeted me and made me feel welcome.

From our warm and cosy cabin you can see the peaks of Mount Feathertop and only a short drive away lies Mount Hotham. As luck would have it the Victorian winter has dusted its peaks.

Put this on your “go to” list so you can experience the magical splendour of Harrietville and the Alpine region.