Dinner Plain is a town located on the Great Alpine Road in the high plains of Victoria, Australia. It is 389 km kilometres NW of Melbourne. Julie Wilson shares with Travel Tips Plus what attracts her to Dinner Plain.
This unique architecturally designed village, nestled amongst the snow gums, has a population of around 90 people and has over 200 lodges and chalets for tourists, making it a welcoming travel destination. The tradition of hospitality at Dinner Plain goes back well over a century, when mountain cattlemen first discovered this beautiful stretch of countryside as an ideal place to relax, eat up a meal and graze their cattle.
Visitors come all year round to enjoy the high plains life. In winter the village is a excellent base for cross–country and downhill skiing in winter. The gentle slopes are great for beginner skiing and are ideal for nordic skiing. There are 16 kilometres of trails around Dinner Plain. Shuttle buses ferry people to Mount Hotham for downhill skiing.
In summer, cycling and hiking are great attractions. The ski trail between Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain provides an excellent easy-grade walking tracks, and the architecture of the village and alpine wildflowers are a great attraction.
JB Hut
There are also key events throughout the year. My favourite events are:
Geebung Polo on Easter Sunday
Come and watch the exhibition of horsemanship and polo skills at Horsehair Plain. See the High Country cattlemen of the ‘Geebung‘ team take on the city slicker ‘Cuff n Collar’ team. The day starts with the announcer reciting Banjo Patterson’s famous poem “The Geebung Polo Club”, after which the event is named.
Cross Country Pub to Pub Race in August
The Annual Cross Country “Pub to Pub” takes place in early August. This 14 km race from the General Store in Mount Hotham to Dinner Plain Hotel is an event for skiers of all ages and abilities, and you’re likely to see first year skiers lining up with Australian champions.
Sled Dog Challenge
This annual event showcases the top dogs of sled dog racing in Australia and is the only Australian snow-based race of its kind. This race is held over an August weekend with 2, 3, 4 and 6 dog teams competing. Over 65 Mushers (dog team drivers) and more than 350 sled dogs are expected to compete in this year’s event.
One great reason to visit this travel destination is To see the Dinner Plain architecture ~ All buildings in the village are designed in an Australian alpine style based on early mountain cattlemen’s huts. Corrugated iron, timber and stone are used for the external walls, with pitched iron roofs. Buildings are limited to the height of the existing trees.
The small port town of Narvik is situated on the shores of Narvik Fjord, 220km inside the arctic circle of Norway. I made it to this travel destination during the summer of 1989. Whilst Scandinavia was rather a rushed visit due to the expense of the region for backpackers, the landscapes were simply beautiful.
Narvik will offer the visitor the opportunity to step into the arctic circle, witness the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights and if visiting during the peak of summer, experience sightseeing in the light of the midnight sun. A strange experience! Narvik is a popular winter destination offering terrific alpine skiing and snowboarding.
One great reason to visit this travel destination especially during the peak of summer is to experience the long shadows of the night sky that is still like dusk, accompanied by the Aurora Borealis.
Engelberg is a little, historic 12th century town located 1050m above sea level in the Swiss Alps. Its main feature for centuries has been the Benedictine Monastery dating back to 1120 and is still being run by the Benedictine Monks. Engelberg is also the main base to explore nearby Mount Titlis.
Engelberg is very accessible all year around which adds to its popularity especially as a winter travel destination. With the installation during 1927 of the first cableway, this encouraged the start of tourism to the area. During 1959, Engelberg was the first to install parallel cable-cars, and during 1989, a revolving cable-car was installed. The Titlis-Rotair, allows the visitor a five minute ride, in which the gondolas turn 360 degrees and provide an opportunity to admire the panorama of the Engelberg Valley and the Mt Titlis Glacier.
Travelling amongst the Swiss Alps you are going to want to be taking photographs. You might like to take a look at Tony Page, professional photographer and writer and what he has on offer.
Sam Chandler of Collett’s Mountain Holidays has provided a guest Press Release to coincide with the recent UNESCO Listing of The Dolomites.Two weeks ago, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee named some new localities to the list of sites. One mountain range named by the committee is The Italian Dolomites in northern Italy.
Walking in The Dolomites
“The site of The Italian Dolomites comprises a mountain range in the northern Italian Alps, numbering 18 peaks which rise to above 3,000 metres and cover 141,903 ha. It features some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes anywhere, with vertical walls, sheer cliffs and a high density of narrow, deep and long valleys. A serial property of nine areas that present a diversity of spectacular landscapes of international significance for geomorphology marked by steeples, pinnacles and rock walls, the site also contains glacial landforms and karst systems. It is characterized by dynamic processes with frequent landslides, floods and avalanches. The property also features one of the best examples of the preservation of Mesozoic carbonate platform systems, with fossil records.The Dolomites are named for the rock dolomite, which in turn was named for a geologist, Déodat de Dolomieu.” UNESCO
This is great news for The Italian Dolomites and all the National Parks that form it. To further the protection and interest in the mountains, Italy has set up a Dolomites UNESCO Foundation which swung into action when The Dolomites were named as a World Heritage Site on 30 June 2009. The Dolomites UNESCO Foundation has been created as an overarching organization to pursue the aims ensuring the long-term conservation of the Dolomites while allowing its earth science potential and tourism-boosting assets to be used to the full.
Collett’s Mountain Holidays is the UK’s holiday specialist for the breathtaking Italian Dolomites & South Tyrol, a paradise of idyllic valleys and mesmerising mountains that lie between Innsbruck and Venice. Set up in 1998 Collett’s has been offering tailored walking holidays, Via Ferrata, Skiing and Snowshoeing for 11 years.
In summer Collett’s offer Walking Holidays, Via Ferrata & Wildflower Walks that allow you to explore this natural splendour just as you wish – however ambitious or fit. In winter, we offer the perfect catered chalet skiing holiday and for anyone with an interest in snowshoeing and winter walking.
We offer six hosted alpine chalets, an exquisite hotel and self catering in three enchanting alpine villages, each with spectacular mountain backdrops, offering superb access to the walks and more.
Stay with us as long as you like, arriving and departing on whichever days suit you. Fly-Drive, Self-Drive or use our daily transfer service to and from Venice and Treviso.
In Italy, local prices are up to 50% less than in France & Austria – Many items including eating out is still inexpensive even with a strong Euro. Collett’s Mountain Holidays is bonded through ABTA & AITO, guaranteeing the protection of all payments.
The Traveler IQ challenge ranks geographic knowledge of cities such as: Punta Cana, Willemstad or Columbia by comparing results against 5,473,834 other travelers.
Collett’s Mountain Holidays is the UK’s holiday specialist for the breathtaking Italian Dolomites & South Tyrol, a paradise of idyllic valleys and mesmerising mountains that lie between Innsbruck and Venice. Set up in 1998 Collett’s has been offering tailored walking holidays, Via Ferrata, Skiing and Snowshoeing for 11 years.
Entries (RSS)