We’ll meet in Albury on the Friday night, ready to explore spectacular scenery, some of the best roads in Australia (or anywhere) and historic townships, and enjoy great food, excellent company and, of course, our BMWs.
Saturday offers a choice. You can enjoy brilliant driving roads, such as 100km of twists through forest and gorges, sweeping roads over the snow country’s high plains, and the famous descent from Mt Hotham to the Ovens Valley and Bright. Along the way is a stop at a historic hotel for lunch, and photography-worthy views in the Mt Hotham area.
Or you can take the more relaxed option, with morning tea in the market and craft town of Yackandandah, followed by lunchtime in Beechworth. Beechworth is famous for its historic buildings, but on the fringes of the town are also features such as a historic Chinese cemetry, picturesque lake and a hilltop scenic road through former mining areas. With this option, you’ll arrive in Bright by mid-afternoon, with time to take in the town, explore the riverside walks (with historic mining sluices), or simply relax in a coffee shop or the pretty central park.
We’ll all gather together for a degustation dinner on the Saturday night.
We’ll head up to nearby Mt Buffalo on Sunday morning for its spectacular scenery and the option of short bushwalks or perhaps watching hang-gliders taking off. We’ll probably travel in two groups, one focused on the road and one on the scenery on the way up.
We’ll lunch in the Happy Valley Inn (1850) in Ovens before the clubs head off home in our separate directions.
You’ve convinced me! How do I join in?
Registration & Costs
Registration and payment is on the BMW Drivers Club NSW website events page which can be found here.
Please be sure to select “BMW Drivers Club Melbourne” as your club when registering.
Cost to register is $124 per person, which covers the $55 welcome buffet dinner at Atura Albury and the $69 degustation dinner in Bright.
Accommodation in Albury is at the conference rate for a Deluxe King/Twin Room of $149.00 per room (payable on check-out). Saturday breakfast is an additional cost, discounted to $22pp if you book at check-in.
Bright accommodation is $149 twin/double share, and $30 per person for hot breakfast (payable on check-out).
Please contact the Ovens Valley Motel directly to book your room: 03 5755 2022. All other bookings will be organised by the NSW club on your behalf.
Lunches, snacks and other costs are at individual cost at the time.
Itinerary
Friday 30 November
Travel to Albury, either during the day or after work.
Meet with the other clubs and stay at the Atura hotel in Albury. Conference rate for members for a Deluxe King/Twin Room is $149.00 per room (paid on check-out). Breakfast can be booked at check-in.
Dinner will be a buffet at the hotel, allowing for different arrival times.
Saturday 1 December
Breakfast at the hotel. This can be booked at check-in for the discounted price of $22pp.
Two options for the day: an enthusiastic drive along some of Australia’s best driving roads, or a gentle cruise through some of the area’s major tourist locations. Both options lead to the overnight stop at Bright.
Option 1: Epic 300km drive through the mountains. Cruise to Mitta Mitta and stop for an early morning tea. Then enjoy 100km of twisty road through forests and along river gorges to Omeo for lunch. Lovely sweeping roads then take us up to the top of the mountains at Mt Hotham, where we will stop to take in the spectacular views. From there it’s a brilliant, twisting road down the mountain to our destination in Bright.
Option 2: A leisurely cruise to the famous historic town of Beechworth and the smaller but charming Yackandandah. From there you will take a scenic back route to Bright by mid afternoon. This cruise will be self-guided but with the freedom to travel as a group. There will be time in the later afternoon to look around Bright, walk along its river, or visit the tourist shops, cafés and bars.
Dinner is a 6-course degustation at the recommended Elm Restaurant at 7.00pm.
Overnight at Bright. We have booked the entire Ovens Valley Motor Inn, which backs onto the Ovens River. Cost is $149 twin/double share, and $30pp for hot breakfast (paid on check-out). Please contact the motel directly to book your room: 03 5755 2022.
Sunday 2 December
Breakfast is a buffet continental plus hot breakfast a la carte at the motor inn.
A morning drive will take us up to Mt Buffalo, with spectacular views over the Ovens valley and beyond. It’s a great location for photography, bushwalks (gentle and more serious) and exploring the plateau.
Lunch will be a la carte at the historic Happy Valley Hotel in Ovens, dating back to the 1850s.
After lunch the clubs will head off separately towards home. BMWDCM will cruise to Whitfield and take the lovely, sweeping road over the low mountains to Mansfield. We’ll stop for afternoon tea in a historic café in Yea, and from there people can take their various routes home.
