Getting to Tawonga Gap
Road climbs gently until arriving at Sullivans Lookout – offering stunning views of Mount Beauty Township and Victoria’s highest peak, Bogong. A great place for lunch breaks while taking in Victoria’s gorgeous alpine scenery!
As well, this location provides the ideal viewing conditions to witness Alpine Cycling Club events held on both Saturday and Sunday.
Getting There
Reaching Tawonga Gap can be both thrilling and harrowing; its challenging terrain presents drivers with an entertaining driving adventure. Navigating narrow mountain roads requires careful driving skills as you park near Tawonga Gap before beginning an ascent that ends with stunning views over Victoria’s highest peak.
Driving from Melbourne to Tawonga Gap can be an exciting full-day journey, passing through Ovens Valley, Bright and Porepunkah along your route to Tawonga Gap in alpine region of Victoria High Country. On this adventure-filled drive you’ll experience many iconic landscapes all in one trip.
To maximize your time and get the most out of it, it is ideal to visit lookouts and climbs during clear weather on an ideal day. Aim to start driving around lunchtime so as not to limit yourself when planning this excursion.
Tawonga Gap Lookout, situated 750m above sea level and overlooking both Kiewa and Ovens valleys, is an idyllic picnic location and suitable for tourist coaches or caravans. Additionally, there is ample parking here as well. From here one can take in views of mountains that divide these valleys, as well as Victoria’s highest peak: Mount Bogong.
From here on out, the road becomes more challenging with gradients in double digits and serpentine bends that test your ability to maintain speed under control and take care around corners four and seven. Due to controlled burns in places on this stretch of road, be sure to turn on your headlights regularly for safe travels.
As you continue along the Great Alpine Road, Germantown and then Tawonga Gap Road come into view – these represent two approaches to Mt Beauty via mountain passes; Tawonga Gap Road being steeper of them all and located 4km northwest of Mt Beauty township.
The western climb to The Gap is slightly longer and less steep, though still quite steep in spots. Rated as a 4WD track, vehicles with sufficient ground clearance should be used.
The Climb
Mountain pass driving differs drastically from city and highway driving in many ways, including steep grades, tight corners and the possibility of snow or ice on the road. Driving safely in these conditions requires both skill and experience – it is highly advised that newcomers practice driving mountain roads in an empty location beforehand to gain experience, familiarising themselves with local traffic regulations such as uphill traffic taking priority over downhill traffic to make for an easier climb and lower risks associated with any difficult manoeuvres.
The initial kilometre provides an easy warm up with an easy gradient of about 5%, helping your legs and muscles adjust to climbing before beginning any more difficult sections. After a couple of kilometres, however, the road abruptly bends sharply left and its gradient suddenly spikes up to 7 or 8% for brief moments before slowly decreasing back down to an easily manageable 6% over the rest of its journey.
The road passes several key landmarks along its route, including a major hairpin at 3.7km, Lawlar Springs where you can fill up on water bottles at 5.2km and finally Sullivans Lookout which offers breathtaking valley views from Mount Beauty Township as well as Mount Bogong summit itself at 6.2km.
Lookouts provide breathtaking views over Kiewa Valley and Mount Bogong. Don’t miss visiting its summit for unforgettable panoramas of snow-covered alpine wilderness; Mount Bogong has long been one of the toughest climbs for participants of the 7 Peaks Ride course.
The Views
As you drive along, you will experience breathtaking mountain vistas and towering peaks that seem out-of-this-world – but these views are entirely natural!
Road travels along the edge of an alpine range and, at some points, is only metres from it. This road provides stunning views of Victoria’s mountain landscapes while remaining physically challenging as it winds its way through valley fields and charming towns such as Bright, Porepunkah and Mount Beauty.
From the lookouts along the road, you will be treated to breathtaking vistas of the valleys below and Mount Bogong. For optimal photos with Mount Bogong in all its glory, Sullivans Lookout located between Mount Beauty and Bright is your best bet – offer this great photo opportunity at its lookout point.
Further up the road, eucalypt forest gives way to an expansive landscape dotted with undulating terrain and winding roads that climb to an elevation of 900m. At this point you may also come across cyclists trying their hand at one of the 7 Peaks rides; be sure to give them 1.5 meters of passing space and give a thumbs-up as they pass.
At the end of your drive you’ll come upon a series of charming villages lining the valley floor – great spots for lunch breaks and taking in the incredible scenery! The road was built during the 1890’s to meet farmer demand from Tawonga and Kiewa farmers to transport their produce directly to Bright railway station for sale via wagon trains; eventually an agreement was made and this road was constructed through Bright Shire.
The Mountain Pass Scenic Byway is a breathtaking drive through Rocky Mountain National Park. This scenic road hugs the side of the mountains, offering stunning vistas such as glacier-carved valleys, daunting summits and faraway crystalline lakes. Additionally, this byway accesses Long Trail (America’s oldest end-to-end hiking trail).
The Detours
Mountain Pass Drive may close due to its high altitude and unpredictable weather, even though crews work to keep it open; temporary closures occur throughout summer due to its unpredictable environment. To plan your route safely through Mountain Pass, always check MDT 511 Traveler Information website for current weather and road conditions, mountain pass reports and mountain pass reports.
The Big Fill Landslide on Wyoming State Highway 22 running over Teton Pass was caused by heavy rainfall and snow melt, filling the roadway with debris that has stopped traffic for weeks and delayed its opening date of Memorial Day weekend. Crews are currently working day and night to clear away this mess.
Though the road may be closed, visitors to Tawonga Gap Scenic Reserve are still making the most of their visit. There are various hiking and walking trails which provide stunning scenery as well as wildlife viewing opportunities, as well as being home to an abundance of kangaroos, wallabies and echidnas – it is vitally important that walkers remain on designated paths during winter when temperatures can quickly decrease!
As well as hiking and walking, the area is also popular for mountain biking. The mountainous terrain provides challenging yet rewarding rides for cyclists of all skill levels. Mountain bikers should exercise caution on steep hills and prepare for changing weather conditions; extra water and food should also be brought along just in case the ride gets challenging!
The Bright to Mt Beauty Ride, more commonly known as the Sam Miranda Tour of the King Valley, is an exhilarating counterclockwise loop that begins in Wangaratta and passes over two climbs – Warby Ranges to Taminick Gap 4.2km long with an average gradient of 4.14% – before ending back at Wangaratta.
The second climb is less strenuous but still challenging, being comprised of rough terrain that requires cars with adequate ground clearance to avoid scraping on steep descents. There is parking at the summit but due to limited spaces it is advised that riders park nearby in Porepunkah and ride up directly to launch site from there.