Victoria

Best Bright accommodation to captivate the whole family

This quaint riverside town is one of Victoria’s best-kept secrets and these Bright accommodation options will have the whole family wanting to explore Victoria's vibrant valleys.

A breath of fresh air, waking up to mountain views and adventures in nature, it’s easy to see why this alpine town is a popular choice with many Australian families. You’ll be spoilt for choice with these Bright accommodation options, too, with everything from cosy, self-contained apartments to fabulous family suites available to house your holidaying brood.

Nature’s soul-stirring morning chorus will be your wake-up call here, so fuel up early with a gut-busting brekkie then rally the troops for a trek along one of the many local walking trails. Magnificent Mount Buffalo National Park is just a short drive away, though with wineries, markets and adventure activities on offer here, there’s plenty to keep you in town for the duration of your stay.

Check in for family-friendly Bright accommodation

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If you’ve never before set foot in feast-for-the-eyes Bright, then the Bright Avenue Motor Inn makes a great starting point for your explorations. Flanked by vibrant greenery and rolling hills, this Bright motel is a simple stroll from the town’s heart. Grab some supplies and check in to your suite to whip up a post-drive meal for the whole crew in your kitchenette. Spacious family suites can accommodate the whole brood comfortably, while a sumptuous spa suite will make a weekend away with your other half one to remember. Imagine dialling up the romance in your two-person spa bath, or enjoying a quiet moment on your private patio or next to the fireplace.

You can start your day with a dip in the swimming pool before wandering over to the town’s Art Gallery and Cultural Centre to view the works of Thomas Lawler, whose work depicts the regional gold mining history. Pick up an aromatic long black at great coffee joints on the way, like local hub Sixpence Coffee on Wills Street. Refuel with dukkah lamb ribs at Bright favourite Tomahawks, then pop into Billy Button Wines to pick up a bottle of Shy Susan Pinot Noir. Crystalline skies often call for an alfresco dining experience, so make your way back to the motel and hit up the communal barbecue area. Fire up the grill and fall into a comfortable garden chair as you crack open your purchase and enjoy a silken glass as the sun sets.

Bright Avenue Motor Inn

Top rated
Bright
9.0 Excellent (607 reviews)

Indulge with a bit of Bright accommodation luxury

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Picture a place where airy serviced apartments rest among tall trees and wide open valleys, and you’re looking at Bright on Track. You’ll find a colourful array of lovingly designed units here to suit many budgets and party sizes. Get high-strung siblings to chill out in the laidback vibe of a mezzanine unit, where cathedral ceilings and mood lighting give the feeling of serenity and space. You can strike up a conversation about the original artwork on the walls, and kitted out kitchenettes will help you cater to the appetites of your holidaying brood – though there’s breakfast in the main dining room on mornings when you’d rather take it easy.

It’s an easy 700-metre walk into Bright’s centre along the quietly quaint Rail Trail, which connects mountains to bushland and pastoral farm fields – great for mountain biking! Amble along to the town’s thriving hub and sip on a steaming flat white at the Ginger Baker before letting the kids romp next to local kangaroos in Centenary Park. Sun-soaked afternoons are best spent back at the hotel’s tree-lined outdoor pool, though you might feel the cool call of the on-site bar, where young guests can wind down with an icy soft drink while parents sip something a little stronger.

Bright On Track

Bright
9.2 Excellent (489 reviews)

Get back to nature in Victoria’s vibrant valleys

Family-friendly and fully self-contained Adina Holiday Lodge is ideal for an independent family break in Bright. Set among manicured gardens on the outskirts of town and sandwiched between the Canyon Walk and renowned Rail Trail, these plush holiday units suit families with an adventurous streak. You can spend sun-soaked days on your bicycles exploring the various tracks that lead from this Bright hotel into the town’s centre, or even to nearby Porepunkah (a 14-minute cycle ride). Bikes are stored in the secure on-site lock-up area, and you’ll easily hose off mud splashes (the sign of a great adventure) at the bike washing facilities.

The superior family room offers bundles of space and a private patio for cradling an in-room brewed coffee as the sun rises, and the equipped kitchen means meal times can be at your leisure. It’s a simple stroll into town, however, if you’d rather leave the cooking to someone else. You can feast on olive-dotted Napoletana pizza and gooey mozzarella garlic bread at Birbante Pizzeria, then return to the lodge for an evening of table tennis. To dial up the relaxation, even more, go for an evening swim in the solar heated pool or strike up a song in the communal gazebo around a comforting open fire – don’t forget the marshmallows!

Adina Holiday Lodge

Bright
9.0 Excellent (347 reviews)

Chill out with the crew at a family-run property

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Family-run establishments are often top-of-the-line when it comes to homely accommodation with a personal touch, and Bogong View Motor Inn is a prime example. The deluxe twin room can house a family of four, and recent renovations mean you can walk around barefoot on soft carpet while you choose a cold bevvie from the brand new fridge. When birdsong and soft light gently wake you in the morning, freshen up in your stylish ensuite, then use your in-room coffee machine to sip something strong before venturing out for the day. In that precious quiet before the kids wake, take a moment on your private balcony or garden patio to breathe in the fresh countryside air in silence.

Perched on famous Delany Avenue, the inn is close to Bright Memorial Arboretum where you’ll find delightful tree-lined walks. It’s also only a 5-minute meander from the town centre, so you can gather the crew and head over to Bright Ice Creamery for a sample of their deliciously cooling dairy wares that change seasonally. Then it’s an easy hop over to Howitt Park so the kids can let off some steam once the sugar rush kicks in. If a formal dinner in town isn’t your thing, pop into Suganya’s Thai Restaurant to pick up a chilli beef salad takeaway before retiring to the inn’s turquoise pool for a late afternoon splash.

Bogong View Motor Inn

Bright
8.8 Excellent (950 reviews)

Fire up the grill in Mount Beauty for near-Bright accommodation

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A family suite at Mount Beauty’s charming Snowgum means being greeted by tasteful teal, burgundy or soft rose décor when you walk through your private entrance to your minimalist apartment. You’ll set your bags down and feel parental stresses slip from your shoulders as the kids commandeer the floor in front of the flatscreen TV so you can bask in your tranquil garden view. Sizzle some sausages on the motel’s communal barbecue for an easy but kid-pleasing dinner – easily paired with a glass of wine for mum or dad – and let the kids cannonball into the seasonal outdoor swimming pool.

A half-hour’s drive from Bright, this accommodation option offers a slightly different perspective on the Victorian valleys that characterise the region – though you’re never far from the action. Close to your abode, you’ll find the mirror-like expanse of Mount Beauty Pondage where the kids can learn to fish, or you can potter around the nearby Recreation Reserve for some quality family time in the open air. The quick journey to Bright will take you past Sullivan’s Lookout – make sure to stop at sunset for a spectacular photo.

Snowgum

Mount Beauty

Hop over to Harrietville for a Bright accommodation alternative

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Alpine town Harrietville is home to the charming Mountain View Holiday Retreat for a sweet little alternative to Bright itself. There’s something to please both young and old here – imagine easing into a bubbling eight-person hot tub after savouring a chilled glass of Chardonnay in the outdoor wine garden, or curling up in the cosy guest lounge for a tipple in front of the fire while the kids romp around the children’s play area. All rooms are ensuite, and you can wind down in the evenings with a steaming cup of Earl Grey tea thanks to the in-room kettle and fridge.

Start your day right by preparing the continental feast left in your personal kitchenette by thoughtful motel staff, then make the short journey to Bright via mountain-backed Smoko. For something unique, call in at Gunnadoo Berries to sample the lip-smackingly sweet assortment of homegrown fruits before exploring the streets of Bright with your eager kin. Or for something more hunger busting, head to the Harrietville Bakery before 5 p.m. for freshly made pastries, pies and sausage rolls. When the warm afternoon sun fades, tuck the little ones into clean sheets back at the retreat and pour yourself a glinting glass of Ringer Reef’s vespolina to watch evening roll in.

Mountain View Holiday Retreat

Harrietville