Type Highway Route number(s) B500 (1996-present) | Opened 1998 Length 308 km | |
 | ||
Former
route number State Route 156 (1986–1996)
Wangaratta-Omeo
as Ovens Highway & Alpine Road
State Route 195 (1986–1996)
Omeo-Bairnsdale as Omeo Highway NW end Old Hume Highway
Wangaratta, Victoria SE end Princes Highway
Bairnsdale, Victoria Major cities Bright, Myrtleford, Harrietville, Victoria, Dinner Plain, Omeo, Bruthen, Swifts Creek, Ovens, Ensay Via Myrtleford, Ovens, Bright, Harrietville, Victoria, Mount Hotham, Dinner Plain, Omeo, Swifts Creek, Ensay, Bruthen Major settlements Myrtleford, Ovens, Bright, Harrietville, Victoria, Mount Hotham, Dinner Plain, Omeo, Swifts Creek, Ensay, Bruthen | ||
The Great Alpine Road (B500) is a country tourist road in Victoria, Australia, running from Wangaratta in the north to Bairnsdale in the east, and passing through the Victorian Alps. The road was given its current name because it was considered the mountain equivalent to Victoria's world famous Great Ocean Road in the south-west of the state. The road usually remains open during winter, however vehicles travelling between Harrietville and Omeo are required to carry diamond pattern snow chains during the declared snow season.
Contents
Map of Great Alpine Rd, Victoria, Australia
Route details
The Great Alpine Road winds through mountains, valleys and forests, and past rivers, vineyards and farms. At a length of 303 kilometres (188 mi), it is Australia's highest year-round accessible sealed road. The section over Mount Hotham rises to an altitude of 1,840 metres (6,040 ft) AMSL. It is blanketed with snow during winter months and must be cleared on a daily basis. Extreme weather conditions can sometimes still result in the road being closed between Harrietville and Omeo.
The Great Alpine Road links Victoria's North East with Gippsland. It was completed with the sealing of the section between Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain and was officially opened on 4 April 1998. The road itself has existed since colonial times in some form, but was unsealed for much of its history, and was only given the Great Alpine Road designation after being fully sealed.
The current Great Alpine Road includes the former Ovens Highway from Wangaratta to Bright, and a former section of the Omeo Highway from Omeo to Bruthen, along with the section of the Omeo Highway from Bruthen to Bairnsdale.