# Road Spotlight: The Great Alpine Road as Victoria's High Country Opens Up

The snow season is over at Mount Hotham and chains are no longer compulsory. Why November starts the best months on Victoria's Great Alpine Road.

Source: https://lotustrails.com/blog/2026-11-01-great-alpine-road-after-the-snow/

As the northern passes close for the winter, the roads on the other side of the world are coming into their best months. The [Great Alpine Road](/trails/great-alpine-road/) in Victoria is one of them. Our trail guide gives its season as November to April, and today is the first day of it.

## The chains are off

Victoria's declared snow season for 2026 ran from 7 June to 4 October, according to [Alpine Resorts Victoria](https://www.alpineresorts.vic.gov.au/the-resorts/wheel-chain-requirements). During that period every vehicle entering Mount Hotham, Falls Creek and the other alpine resorts had to carry diamond-pattern snow chains, and fit them when signs or police told drivers to. That requirement has now lapsed.

That does not mean the mountain is warm. The road crosses Mount Hotham at 1,840 m, the highest sealed road in Australia that stays open all year, and snow can still fall at that height in late spring. Check the forecast for Hotham itself, not for Bright or Omeo, and expect cold mornings on the exposed ridge.

## The drive

The full road runs 339 km from Wangaratta to Bairnsdale and takes about five hours without stops. The section that matters is the 30 km climb from Harrietville: tight, steep bends through tall forest that open out above the tree line onto a ridge with drops on both sides. Beyond Hotham the road runs through snow gums to Omeo, then follows the Tambo River south through a long, twisting valley.

Bright is the natural base. From there the Tawonga Gap to Mount Beauty and the road up to Falls Creek make a good half-day loop. The Bogong High Plains Road from Falls Creek across to the Omeo side closes in winter, so check [VicTraffic](https://traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/) for its status before planning the longer circuit.

## What to watch for in early November

- **Debris.** The forest sections collect fallen bark, branches and gravel after winter storms. The first runs of the season are when you are most likely to meet them.
- **Wildlife.** Wombats, wallabies and deer are active at dusk. Plan to be off the mountain before dark.
- **Holiday traffic.** Tuesday 3 November is Melbourne Cup Day, a public holiday in much of Victoria, and the days around it are popular for trips to the High Country. Expect more caravans and cyclists on the climbs.

## For a Lotus

The lightness that makes an Elise or [Exige](/models/exige-s2/) feel at home on the Harrietville climb also makes it sensitive to cold tyres and loose surfaces, so give the car a few kilometres to warm up before the steep part. Fuel and accommodation thin out between Bright and Omeo, and our [road trip preparation guide](/guides/road-trip-preparation/) covers what to check before a long day in remote country. For organised club runs and tarmac rallies in Australia, see the [events calendar](/events/).