The Legends, Wine and high Country region refers to the country, alpine and outback areas north east of Melbourne leading up to the Murray River. Here you will find pristine lakes and waterways, fertile valleys and fascinating mountain ranges.

The mountain highlands of the southern Great Dividing Range are Victoria's most dominating physical feature. The Alpine National Park covers most of the states high country in its 646,000 hectares. Most of Victoria's ski resorts fall within the park boundaries. The most well known resorts are Mt Buffalo, Falls Creek, Mount Buller and Mt Hotham.

An easy three hour drive from Melbourne, Mt Buller is the most accessible major snow resort in Australia. At just 248km north east of Melbourne, no major Australian Alpine Resort is closer to a capital city or to an international airport.
Situated high in the snowfields, the village is charming with quaint lodges, luxurious hotels and modem apartments positioned so you can ski from the slopes to your front door. There is a fantastic selection of restaurants, cafes and bars and a variety of shops.

Mt Buffalo is surrounded by great blocks of granite and the area is abundant with plant and animal life. In winter Mt Buffalo is a popular cross-country skiing destination, and during the summer, bushwalking, fishing, and horse riding are very popular. The alpine area is popular with walkers during the summer, with wildflowers and waterfalls.

Following the Midland highway, travel through Benalla, Glenrowan and Wangarrata - old bushranger country. You can follow the path of bushrangers such as Ned Kelly and explore the area where "The Man from Snowy River" was created and the film was shot.

Wangaratta is a beautiful area surrounded by lakes, national parks, wineries and historic towns. The surrounding fertile area produces wool, wheat, hops and grapes. The Legends, Wine and High Country are famous for producing high quality wines, cheeses and fruits.

It is in this region where you will discover a place full of history and also a place with breath taking scenery that will no doubt take your mind off all the worries you may have back home.

Victoria's average temperatures in summer and winter are only a few degrees lower than Sydney's but is generally far less humid. The states annual rainfall is also less than Sydney and Brisbane. The only problem with the climate in Victoria is that it is so unpredictable, especially in the spring. In the capital of Melbourne you can sometimes experience the four seasons in one day, so always expect the unexpected when in this state.

Even thought the climate is generally cooler in Melbourne there is rarely times when a big heavy jacket is needed. However, when you venture inland to places such as Ballarat or the mountain regions it can get quite cold. The nights can be very frosty and cold even if the days are clear and warm. In the summer months the whole of Victoria warms to very pleasant temperatures. There can be heat waves in the months of December and January and these can make temperatures reach almost 40C.