The Great Alpine Road is Australia's most rewarding mountain drive — a 339-kilometre journey from the prosecco producers of the King Valley, over the summit of Mount Hotham at 1,861 metres, and down through the historic goldfields of Omeo to the vast Gippsland Lakes.; This is the highest year-round sealed road in Australia, and it delivers a driving experience that shifts dramatically with every hour. The northern approach climbs through the warm, Mediterranean-influenced vineyards around Milawa and Myrtleford — home to some of Victoria's finest food and wine producers. Then the road rises into the alpine zone, threading through snow gum forests and hairpin bends that would not be out of place in the European Alps.; Beyond the summit, the descent into Omeo is a masterclass in mountain driving: tight switchbacks, long sweeping curves, and views that stretch to the horizon. The route concludes at the Gippsland Lakes — Australia's largest inland waterway system — where the mountains finally meet the sea.