Eildon to Jamieson

The road

The road from Eildon to Jamieson is the High Country equivalent of a back road that rewards those who bothered to look at the map properly. The 60-kilometre sealed run follows the Big River valley between two small towns that most visitors treat as through-routes to somewhere else, missing the road between them entirely. The Big River valley is granite country - rounded boulders, clear pools and the kind of scrubby bush that looks unremarkable until the light hits it right. The road is narrow and follows the river contours rather than cutting through the landscape, which produces a series of naturally flowing corners. There are no marked lookouts or tourist infrastructure - just the road, the river and the granite hills. The surface is well-maintained and the traffic is light enough that you can set your own pace. Both Eildon and Jamieson have good pubs and the combination of sealed mountain road, river scenery and cold beer at the end makes this a day-trip formula worth repeating.

The region

Lake Eildon is a large reservoir at the edge of the High Country, formed by the Eildon Dam on the Goulburn River. It is a water sports and fishing destination for Melbourne families but its main road, the Maroondah Highway, is fast and functional rather than interesting. Jamieson is a small town at the junction of the Jamieson and Goulburn rivers, known for fly fishing and as a base for 4WD tracks into the surrounding hills. The Big River between them is a tributary of the Goulburn and is designated as a protected river corridor.

Before you go

Fuel at Eildon and Jamieson. The road is open year-round and fully sealed. Spring flows can bring the river to road level at the crossings but these are bridge crossings rather than fords. Very light traffic. Good phone coverage in the valley sections, limited on the ridgelines.

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