hero media

This new multi-day alpine hike turns into a festival each night

Taylah DarnellBy Taylah Darnell
This isn’t just any walk, it’s an outdoor adventure unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

Global trekking company HIGHLANDER is known for its unique approach to hiking and camping, hosting numerous multi-day adventures around the world. Launched out of Croatia in 2017, it has guided groups into the Himalayas, through San Bernardino National Forest in California, along Costa Rica’s El Camino and all across Europe.

Now, HIGHANDER is officially heading Down Under for its first-ever Australian series. Unlike other popular Aussie hikes, these aren’t the kind you’ll find in the guidebooks. They’re long, challenging and demand you dig deep. But they’re also full of after-hours magic that ordinary treks can’t offer, going well beyond just clocking kilometres and sleeping under the stars.

A look at Australia’s first HIGHLANDER

Mount Hotham in Victoria
The new HIGHLANDER hike will journey through Mount Hotham.

Coming to Australia in 2026, HIGHLANDER’s inaugural hike will run from 18–22 March in Mount Hotham, Victoria. And while it may seem geared towards experienced adventurers only, HIGHLANDER is all about making multi-day hikes accessible, enjoyable and stress-free for all.

Guests can join for just one, two or three of the full five days, tailoring the trip to match personal experience and fitness levels. The one-day pass is perfect for beginners, while the two- and three-day options provide deeper immersion in nature and a stronger sense of connection with the group, as well as a taste of HIGHLANDER’s evening experiences. Opting for the entire five days gives hardcore hikers the chance to truly push themselves and test their endurance.

Mount Hoham hike with HIGHLANDER
Participants can tailor the length of their trip to match experience levels.

The guided trek will unfold across Victoria’s Alpine National Park, where you’ll explore multiple trails, historic huts, old mines and mountainous peaks, taking in some of the region’s most breathtaking views along the way. The exact route is only available upon registration, but one thing is certain – guests are in for the adventure of a lifetime.

A hiking experience with a twist

Mount Hoham hike with HIGHLANDER
Embrace the spirit of adventure with like-minded adventurers.

With HIGHLANDER, the adrenaline doesn’t drop when the day of hiking ends – and that’s what sets it apart. Camping out isn’t just about rest and recovery, it’s about connecting, reflecting and celebrating. It’s a form of passion travel, where like-minded individuals can come together, disconnect from the chaos of everyday life, immerse themselves in nature and embrace the spirit of adventure.

After a long day on foot, the communal campsite turns into a mini festival, with live music, wellness classes, educational workshops and interactive activations for all. Daily group activities can include everything from nature talks and stargazing to yoga and breathwork, all designed to help you learn something new and establish connections within the community.

Mount Hoham hike with HIGHLANDER
Join a stargazing session around the campfire come evening.

By day, participants focus on the physical side of the journey, while evenings are dedicated to nurturing the mind and spirit – an act of wellness that prioritises personal investment and self-improvement. Whether you choose to partake in every session or simply swap stories around the campfire, you’ll wrap up each day feeling refreshed and restored, ready for a well-earned rest in your private tent.

The fine print

The real magic of a HIGHLANDER experience lies in the smaller details. While you’re busy soaking up the adventure, the team handles everything else. Logistics like food and water, safety and camp set-up, transport and storage, are all taken care of behind the scenes.

Mount Hoham hike with HIGHLANDER
Logistics like food and water are managed by the team so you can enjoy the adventure.

However, guests will need to pack some of their own gear beforehand. Items such as hiking boots, tents, sleeping bags, a backpack, water bottle, torch, bowl and cutlery, clothing, compass and first-aid kit are all mandatory.

Safety remains a top priority on all HIGHLANDER hikes, so injury insurance, public liability coverage and access to 24-hour medical staff are all included. Participants are also given a hiker tag, which tracks location, and sweepers close the track each day to ensure nobody is left behind.

Registration for the Mount Hotham multi-day hike with HIGHLANDER is open now. Prices range from $129 for a one-day pass to $1165 for the full five days, with costs set to rise as spots fill up.

Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
See all articles
Absollut Apartments Mt Hotham
Mt Hotham

Where to ski, stay and apres at Mt Hotham

Mt Hotham is probably Australia’s best resort for advanced riders needing an adrenaline shot.

Read more
Couples Enjoy Onsen Mt Hotham
Mt Hotham

Mt Hotham Onsen Retreat & Spa

That achy feeling after skiing is about to be a distant memory when you check into Mt Hotham’s Onsen Retreat & Spa.

Read more
A sauna floating on a lake
Beechworth

A floating sauna has just opened in Victoria’s High Country

Pause and unwind in this Scandi-style wellness retreat.

Read more
Rutherglen Loops in Victoria
High Country

This new trail winds through one of Victoria’s best wine regions

There’s a new way to discover the Rutherglen.

Read more

How a $1 deal saved Bendigo’s historic tramways

    Megan ArkinstallBy Megan Arkinstall
    Continue
    The passionate community that saved Bendigo Tramways has kept the story of this city alive for generations.

    It was an absolute steal: a fleet of 23 trams for just $1. But such a fortunate purchase didn’t happen easily. It was 1972 when the Bendigo Trust handed over a single buck for the city’s historic collection of battery, steam and electric trams, which had transported locals since 1890.

    inside the historic Bendigo Tram
    Bendigo Tramways is a historic transport line turned tourist service. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    The city’s tram network had been declared defunct since 1970 due to post-war shortages in materials to upkeep the trams and declining passenger numbers as motor vehicles were increasing. However, determined locals would not hear of their beloved trams being sold off around the world.

    The Bendigo Trust was enlisted to preserve this heritage, by converting the trams into a tourist service. The Victorian government approved a trial, however news spread that the Australian Electric Tramways Museum in Adelaide had acquired one of the streetcars for its collection.

    a tram heading to Quarry Hill in 1957
    A tram on its way to Quarry Hill in 1957. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    An impassioned group rallied together to make this physically impossible. Breaking into the tram sheds, they welded iron pipes to the rails, removed carbon brushes from the motors, and formed a blockade at the depot. The community response was extraordinary, and a $1 deal was sealed.

    A new chapter for the city’s fleet

    the old Tramways Depot and Workshop
    The old Tramways Depot and Workshop is one of the stops on the hop-on, hop-off service. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Today, Bendigo Tramways welcomes some 40,000 passengers annually, operating as a hop-on, hop-off touring service aboard the restored trams. Fifteen of the now 45-strong fleet are dubbed ‘Talking Trams’ because of the taped commentary that is played along the route. The trams loop between Central Deborah Gold Mine and the Bendigo Joss House Temple, which has been a place of Chinese worship since 1871, via other sites including the old Tramways Depot and Workshop.

    a Gold Mine Bendigo Tram
    The fleet comprises 45 trams that have been restored. (Image: Visit Victoria/Robert Blackburn)

    Keeping things interesting, throughout the year visitors can step aboard different themed trams. Tram No. 302 becomes the Yarn Bomb Tram, decorated both inside and out with colourful crochet by an anonymous group of locals.

    During the festive season, Tram No. 15 operates as a tinsel-festooned Santa Tram, and the big man himself hides out somewhere along the route for excited children to find. And on selected dates, the adults-only Groove Tram runs nighttime tours of the city, accompanied by local musicians playing live tunes and a pop-up bar.

    the historic post office turned visitor centre in Bendigo
    Visitors can hop on and off to see the city’s sites such as the historic post office turned visitor centre. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    As well as preserving the city’s history, however, the continuation of the tram service has kept the skills of tram building and craftsmanship alive in a practical sense. Bendigo’s Heritage Rail Workshop is world-renowned for restoring heritage trams and repurposing vehicles in creative ways.

    Locally, for example, Tram No. 918 was transformed into the Dja Dja Wurrung Tram with original Aboriginal artworks by emerging artist Natasha Carter, with special commentary and music that shares the stories and traditions of Bendigo’s first people. You can’t put a price on preserving history. Nonetheless, it was a dollar very well spent.