Mount Hotham

The Great Alpine Road leaves Harrietville among tall forest, beginning a climb whose character changes markedly before the finish. The Meg interrupts the lower ascent with a sharper pitch, but beyond the first sustained climbing comes a long stretch of much gentler road. That middle section is part of Hotham’s identity: the mountain gives you time to look ahead before asking for another substantial effort.

Higher up, the trees thin and the road takes to the ridgeline, opening views across the Victorian Alps. Short descents break up the final climbing, so height gained never quite tells the whole story. CRB Hill and the Diamantina bring steep work back into the ride after the easier middle ground. The contrast between enclosed forest and exposed upper slopes gives this Harrietville approach a strong sense of progression. Hotham is an ascent to appreciate in stages.