Picnic on the Edge of Mount Buffalo's Gorge in Victoria's High Country, New This Summer

The adventurous at heart can now soak in the breathtaking views of Mount Buffalo in Victoria's High Country, suspended 300 metres above the valley floor. The Portaledge Picnic experience by adventure guides, Absolute Outdoors, is the only one of its kind in Australia and makes the region's bucket list of adventures in this majestic National Park, a 3.5 hour drive from Melbourne.

Here are Mount Buffalo's five bucket-list experiences this summer (in no particular order):

1. Portaledge Picnic

Following a 25 and 45 metre abseil to get warmed up, you'll then work your way down from the top of Buffalo's Gorge onto your own private portaledge suspended on the cliff face, to enjoy a spread of local produce from picnic purveyors The Loaded Basket as you marvel at the view.
Duration approx. 2.5 hours; priced at $390 for a couple: www.absoluteoutdoors.com.au

2. The Big Walk

For those who prefer two feet firmly on the ground, The Big Walk is one of the region's top day walks. This 11.3km hike (16km with a side trip to Rollasons Falls) ascends through diverse and beautiful vegetation all the way up to the granite plateau. Numerous lookouts along the way offer spectacular views of the Australian Alps and The Gorge. Parks Notes: www.parks.vic.gov.au
Duration approx. 4 - 5 hrs one way; transfers available through Absolute Outdoors $20pp one way, minimum 2 people: www.absoluteoutdoors.com.au

3. North Wall Challenge

Also on the Mount Buffalo Bucket List is the iconic North Wall Challenge with Adventure Guides Australia, among their abseiling adventures into the vast depths of The Gorge. Descend 160 metres in a single pitch before continuing down sheer cliff faces via a series of abseils. The second half of your adventure is a 4-hour ascent involving climbing, scrambling and hiking back to the top of the plateau. Duration approx. 8 hours, from $350pp: www.adventureguidesaustralia.com.au

4. 7 Peaks Run

If running is more your pace, fill your lungs with the fresh alpine air and test your stamina trail running at Mount Buffalo as part of the 7 Peaks Run graded trail network across Victoria's Alpine Resorts. Buffalo's three trails (green, blue, black) explore diverse parts of this boulder-laced landscape. Runs range from 3.4km - 16.8km, with varying levels of technical difficulty; free to access: www.7peaksrun.com.au

5. 7 Peaks Ride

Mount Buffalo is one of the most popular road cycling rides of the 7 Peaks Ride series across Victoria's Alpine Resorts. After a steady climb to the peak, you will be rewarded with awe-inspiring views of the Alpine Valleys as you make the visually spectacular descent. Distance 23km, Rise 1,119m; free to register and ride: www.7peaks.com.au

For more info on these Top 5 Buffalo adventures: www.victoriashighcountry.com.au

More about Mount Buffalo

Located in North East Victoria's alpine region, Mount Buffalo National Park is a 3.5 hour drive from Melbourne. With its granite cliffs and rocky outcrops rising up from the Ovens Valley floor, this 31,000 hectare National Park is an all-season destination. From the popular tourist town of Bright, it's an easy 35km drive to Buffalo's great granite plateau.

A nature lover's paradise, Mount Buffalo offers more than 90km of walking tracks, waterfalls, beautiful wildflowers, forests of snow gums, mossy plains, abundant wildlife, picnic spots and superb bush camping. For those inclined to adventure, Mount Buffalo is equally beguiling with cliffs from which to sail forth in a hang glider, sheer rocky faces to abseil down and underground caves to explore. Come winter, it's a great place to take the family for a fun day's tobogganing or cross-country skiing on this "island" in the sky.