Location

Bogong Outdoor Education Centre is situated in Bogong Village (700m asl) in the foothills of the Victorian Alps in North East Victoria. Mount Bogong (1,986m) is Victoria's highest peak and is closeby. Albury/Wodonga is approx 90 kilometers to the NW, and Melbourne is approx 380 kilometers to the south. The Falls Creek Ski Resort and the Bogong High Plains (1600m asl) is 16km or 30 minutes drive away, which allows quick access to beautiful mountain scenery, wildflowers, walking tracks, rock climbing, mountain biking, rogaining and skiing.

Access can be by bus or vehicle using the Hume Freeway and the Great Alpine Road to Myrtleford. From there you drive via the Happy Valley Road over into the Kiewa Valley then along the Kiewa Valley Highway to Mt Beauty which is at the head of the valley. From Mount Beauty Bogong Village is another 15 KM on a good sealed winding mountain road called the Bogong High Plains Road. Train access is via Wangaratta or Wodonga and then bus to the Centre.

The nearby Bogong High Plains is part of Victoria's Alpine National Park which has a number of special values such as nature conservation, water catchment, diverse landscapes, various recreation uses, cultural and historic features.

All activities are carried out locally with skiing, bushwalking, extended rock climbing, mountain biking, rogaining and day walks all being carried out on the Bogong High Plains. Other activities are carried out in Bogong Village or the surrounding forests.

Climate

Bogong's climate is influenced by two factors:

• Being situated in North East Victoria where a Meditteranean climate prevails i.e. cold wet winter and dry hot summer.
• The orographic effect of being at 700m and therefore in the middle altitudes of the Victorian Alps.

Accordingly the winters are usually wet, with snow falling and settling on the ground a few times each winter. Evening temperatures around the zero degrees celsius mark and daily maxima of 8 degrees celsius are not uncommon. Daily rainfalls of 25mm are not uncommon also.

In summer Bogong's altitude (700m asl) has the effect of moderating the hot daily temperatures experienced in the valleys below. Typically temperatures are approx 5-6 degrees below that of Mt Beauty in the valley below. Daily maxima in the order of 25-30 degrees could be expected on a hot summer's day. UV radiation tends to be high with readings in excess of 10 on clear days. UV radiation is two times higher than at see level, thus sunburn is a concern.

Spring and autumn are typically unsettled times for weather with a great range of wind and rainfall conditions prevailing.

It should be emphasised that snow and blizzardous conditions can be expected at any time of the year in Alpine Regions and therefore adequate and appropriate clothing needs to be available.