There are a lot of quaint mountain communities in the southeast of Australia that appear like they belong on a postcard. They are buried away amid magnificent countryside. The top ten most beautiful towns in Australia’s Alps provide more than just snow-covered hills and ski resorts. There are also a lot of other things to do and see. These little communities are surrounded by national parks with lots of vegetation, rivers that are very clean, and mountains that look different in each season. Each hamlet has its own cultural and visual experience. For example, in the summer, the wildflowers bloom, in the fall, the leaves turn golden, and in the winter, the snow calms everything down.
When travelers go to these lovely mountain communities in Australia, they can see nature at its best. These areas are wonderful for ecotourism and leisurely travel since they feature warm cabins, old structures, and friendly residents. There are also a lot of outdoor activities to do, such hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and winter sports. Every town on our list, from the tiny and rustic Dinner Plain to the stunning Thredbo, has the alpine character that is so typical of Australia. These sites are great for people who want to relax and appreciate the natural beauty surrounding them since they have native fauna, food from the high country, and breathtaking vistas.
The Top Ten Most Scenic Villages In Australia’s Alps
10. Berridale (New South Wales)
Nestled just off the Kosciuszko Road, Berridale perches in the heart of the Snowy Mountains at around 1000 metres above sea level. Known locally as the Crossroads of the Snowy, its iconic avenue of poplar trees comes alive in autumn with bright yellow hues that draw photographers and nature lovers alike. The granite boulders, open pastures and heritage buildings create rustic alpine charm. The heritage walk through town traces pastoral history and old inns where relaxed weekend markets and local events bring out community pride and scenic appeal. Seasonal light changes and mountain air give Berridale a timeless quality. From here, visitors can explore nearby national parks or use the town as a base to reach the ski fields at Thredbo, Perisher and Mount Selwyn. This quiet setting offers welcome serenity compared with busy resort villages, while still staying within reach of skiing, snowshoeing, trout fishing and bushwalking. Berridale may be off the beaten track, but its scenic beauty and heritage roots secure it a place among Australia’s most scenic alpine villages.
9. Adaminaby (New South Wales)
Set at more than 1000 metres elevation, Adaminaby sits in a sweeping valley with rugged high country views framed by distant alpine peaks. Famous for hosting the world’s largest trout monument, the village blends rural poetry with mountain air and seasonal snowfalls. Once a gold miners’ route hub, which inspired the Man from Snowy River narrative, walking through Adaminaby connects legend and landscape. The town is also a gateway to the oldest snowfields in New South Wales around Mount Selwyn, where skiing dates back to the 1860s. Heritage cafés, a nearby Snowy Scheme Museum and rolling farmland set against winter white make this a scene photographer’s canvas. Visitors can sample local produce, join alpine markets or take scenic drives through the high country. The trout lakes and surrounding hills mean hiking, biking or driving yield striking vistas in every season. Adaminaby remains peaceful yet scenic and alive with history and high country allure.
8. Omeo (Victoria)
Located along the Great Alpine Road east of Mount Hotham, Omeo inhabits a green valley encircled by ridgelines and historic high country huts. Tenderly called the City of the Alps, Omeo retains many preserved heritage stone and timber buildings that reflect its gold rush legacy and pastoral traditions. With its modest population, quiet main street and sweeping mountain views, the village feels timeless. Summer wildflowers grace nearby hills while cool winters bring frosty mornings and occasional snow dustings. Visitors come armed with cameras hoping to capture misty mornings over rolling hills and century old architecture. Local cafés and country pubs serve up regional fare, often using smoked trout from nearby streams or high country lamb. Bike riders and hikers enjoy access to trails that lead into Alpine National Park and toward historic cattleman huts. Omeo offers genuine alpine setting, remote scenic charm and nostalgic energy without crowds. It is a true high country escape and badge among scenic alpine villages of Australia.
7. Myrtleford (Victoria)
Myrtleford lies quietly at the base of the Alpine Way, framed by gentle hills, farmland and distant ridges of the Victorian alps. Bordering Bright via the Murray to Mountains trail, this village is characterised by orchard landscapes, seasonal wildflower medleys and crisp mountain air. Cellar doors featuring regional wines and artisan produce thrive amid scenic rural hillscapes. Cycling visitors glide along smooth country roads shaded by olives and vines, while birdsong punctuates dawn. Autumn brings golden canopy colours across high country paddocks making Myrtleford a visual treat. Local markets showcase fresh apples, cheeses, craft goods and seasonal vegetables. Walking trails lead from village edges into eucalyptus forests and towards high country ridgelines that reward with expansive panoramas. While not perched at snow line elevation, Myrtleford’s vantage of alpine slopes and nearby winter resorts lend an adjacent appeal. Nature lovers appreciate the intersection of rural beauty and alpine scenery in a peaceful village setting. This understated gem ranks among Australia’s scenic alpine villages for its landscape viewpoint, seasonal colour and relaxed pace.
6. Bright (Victoria)
Tucked along the Ovens River with the Great Alpine Road winding through, Bright bursts into autumn colour each year, draping poplars and maples in vivid reds, golds and oranges. Wild mountain backdrop rises just beyond town, with Mount Buffalo visible on the horizon. Spring and summer bring wildflower blooms and green paddocks blanketing rolling hills. Riverside walks, family friendly trails and festivals celebrate the natural high country beauty. Boutique shops, craft breweries and local cafés add warmth to the alpine charm. From Bright, drivers head up climbs to higher elevation villages like Falls Creek or Mount Hotham, while mossy forest tracks and vineyards flank the roads up valley. Keen cyclists and hikers enjoy access to alpine climbs and national parks in all seasons. Scenic impact is high: autumn foliage reflected in river water, mountain vistas at each turn, and a heritage atmosphere that anchors Bright as a jewel among Australia’s Alpine villages.
5. Perisher Valley (New South Wales)
Perisher Valley, nestled at around 1720 metres in Kosciuszko National Park, forms the heart of Australia’s largest ski resort, spread across multiple adjacent villages like Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes and Guthega. In winter, snow packed slopes stretch in every direction, while summer reveals wildflower meadows, snow gums and alpine lakes. Access via the scenic Skitube Alpine Railway or by road transports visitors directly into serene mountain scenery. Accommodation and dining options, though fewer than at larger resorts, fit seamlessly into panoramic backdrops. Outside ski season, bushwalkers trek to rocky vantage points, anglers find trout in clear streams, and photographers capture the dazzling contrast of bright wildflowers against rugged granite peaks. Perisher’s elevated plateau offers wide open scenic beauty rivalled only by remote alpine wilderness. A vibrant yet naturally framed village base, it showcases alpine landscape like few places in Australia. Seasonal landscape shifts give Perisher Valley a visual rhythm that earns its spot among top scenic alpine villages in the Alps.
4. Charlotte Pass (New South Wales)
Perched at around 1760 metres, Charlotte Pass is Australia’s highest alpine settlement and uniquely accessible only by oversnow vehicles in winter or on foot in summer. Its elevation delivers panoramic vistas, crisp high country air and snow pine woodland that feels remote and pure. Trails radiate directly from the settlement toward Mount Kosciuszko, keeping alpine scenery at immediate reach. There is no through road, the village structure is small but its alpine landscape impact is immense. Visitors stay in rustic lodges perched above snow gums and granite ridges, stepping outside into panoramic snowfields or wildflower slopes depending on the season. In summer, the valley hums with bird calls, wild alpine daisy clusters and gentle streams trickling over mossy logs. In winter, untouched snow blankets everything in soft white. A backcountry atmosphere prevails. As Australia’s most elevated village, Charlotte Pass earns its place among scenic alpine destinations where landscape and elevation combine to deliver dramatic setting and unforgettable high country views.
3. Thredbo (New South Wales)
Thredbo Alpine Village occupies a prime location at about 1370 metres, perched below steep ridges and set beside Thredbo River in Kosciuszko National Park. Architecturally styled to resemble a European ski village, timber chalets and steep roofed lodges line narrow winding lanes, creating a charming alpine aesthetic. Winter brings snowfields and Australia’s longest runs, summer unveils wildflower expanses and the Kosciuszko Express chairlift that transports visitors toward the continent’s highest peak. A lively village hub offers over 30 cafés, restaurants and shops, while events like jazz festivals and live music nights animate the mountain setting. Trails for mountain biking, fishing, bobsled luge and guided hikes fill warm months with activity and scenic terrain. The village pools, leisure centre and snowsports museum add local character. From alpine river banks to granite bowl ridgelines, Thredbo is scenic and sociable. Its combination of high country vistas, structured village life and year round adventure make it a standout among Australia’s alpine villages.
2. Falls Creek (Victoria)
Falls Creek sits high in Victoria’s High Country surrounded by dense alpine national park and peaks rising above 1800 metres. Its layout is entirely ski in ski out, so streets, lodges and cafes lie at the heart of snowy open slopes and snow gums, scenes that transition into wildflower meadows and mountain lakes in warm months. Hiking trails such as Aqueduct Trail and Rocky Valley Lake walk lead to alpine vistas, historic cattlemen’s huts and rare mountain pygmy possums, visual hallmarks of the high plains landscape. Mountain biking routes spread across lift served terrain and established bike parks, cutting through slopes and bushland. Winter snowfields deliver crisp scenic backdrops, and summer events like trail runs and mountain festivals fill resort life with seasonal energy. With 90 runs, terrain parks and cross country tracks across alpine ridges and forest clearings, Falls Creek offers an immersive nature based scenic setting year round. The surrounding Bogong High Plains provide sweeping panoramic splendour and quiet high altitude beauty that few villages match.
1. Mount Buller (Victoria)
Although structured as a resort rather than a traditional town, Mount Buller alpine village perches around 1600 metres and delivers panoramic snowy ridges, alpine meadows and crisp mountain air in every season. Known for reliable snowfalls and steep terrain, the resort village is framed by dramatic peaks and alpine forest. In summer the slopes transform into wildflower fields and bike trails threading through high plains. Alpine chalets cluster around a pedestrian precinct filled with cafés, shops and restaurants with mountain views. Visitors can hike to ridgelines, cycle downhill tracks or relax lakeside amid reflective mountain scenery. As one of the highest settlements in Victoria Australia Alps its seasonal landscape shifts bring evergreen pines in spring, cool summers and crisp white winters. The visual impact is dramatic yet welcoming. With combined alpine architecture, high country trails and panoramic vistas this resort village earns the top ranking among Australia’s most scenic alpine settings.
