The Punka Pub has local owners and has been recently refurbished.
The whole of the front now opens to include tables and seating to the kerb under large old trees.
The indoors/outdoors blur into one. A cool vapour mist further reducing the heat.
Knowing we would have a large dinner, we chose to share a mixture of starters that proved enough for three.
They were a perfect choice and of course we shared a dessert. The main meals looked delicious too.
Tahlia Brain strummed her guitar and sang in the background.
My friend has not been in the Bright/Myrtleford area since her children were little, so was a ready tourist.
She and her husband had introduced their children to a lifetime interest in mountain walking among the snow gums and skiing while staying at the Mt Buffalo Chalet.
That shows how long ago she was there.
The huge timber chalet has not offered accommodation since the area was impacted by a bushfire in 2006, but it is still there and looking just as beautiful.
Our day trip started with an unexpected stop at the first pullover (the Mokoan rest area northbound) on the Hume Fwy as you leave Benalla to make a phone call.
I have lived in Benalla for 23 years and never had reason to stop there before.
The view over Winton Wetlands and beyond was a great surprise, especially as there is now lots of water.
If you know where to look you can just see the thousands of small trees planted by volunteers to create a safe corridor for the endangered regent honeyeater.
I might go back with binoculars and a picnic to use the well-shaded tables and will now probably revisit Winton Wetlands.
We then drove towards Bright, enjoying the still green countryside, and commented on the beautiful trees, especially as you enter Myrtleford.
We bypassed Red Ramia emporium, promising to spend time there on the way home.
Instead we stopped at Chakra to get a golden latte, which we drank in the nearby park with its statue honouring the area’s tobacco growers.
We watched children playing snakes and ladders on the cleverly designed ceramic artwork and sat on the uniquely made wooden deck, using local timber, above the Ovens River.
Next stop was Bright, where again the trees dominated and gave a welcome cooling feeling.
The saying that the temperature is one thing but ‘feels like’ another was proven because of the trees.
In Bright we noticed Bright Brewery, that Simone’s restaurant is now called Elm, and that hundreds of families were enjoying the river and substantial splash park.
There were vehicles with mountain bikes attached and hang-gliding equipment, but we were not there for adventure.
We could not find the sign to the old gold mining township of Wandiligong with its well-known Wandi Pub, but will save finding it for another time when its forthcoming renovations are completed.
We did not stay in Bright but headed back past the Porepunkah golf course to the Punka Pub.
Of course we stopped at Red’s on the way home. It lived up to everything my friend had heard about it. We left empty-handed, but I have to go back to ‘collect’ something.
It now seems that my daughter, her five-year-old and I will be back for another lunch at the Punka on Sunday. Her car boot will have three boogie boards for us to float down the river and room for my purchase.
My friend and I will go back in autumn to see all those beautiful trees in their autumnal colours and we will find the Wandi Pub, from memory it has an open fire.
Day trips are so much fun, there are endless possibilities!
– Suzie Pearce
18°C