Dinner Plain is located amongst some of the rarest plant communities in Australia - Alpine woodland and Alpine grassland. These plant communities are nationally recognised and are protected by Australian and Victorian Government Acts. Obtaining plants for landscaping and revegetation can be a difficult process as only indigenous plant material can be used at Dinner Plain.

The Victorian Alps Nursery is the only place to source native plants for Dinner Plain. You can find the Nursery at 5338 Great Alpine Road, Ovens. The nursery is open by appointment only. To make an appointment, contact Manager, Rebecca Read, on 0408 151 130, or email alpinenursery@hotham.com.au

Plants will need to be pre-ordered.

Guidelines for Planting at Dinner Plain

• Minimise disturbance: leaving the alpine landscape intact is the best practice.
• Park vehicles in designated parking areas and use pathways and roads: NEVER PARK ON THE GRASS.
• Stabilise disturbed ground: disturbance or removal of plants will open the way for erosion and the potential for weeds to become established.
• Level out disturbed area with a rake to create an even surface.
• Lumps and dips will trap water and become boggy.
• Cover disturbed ground with certified weed free straw: this will help hold the soil in place.
• Weed free area: hand pull or spot spray any weeds to minimise competition when establishing native seedlings.
• Plant at the right time: best results will be achieved planting in to moist soils. October/November and April through to early May are the best times to plant at Dinner Plain.
• Protect young plants: use tree bags or appropriate fencing to protect new plantings from rabbits and inappropriate human access. Bags and fencing can remain over winter however they may need to be highlighted with an indicator such as colourful tape to ensure no one accidentally damages the plant.
• Follow up: make sure the revegetated area remains weed free and moist. Watering through the first summer may be essential if the plants are exposed to direct sun and wind. Making sure bags or fencing are stable is important as young plants do not like being restricted. Some plants may need to be replaced if there has been attrition over summer or winter.

Dogs are welcome to visit year-round, but please be sure you are aware of the rules in place to make sure dogs and their owners act responsibly in our delicate environment.

Conditions

For dogs to visit Dinner Plain, they must be registered with your own local Council. They will also need to be kept on a leash in public at all times and you must clear up after them (so a doggy bag must be carried at all times.). Extra bags can be picked up from dispensers beside rubbish bins around the village.

Please do not cover excrement with snow, because when the snow melts it is still there. It’s a privilege that dogs are permitted in Dinner Plain, so please don’t ruin it by being a bad pet owner.

The walking trails within the boundaries of Dinner Plain village are available for dogs on leads. Dogs are strictly prohibited from entering the Alpine National Park, this includes the Brabralung Trail, Room with a View, Dead Timber Hill, Montane Walk, Carmichael Falls and the Cross-Country Ski tracks adjacent to Scrubbers End.

Please note that there is no off-leash area in Dinner Plain.

The Dinner Plain Community Centre is located in the heart of Dinner Plain in Horseshoe Circle.

This community facility is that is available for hire from $17 per hour, with options to hire the whole facility, or the hall or kitchen separately.

The Hall is an ideal venue for small functions or events, while the kitchen is available for hire for food preparation and catering purposes.

For more information or to book the Hall, visit https://eservices.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/facilitie...

Kerbside Hutch Collection

Outdoor hutches are used to store general waste and recycling rubbish you generate.

Ratepayers are charged:

• $603.00 for standard waste services.
• $1400.00 for commercial waste services.

High density bags are provided to both permanent residential and holiday properties.

General waste bags are pink tinted, and recycling bags are clear.

When your bags are full, we ask that you tie them off securely in a knot so that your waste doesn't fly away and litter the village. These bags can then be placed into the hutch at the front of the property.

Your waste is then collected by our contractor and hand-sorted at the Scrubbers End Depot, so it's important that you put the correct items in the right bag.

Public Place Bins

There are many public place bins throughout the village.

When you're out and about grabbing a coffee or a bite to eat, make sure you dispose of your general waste and recycling in the bins available to ensure we keep our animals and alpine environment safe.

Keeping our alpine village beautiful is easy! Remember to do your part when in Dinner Plain.

Fitzy’s and the Collectors Cirques are multi-purpose trails that encircle the entire village, making them ideal for walking or jogging in Dinner Plain.

All of the Dinner Plain walking trails and the mountain bike trails can be used for hiking and snowshoeing during winter when the snow conditions are right.

You do need to be suitably dressed and be prepared to retrace your steps if you lose the trail in deep snow.

The walks starting from across the highway from the village are all beautiful in winter.

Try the Montane Loop for a short walk or Room with a View and Dead Timber Hill for longer excursions.

You can also walk along the Dinner Plain 4WD track towards Precipice Plain.

The Brabralung Trail and the trails to the east of the village are dedicated XC ski trails.

These trails are groomed when snow conditions allow and should not be walked on. If you are snowshoeing, stay to the very outer edges of the trails.

Deep foot prints cause the snow to melt more quickly and make the trail dangerous for skiers.

The Peashooter Run is a dedicated tobogganing area and is the only area within Dinner Plain where toboggans should be used.

The Cobungra Platter is a perfect area for beginner skiers and snowboarders.

The best areas to enjoy playing in the snow are near the village entrance inside the round-about or amongst the trees near the Dinner Plain Hut.