But, according to local action adventure guide Les Doyle, that stereotype is quickly changing.

While the fine eating, cafes and boutique bed-and-breakfasts certainly have their place, people are fast coming to town for many other new reasons -- most of them extreme reasons.

Abseiling, rockclimbing, paragliding, kayaking, motorbike riding, four-wheel-driving or cycling -- and, of course, the nearby ski resorts at Falls Creek and Mount Hotham.

"The demographic is changing rather quickly," said Mr Doyle, who moved to Bright four years ago.

"There are a lot of younger people coming to town. There's a lot of opportunities here at the moment."

And with enough work on offer in the town to sustain three paragliding companies, Mr Doyle might just be right.

Like many before him, Mr Doyle moved to Bright to retire.

But that's easier said than done.

"I thought I was ready to retire but it's a bit hard to retire in Bright," he said.

"It never stops."

The town boasts one of Australia's biggest competitive weekend bike races, the Tour of Bright, which attracts more than 550 competitors each year and can claim Australian cycling hero and Tour de France winner Cadel Evans as a one-time entrant.

Almost 3000 cyclists rode in the annual Audax Alpine Classic last January and another bumper field is expected for the next edition of the Alpine fun ride, which will be held in a month's time.

"We've got a number of world-class national and state mountain bike races as well," Mr Doyle said.

"We've got the gravity 12-hour mountain bike enduro happening here on February 4.

"That's one of the biggest races of its kind in Australia.

"As for winter, that's a whole new ball game," Mr Doyle said.

"There is always something pretty big happening."