NORTH EAST VICTORIAN TOURS
We offer a range of specialists and tours across North East Victoria including popular historic towns, wine regions, gourmet food districts and Murray River townships
BENALLA/GLENROWAN
Benalla rests on the Broken River’s edge of Victoria’s high country. For Ned Kelly enthusiasts, a visit to the district is a must. Benalla was the epicentre of Kelly gangs’ bushranging days. A short drive away is the site of the famous Kelly Seige – within the tiny hamlet of Glenrowan.
ALBURY/WODONGA
The twin cities of Albury/Wodonga today offer various cultural calling cards. Art galleries, luxury hotels and dedicated street hawker markets deliver gourmet-style fast bites matched with a keen serving of fine Australian art.
RUTHERGLEN
When gold mining abated in the mid-late 19th century, a quiet wine revolution took over, which set the scene for this town’s glittering future. A new renaissance is happening in Rutherglen, driven by old retainers and young guns.
YARRAWONGA/MULWALA
Easily North East Victoria’s most popular tourist destination, this town is geared around fun in the sun, with lazy days around Lake Mulwala a must.
MILAWA GOURMET REGION
The Milawa Gourmet Region is a fantastic food and wine mecca with award-winning cafes, food producers, wineries and restaurants. It is only 15 minutes drive south of Wangaratta, Victoria.
KING VALLEY
40kms South of Wangaratta is the King Valley wine region, recently re-branded Prosecco Road due to the popularity of this Northern Italian style sparkling wine. Also cultivated are Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Barbera wine grapes.
SHEPPARTON
While Shepparton’s food bowl, produce and shopping choices have grown, it now welcomes a vibrant middle eastern population that trades in a flavoursome range of spices and delicacies. Shepparton is also entertaining with vibrant arts, events, history and heritage.
BEECHWORTH
Beechworth is a must-see historic gold mining town nestled in the foothills of the Australian Alps. Considering its wide range of historic sites and buildings, wineries, shops and eateries, it truly does deserve a full day tour (or longer) on its own.
COBRAM
Cobram is situated on the Murray River and in the heart of Victoria’s food bowl, the Goulburn Valley. Be captivated by the country lifestyle, Australia’s largest inland beach and the floral and fauna that colours its river-flanked River Red Gum forests.
RUTHERGLEN
When gold mining abated in the mid-late 19th century, a quiet wine revolution took over, which set the scene for this Rutherglen’s glittering future. Today a new renaissance is happening in Rutherglen, driven by old retainers and young guns. After decades of fastidious fortified production, which still casts a spell on all who taste the wines, a groundswell of new-world table wines is taking over, produced by third and fourth-generation winemakers.
Key Sites, Eateries & Entertainment: Aboriginal Exhibitions Gallery at De Bortoli Rutherglen Estate | All Saints Estate | Campbells Winery | Chambers Rosewood Winery | Jones Winery and Restaurant | Lake Moodemere Estate | Warrabilla Wines | Buller Wines | Scion Vineyard | Parker Pies | Pickled Sisters Cafe | Caffeine n Machine | The Wicked Virgin & Calico Town Wines | Gooramadda Olives
KING VALLEY
40kms South of Wangaratta is the King Valley wine region, recently re-branded Prosecco Road due to the popularity of this Northern Italian style sparkling wine. The Italian immigrants who call the valley home also cultivate Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Barbera wine grapes, ideally suited to the savoury provincial Italian dishes served within their cellar door restaurants.
Key Sites, Eateries & Entertainment: Dal Zotto Wines | Pizzini Wines | Christmont Wines | Power’s Lookout | Paradise Falls | Gold Rush Ballooning | King River Brewing | King River Estate | Gracebrook Wines | La Cantina Vineyard | Red Feet Wines | Politini Wines
BENALLA/GLENROWAN
Benalla rests on the Broken River’s edge of Victoria’s high country. For Ned Kelly enthusiasts, a visit to the district is a must. Benalla was the epicentre of the Kelly Gang’s bushranging days and promotes the Kelly Gang’s Stringy Bark Creek campsite and members of the Kelly Gang’s gravesites within the local cemetery. Ned Kelly’s famous blood-stained cummerbund is on display year-round at Benalla’s Pioneer and Costume Museum.
Benalla is also home to the architectural design Benalla Art Gallery, which houses a significant ‘Ned Kelly’ series tapestry produced by late Australian master painter/artist Sidney Nolan. The Benalla Art Gallery collection is also one of the state’s most exciting early colonial landscape art collections. If you prefer modern art, explore the town for its extensive collections of murals and street art, culminating annually in its Wall-to-Wall street art Festival.
The Benalla Botanical gardens, established in 1959, are situated beside lake Benalla and are home to hundreds of rare roses. It is a must-visit location for exploring the various flower scents mid-Spring. The nearby town of Glenrowan is at the heart of the Ned Kelly story as it was the site of the final siege and capture of the Kelly Gang in 1880. Connecting the region to its 1800’s past, today, visitors can enjoy premium old-block Shiraz and Durif wines produced at Glenrowan’s Baileys of Glenrowan winery.
Key Sites, Eateries & Entertainment: Benalla Art Gallery | Benalla Pioneer and Costume Museum (that houses Ned Kelly’s Cummerbund) | Benalla Botanical Rose Gardens (also featuring the popular 1950s ‘rocket’ in the children’s playground) | Stringybark Creek Campsite, south of Benalla | The Big Ned Kelly, Glenrowan | Ned Kelly Museum and Homestead, Glenrowan | Ann Jones Inn (site), location of the Ned Kelly siege
milawa GOURMET REGION
The Milawa Gourmet Region is located 15kms South East of Wangaratta, Victoria, roughly centred between the King and Ovens rivers, which drain the North-Western slopes of the Victorian Alps. While it began as a food-growing region producing beef, lamb, dairy and olives, it has recently grown into a tourism mecca with award-winning gourmet food producers complimenting the premium cool climate wines of the nearby King Valley.
Originally famous for the historic Brown Brothers winery. Today, it is also home to a collection of fine food purveyors, including olive growers, cheesemakers, apiarists, mustard producers and more.
Key Sites, Eateries & Entertainment: Sam Miranda Wines | King River Cafe | | Milawa Mustards | Gamze Smokehouse | Brown Brothers Winery | Milawa Cheese Company | Woodpark Wines | Walkabout Apiaries | Redbank Wines | John Gehrig Wines
BEECHWORTH
Beechworth is a must-see historic gold mining town nestled in the foothills of the Australian Alps. Considering its wide range of historic sites and buildings, wineries, shops and eateries, it truly does deserve a full day tour (or longer) on its own.
As one of Victoria’s most successful gold mining regions, the wealth of its inhabitant’s toils is evident in its historic buildings. The town’s original Powder Magazine, Court House, Town Hall and Tower are all wonderfully preserved in their unshakable sparkling granite stonework.
The town is also famous for its chef’s continued ability to produce award-winning food. Its fame includes cafes, breweries, restaurants, the town’s now-famous Beechworth Bakery, and two hat Provenance Restaurant operated by chef/owner Michael Ryan. Starting a High Country craft brewing craze in the early 2000’s, Bridge Road Brewery is now one of Australia’s leading producers of fresh-hopped ales. The newly renovated Billson’s Brewery is also home to the historic Murray Cordial Brewing Company and today produces an artisan range of cordials, historic beers, gins and whiskey.
Surrounding Beechworth is a collection of boutique vineyards that continue to lead the pack in cool-climate, French-style winemaking. While only a handful are open to the public, the town’s restaurants and wine bars offer ample tasting opportunities.
Key Sites, Eateries & Entertainment: Beechworth Gorge Walk | Lake Sambel and Chinese Gardens | Mayday Hills (decommissioned) lunatic asylum & Ghost Tours | Old Beechworth Gaol, Powder Magazine, Courthouse, Burke Museum | The Provenance (two hat restaurant) | El Dorado Road Winery Cellar Door | Project 49 (cafe) | Bridge Road and Billson’s Brewery | Freeman on Ford (boutique hotel) | Pennyweight Winery | Glenbosch Wine Estate
ALBURY/WODONGA
The twin cities of Albury and Wodonga have grown over the past few decades to include a host of cultural calling cards. Wodonga’s central shopping now boasts a luxury hotel and dedicated street hawker market-style food precinct that delivers premium fast food. Its Art Space gallery is a region leader, featuring local and touring artists.
Just across the Murray River, Albury also has a strong arts focus. With a new Aboriginal Art Gallery within the Quest hotel and a recent multimillion-dollar extension of the regional gallery, it’s a perfect spot to explore contemporary and Australian art. A recent regional airport terminal expansion makes interstate travel a comforting breeze. Get a great view of the city’s ‘main drag’ Dean Street, by visiting the peak of Monument Hill. A stroll or a picnic stop within the Botanical Gardens is also a revitalising experience.
Key Sites, Eateries & Entertainment: MAMA Murray Art Museum, Albury | Fruit Flying Circus | Monument Hill Parklands | Botanical Gardens | Riverdeck Cafe | The Proprietor Cafe | Bistro Selle | Albury Airport | Noreuil Park Foreshore | Dean Street Shopping | Lake Hume Weir | Bonegilla Migrant Experience
YARRAWONGA/
MULWALA
Easily North East Victoria’s most popular tourist destination, this town is geared around fun in the sun, with lazy days around Lake Mulwala a must. Boasting more sunny days on average the Queensland, Yarrawonga is the apple’s eye in Victoria and hardly disappoints. It is no wonder thousands of people visit this town every year.
Key Sites, Eateries & Entertainment: Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort | Cruise Yarrawonga Mulwala (P.S.Cumberoona & The Sienna Daisy) | Yarrawonga Hotel | Blacksmith Provedore, Mulwala | Byramine Homestead & Brewery | Squires Winery | Richglen Providore
COBRAM
Cobram and Barooga are situated on the Murray River and in the heart of Victoria’s food bowl, the Goulburn Valley. Be captivated by the country lifestyle, Australia’s largest inland beach and the floral and fauna that colours its river-flanked River Red Gum forests.
While spending time exploring the sites along the most significant watercourse in the country is a wise choice, sampling some of the region’s produce in summer adds creativity and bite to any journey. Top this off with a slow grazing style picnic with the sun shining overhead, and you’ll soon understand why Cobram is a destination that many prefer to keep a secret.
Key Sites, Eateries & Entertainment: Thompson’s Beach | Boat Cruise – The Cobba | The Big Strawberry | Cactus Country | Monichino Wines | The Beach Cobram (cafe)
SHEPPARTON / GOULBURN VALLEY
Greater Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley are located on the floodplain of the Goulburn River in the heart of North East Victoria.
Due to its influx of Italian immigrants in the 1950s, it has grown into a thriving fresh fruit and vegetable growing region dressed from head to toe in divine orchards, vineyards and market gardens. Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley are collectively now considered the food bowl of Victoria.
While its Italian food, produce and shopping choices have grown, the city centre of Shepparton now welcomes a vibrant middle eastern population that trades in a flavoursome range of spices and delicacies.
Shepparton is entertaining all year round with vibrant arts, events, history and heritage. On the banks of Lake Victoria, its new developed regional art gallery, SAM, features Australia’s most extensive collection of contemporary ceramic artworks.
A little further south, the historic wine-growing region of Nagambie is home to a collection of award-winning wineries that flank the Goulburn River. Here visitors can enjoy premium French varietal wines and gourmet dining combined with the natural riverland surrounds.
Key Sites, Eateries & Entertainment: SAM – Shepparton Art Museum | Victoria Park Lake | Mooving Art (painted cattle sculpture parkland gallery) | The Connection (restaurant) | Bicardo’s Ristorante | Europa Deli Cafe | SPC Factory Sales | The Museum of Vehicle Evolution (MOVE) | The Cheeky Grog Co | Tallis Winery (Dookie) | Nagambie Brewery & Distillery | Mitchelton Wines | Tahbilk