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Our guide to the best of West Gippsland that’ll have you loving it as much as a local

Words by Gwen O'Toole
Images supplied

Full of small communities with big hearts and naturally beautiful stretches of farmland, forest walks, waterfalls and locally-made gourmet food and wine, the West Gippsland region is full of incredible experiences.

Pack up the car for an unforgettable adventure. Here’s our guide to some of the best local experiences.

Where to Eat

Eating Out West GippslandFor the last 100 years or more, the region has been predominantly used for dairy production making it a natural evolution to become a tasty destination for cheeses, locally grown produce and winemakers. All this equates to gourmet goods and chefs utilising some of the finest hyper-local ingredients.

Keen on something a little fancy? The hatted Hoggett Kitchen in Warragul specialises in nose-to-tail dining where you can enjoy a wide array of the region’s best produce in one location with views that are equally as special. The decked dining area at Brandy Creek Estate offers a quiet place for a drink and a bite with equally impressive views.

If it’s the casual fare you’re after, Frankies is a local fave amid brunchers with killer coffee, fresh breakfast rolls, toasties and more. If the timing is right, hit up the Warragul Farmers’ Market at Civic Park on the third Saturday of each month where you can gather up the gourmet goods from cheeses to olive oils, fresh bread and so much more to enjoy later.

Outdoor Adventures

West Gipplands WalksLace up the hiking boots, take the stairs up and walk the 21-metre-high boards of Victoria’s tallest wooden trestle bridge. Cycle or hike through gorgeous bushland on the 6-kilometre (return) Noojee Trestle Bridge Rail Trail from the town of Noojee to the Noojee Trestle Bridge. The mostly flat trail is great for families, beginners or those looking for a leisurely ride.

The walk around Toorongo Falls is pretty spectacular with places to picnic with the birdsong overhead. The 2.2 km return walk takes roughly 40 minutes but no rush, you’ll want to take your time here.

Want something more heart-pounding? Take the Blue Dirt shuttle to the top of Mount Baw Baw and mountain bike your way down. There are three difficulty levels for the three-kilometre descent; each one is nothing short of thrilling.

Melbourne’s closest downhill ski resort, Mt Baw Baw is incredibly popular during the snow season when skiers, snowboarders and snow revellers flock to the destination. Visiting during the off-peak green season offers the option of mountain biking and hiking.

History and Culture

WalhallaIt’s hard to visit and not appreciate the history and culture here, so make it a point to visit the mining town of Walhalla where you can explore the ghost towns and historic villages.

Following the discovery of a three-kilometre gold vein running through Walhalla in the 19th century, it surged to house thousands of gold seekers, but today this quiet town is home to roughly 20. Here you can learn about the life of miners, pan for gold at Stringers Creek, explore the old buildings including hotels, shops and churches as well as take a tour down into the long gold mines. Fancy a scare? The ghost tour at the old cemetery might be right up your alley.

The Walhalla Goldfields Railway also runs through some incredible scenery during the 60-minute ride crossing over several trestle bridges. If you stand on the outside platform at the front of the train, you can also get incredible photos.

Wine Down

Wineries West GippslandThis region does pinot noir pretty well, but the cool climate here means there’s much more varieties to enjoy. With a huge array of cellar doors to choose from, you won’t be stuck for options.

Make it a point to visit Ripplebrook Winery, bringing a bit of Sicily to West Gippsland. Giuseppes, the cellar door and restaurant named for the owner’s father, is open on weekends and features some seriously tasty drops that pair well with their shareable menu.

Another worthy stop is Cannibal Creek Winery. Despite the dubious name, the beautifully designed winery and cellar door (open daily) has a beautiful bar to enjoy guided tastings with a cheese and charcuterie board or an indulgent creamy pasta dish.

For those seeking a brew, Five Aces Brewing Co and Bandolier Brewing are your go-to spots for cold ones. Family-owned Bandolier Brewery’s range is inspired by breweries from around the globe, which is why you can enjoy a Belgian Blonde, a Mexican-style lager and an Irish Cream Porter all in Warragul. In Neerim South, Five Aces is also family-owned and operated, serving small-batch craft beer and a menu that pays homage to Gippsland’s quality produce. Their standard brews are always at the ready with a ‘random ace’ tap always pouring a new recipe/style to try.

No doubt this has whet your appetite to explore the region. You’ll only wonder what took you so long.

Getting There

Getting to West Gippsland is easy. From Melbourne, take the South Gippsland Highway from the Princes Highway from Dandenong. By car, the journey will have you at the gateway to West Gippsland in just under two hours and in Walhalla in roughly 2.5 hours.

Alternatively, hop on a V/Line train and make your way to Warragul in roughly the same time.

Follow this trail for the hidden breweries, distilleries and wineries of the Macedon Ranges

It’s the little wine region that could!

Macedon Ranges might not be as internationally well known as the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula regions, but its popularity is growing fast.

Throughout the month of April, local businesses will host the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival and it’s the perfect time to explore every nook and cranny of this burgeoning cold-climate region.

To help you get started, we have created a Tipple Trail – a self-guided journey to discover the huge collection of artisan distillers, breweries and cellar doors hidden throughout the region.

Plan out your trip with the map below and for more details and extra itinerary options, check out the itineraries page on the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival website.

 

 

The Details
What: Tipple Trail – Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival
Where: Macedon Ranges
When: April 1 – 30, 2023
Getting there: Drive, Train and Shuttle
Where to stay:  Accommodation in the Macedon Ranges
More information

Fine dining in Albury with a singular vision for the menu

Words & images by Richard Cornish

Glenbosch on Dean Street, Albury, is the brand-new culinary flagship for Glenbosch Winery in Everton Upper. Winemaker Dirk Bester and his wife and restaurateur Nika moved to the Northeast from Swartland in the Western Cape of South Africa.

They opened the winery three years on the site of an existing business. They expanded operations to include a distillery and a restaurant. Two weeks ago, they opened the doors to their new cellar door and fine dining restaurant in the historic Australia Building in the heart of Albury, a short walk from the train station.

The cellar door is a light and welcoming space with loads of charming traditional Cape-style touches from the Dutch-influenced glazed tiles at the entrance, the animal horn chandeliers, and the lime-wood booths and wooden tables. This is a tasting room for the wines made at the winery, about an hour to the south near Beechworth, and a bar. Come during the day to taste the cool climate wines made by Dirk.

Smoke from the 2020 fires meant he needed to bring in fruit from elsewhere, but his 2021 chardonnay shows his skill in the traditional French style of winemaking. Dirk explores his Swartland roots in the Glenbosch gins with one flavoured with rooibos, the herbal tea grown in Swartland. Enjoy four wines or three gins with matching food for $25, or taste the drinks without the food match for $15. Lunchtime from Thursday to Saturday sees a chef’s choice lunch menu, perhaps a choice of steak or tuna.

Pass through a set of heavy wooden doors to the dining room, a sparse historic, industrial space with polished concrete floors, bare brick walls, and timber joists of the floor above and tables topped with a thick veneer made from an old butcher’s block. In the open kitchen, you can see Chef Chris de Jongh plating up. He’s an acolyte of the molecular gastronomy school of cuisine and alumni of the great South African restaurant La Colombe, rated 56th in the 2022 World’s 50 Best Restaurants. His set menu is a singular representation of his journey through the countries of the world that has influenced his technique-rich style of cooking based on excellent produce.

The nine-course menu, with an option of buying in at just five, takes diners around the globe with a cavalcade of beautifully presented and expertly executed dishes. The first course sees a brisee pastry tartlet lined with horseradish cream and smoked kangaroo. Then there’s a trip to India with the crisp round shell of a pan puri filled with potato curry topped with a cooling cucumber and coriander gel.

Served in a pot of succulents decorated with a smoking cinnamon quill, it is beautiful and theatrical. There could be a single oyster with mint and black garlic served on a bed of dry ice or a tile of pressed beef shorted rib laid out on the end of a cleaned trimmed rib and topped with salsa verde and a sweet and sour sauce from Cape Malay. Eaten straight off the bone, the flavours are straight from the Cape.

Another stand-out dish is what appears to be a jug with a candle. It is actually filled with liquid beef fat that is poured out onto a plate with a Japanese milk bun which is used to sop up the fat, and clay pot filled with onion jam, emulsion and soil. While there is some dissonance between the slightly gloomy dining room and the bright theatrical style of the menu, those who like the playful excess of molecular cuisine should be impressed by the food alone. The floor staff has an old-world difference that helps play to the exuberance and sheer fun of the dishes. With Albury and Wodonga being joined at the hip, it is OK to say that regional Victoria now has another dining destination.

The Details

What: Molecular fine dining in the heart of Albury
Who: Chef Chris de Jongh, ex-Cape Town
Where: 453 Dean Street, Albury
Why: Seriously fun, flavourful, well-executed multi-course degustation
When: Open now
More Info: Glenbosch

We wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Born and bred Torquay brothers have traded their tools to follow their distillation dreams

Words by Anthea Riskas
Images supplied

Tucked into a Torquay business park behind the Surf Coast Highway, brothers Shaun and Leigh Bridges have used their combined trade skills to convert an industrial factory into their dream bar, cellar door, gin tasting room and function space – Flowstate Brewers and Distillery.

“It’s definitely been a slog to go from a tiny little storage unit to where we are now… but it’s been well worth it”, explains Shaun, of the 4-year journey that started when Leigh asked him, “Do you want to work for someone else your whole life and do a job you’re not really that into? Or do you want to have something you can pass on to your kids?”

With a multifaceted skill set between them including, carpentry, horticulture and brewing, the pair have a unique creativity when it comes to process, manufacture and botanical knowledge, as well as some serious qualifications, with Leigh holding a Wine & Spirit Education Trust Diploma of Distillation.

Working hard to refine their distillation process after moving from Alchemy in Healesville to purchasing their own still, the siblings have managed to produce two Gold Medal, award-winning gins for their Craft and Oaked and Smoked varieties, at this year’s Australian Distilled Spirit Awards.

Their majestic 300-litre copper still, affectionately named Bobby, sits pride of place overlooking the new premises, and is currently being put to work for the upcoming release of a spicy, fruity Christmas Gin, with a flavour profile best served over ice or ice cream!

This kind of innovative approach to their product, also extends to their brewing, with a saison-style, wild ferment beer currently being aged in the barrels on-site and set to be tapped within the next 6-12 months.

Add to this a collaboration with local roasters Mikro and a coffee liqueur set for release in the coming weeks, their first forays into experimenting with a unique whiskey wash and Gin Masterclasses open for bookings, it’s a wonder these two have had time to prepare for the grand opening of their venue on November 25th.

But the ambition is obvious and Shaun plainly explains, “You’ve got to do it, otherwise we’ll get left on the shelf”.

The Details

What: Cellar door, bar and function venue
Where: 17/10 Cylinders Drive, Torquay, 3228
When: November 25 and beyond
More Info: Flowstate Brewers and Distillers

We wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

All Saints new multi-million dollar cellar opens in Rutherglen

Words by Richard Cornish
Images supplied

It is a stunning addition to Victoria’s wine culture. A beautifully designed and executed cellar door inside the historic 1864 castle at the winery by the banks of the Murray at Wahgunyah.

Guests to the new cellar door follow a concrete walkway to the smooth and soft-lit bullnose timber-topped terrazzo tasting bar. Behind the bar are the exposed walls of handmade bricks and the old supporting timbers and beams. A suspended modern fireplace sits in one corner and the All Saints Wines line the cabinets on the walls.

Like many Victorian wineries, the Brown Family who own the winery have chosen the curated format of wine tasting, which gives a slow and respectful experience where true wine lovers can get to really know the wines. Guests are asked to choose between the Estate Tasting, Family Cellar Tasting and Muscat Experience.

The entry-level Estate Tasting costs $15 and features classic varieties sourced from carefully selected sites. Curated with approachability in mind, including a few fortified options, for a great introduction to what the estate and the region offer.

The $45 Family Cellar Tasting is a small pour, five wine access to limited-release wines that are hand-crafted using traditional winemaking techniques with fruit from old vineyards. Then there is the $60 Muscat Experience, a deep dive into the dark and delicious fortified wines for which the Rutherglen region is famous around the world.

We are waiting with bated breath for the opening of the much-anticipated new restaurant KIN to replace the much-loved All Saints Terrace. KIN will have a new chef, a new menu and a dining room with stunning views across the vineyards and duckpond. KIN could be open before Christmas, but we will let you know as soon as we get word.

THE DETAILS

Where: All Saints Estate, 205 All Saints Road, Wahgunyah
When: Now
Why: Stunning new cellar door
More Info: All Saints Estate

We wish to acknowledge the Yorta Yorta people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

SenseFest: A mind-blowing festival combining food, wine, music and art

Words by Richard Cornish
Images Supplied

This is a mind-blowing festival that combines food, wine, music and art and questions how we perceive those experiences all by examining how our senses work.

It’s the brainchild of Berlin-based Hong Kong Canadian piano virtuoso Avan Yu. A lover of the Yarra Valley and its wines he workshopped a three-day festival with local chefs, winemakers and artists to create an event that goes beyond the consumption of food, wine and music.

SenseFest is immersive, exploratory and a lot of high-level fun. “It seems to me that there could be a lot more involved in an event, rather than people just sitting there and listening to music,” says Avan. “All our senses are more or less engaged all the time, and it can be really rewarding to consider how these various stimuli interact and work together.”

The three-day event will be held at Seville Estate with four performances in the Seville Estate Barrel-room by Avan Yu showcasing his own talents and exploring the capabilities of a Fazioli grand piano, where he’ll be joined on Friday evening and Sunday afternoon by highly-regarded local musicians Wilma Smith (violin) and Zoe Knighton (cello).

They’ll be playing evocative 19th and early 20th-century compositions selected especially for their capacity to stimulate the imagination. In two successive concerts on Saturday afternoon, Avan Yu will perform the entire repertoire of Maurice Ravel’s works for solo piano—a feat not previously attempted in Australia, and equivalent to a double marathon.

Australia’s premier wine writer Max Allen takes centre stage on Sunday 20th November. The highly-esteemed author, academic, journalist and mandolin player Max Allen takes participants through a sensory exploration of subjectivity, involving 6 related but unique episodes of live music, different wines, and on-the-spot art-making, interrogating the interplay between our thoughts, our feelings, and our senses.

With food and wine for sale between events, this is a beautiful location for a stunning and elevated event.

THE DETAILS:

What: Multi-Sensory Food, Wine, Music, Art, Environmental Festival
Where: Seville Estate, 65 Linwood Road, Seville
When: November 18-20
Why: Mind-blowing event for eaters, drinkers and thinkers
More Info: SenseFest

We wish to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Take our tour of Werribee, the undiscovered bayside destination for food, history and nature

Words by Della Vreeland
Images Supplied

Located off the M1 between Geelong and the Melbourne CBD, Werribee isn’t often considered a holiday destination in and of itself.  But as one of Melbourne’s bay suburbs, the area really does have quite a lot going for it if you only take the time to delve in.

Whether you’re looking for your next romantic escape or thinking of  taking the Bay West Driving Trail, here are some of our top recommendations for a getaway well spent in Werribee.

Wolf on Watton

Werribee Restauarnt
© Bryony Jackson

Positioned along Werribee’s foodie precinct and with the site having been owned by Werribee’s Salvalaggio family for four generations, Wolf on Watton offers visitors a true inner-city cafe experience. Having originally operated as a fruit and veg store by the current owner’s great-grandfather, the cafe is always bustling and serves up everything from classic brunch options to indulgent pastas, grazing boards and sweets. With staff that are ready and raring to serve you with genuine hospitality, and a vibrant atmosphere that will have you prepped to face the day, Wolf on Watton really has the WoW factor.

Made on Watton

Things to do WerribeeSituated across the road from Wolf on Watton, Made on Watton is a specially curated retail space that oozes elegance, calm, charm and poise. Founded by Liz Reyes, the space opened up following the success of Wyndham City’s innovative pop-up retail space of the same name. Showcasing a plethora of handmade goods from makers across Werribee and the surrounding regions as well as a selection of other Australian-made products, Made on Watton aims to empower creatives and highlight the breadth of talent that exists within regional Victoria. You’ll find everything from bedding to candles, infused sparkling water to jewellery, artworks to locally-designed clothing. Liz also stocks her very own polymer clay jewels from her label Evergreen Collective – so make sure to check out her beautiful range!

Werribee Park Mansion

Places to visit WerribeeThe Werribee Park precinct is perhaps one of the areas which the city is best known for. (Apart from the Werribee Open Range Zoo – which also needs to be on your to-do list).  The sprawling green Victoria State Rose Garden, with its abounding serenity and lush landscape, make it an idyllic space for a spring picnic, while Lancemore Mansion Hotel is the perfect spa and hotel option for your Werribee getaway.

Then there’s the Mansion itself – an exquisite 60-room Italianate chateau built in the late 19th century by two pioneering Scottish brothers. While the building was taken over by the Catholic Church in the 1920s, it went through an extensive restoration process in the 1970s once it was acquired by the state government, reinstating to its former glory.

As you step into the mansion, you’ll be struck by its opulence and majesty. Take a turn about the drawing room, peek in the library room, soak up the panoramic views of the gardens from the balcony, get a feel for what a real butler’s pantry would’ve felt like, and take a stroll to the farm where the rustic outbuildings lay. You’ll truly feel like a character in your own storybook.

Shadowfax Wines

Winery WerribeeAlso located within the Werribee Park precinct, Shadowfax Wines is the absolute perfect spot to stop off for your lunch (or dinner) break. Established in 1999, the menu boasts the finest selection of food and drink to keep you fuelled for the day, including some incredible entrees, share plates or even a chef’s selection (if you can’t decide) each incorporating an array of fresh vegetables and herbs from the restaurant’s established Kitchen Garden. The drinks list showcases Shadowfax’s current releases and museum wines from the cellar, as well as a selection of premium craft beers and spirits from local Victorian breweries and distillers. There’s even a list of delightful non-alcoholic options to keep us non-drinkers appeased!

K Road Cliffs

Things to do WerribeeDown the road from the Werribee Park precinct, the K Road Cliffs are a breathtaking wall of red by day and an even more impressive hue during dusk and sunset when they change colour with the light.

Take in the view of the Werribee River from the clifftops or soak up the natural surrounds on the floodplains as you admire the impressive backdrop of the You Yangs.

A perfect place for birdwatching, hiking or just a meditative afternoon, the cliffs are most certainly one of the region’s acclaimed natural wonders.

Beachside Beauties

Things to do WerribeeLocated just off Port Phillip Bay means there are quite a few spots to check out along the shore during your getaway. The Campbell’s Cove Boathouses should be first on your list. These quaint, vibrant, heritage-listed boatsheds not only make a great photo but provide a rare glimpse into the history of Melbourne’s beach culture – remaining relatively untouched since the 1920s.

(Fun fact: Until 2015, this beach was better known as Melbourne’s closet nudist beach. But don’t fret. It has since closed down).

The Wyndham Harbour also provides a calm space for an afternoon stroll with a beautiful view and some great eateries to boot, while the Point Cook Coastal Park offers a great space to picnic with the family, birdwatching, learn about the wetlands, and enjoy the beach at low tide.

THE DETAILS

WHAT: Werribee and Surrounds
WHERE TO STAY: Various accommodation options
FIND OUT MORE: Visit Werribee & Surrounds

We wish to acknowledge the Bunurong people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Explore the great, great outdoors of Nillumbik Shire

For those who love to get out, explore and try something new, Nillumbik Shire is bursting with a huge variety of outdoor activities. From relaxing days out to animal encounters, family-friendly activities and more, there truly is an activity to suit everyone.

Renowned for its green spaces, the region is just an hour outside the Melbourne CBD, making it the ideal choice for getting off the sofa, relishing a few digital free hours and enjoying an active day out.

Use our interactive itinerary to plan your next adventure.

We wish to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Red Hare Estate – slow and steady wins the race

Words by Amanda Kennedy
Images Supplied

The story goes that one fateful afternoon Peter McQueen’s wife Kim spotted a hare messing around in the top paddock of their newly-purchased vineyard. Whether it was a trick of the sun or just a dusty hare who’d been caught playing in the iron rich soils, the McQueens had stumbled across the name for their vineyard – Red Hare Estate.

While the family may not have explicitly been looking to buy a vineyard, their two-year stint living in Bordeaux in the early 2000s clearly had a lasting impact. So, in 2018 when the opportunity arose to buy five acres a short 10-minute drive north-east of Daylesford, they didn’t hesitate.

‘The thing about hares is that if you have hares on your property, you don’t have rabbits and that’s good when growing vines,’ Peter explains. ‘We actually let the grass grow under the vines for the hares to rest in because they don’t burrow and therefore don’t destroy vines.’

Since purchasing the property, the main focus has been improving the vineyard and its soil because all good wine begins in the vineyard. Later this year, the plan is to double the size of land under vine to 10 acres, adding pinot noir and gamay. Longer-term plans include an on-site winery.

With the vineyard ticking along nicely, the next logical step was to work on the cellar door. Recent renovations resulted in a classy yet casual cellar door ready to welcome up to 60 guests. With a roaring fire to keep you warm over winter, an outdoor area will be opened closer to spring to make the most of the estate’s naturally picturesque setting and the resident coterie of animals.

Just this last weekend, we had our first birth from the Suffolk sheep who are the caretakers on our Pinot Gris block which is right opposite the cellar door. So, when you come visit you’ll see lambs frolicking amongst the vines.

The food menu is purposefully kept simple allowing the tight range of wines to shine. The popular charcuterie selection is thanks to Castlemaine favourite, Oakwood Smallgoods. Based at artisan food hub, The Mill, Ralf Fink has been winning fans far and wide with his European-style charcuterie.

Peter recommends pairing some charcuterie with a glass of the estate-grown 2021 Pinot Gris. The wine’s rich, silky texture is a great match for the delicately spiced cured meats. Partially barrel-aged, the wine shows luscious notes of peaches and pears with hints of apple, orange blossom, and cinnamon.

Red Hare Estate is located halfway between Daylesford and Malmsbury, on the Daylesford-Malmsbury Road, a few minutes outside Glenlyon. Group and corporate functions are available by appointment.

THE DETAILS

WHAT: Red Hare Estate
WHERE: 1225 Daylesford-Malmsbury Rd, Denver
WHEN: Friday to Monday 11am – 4pm (5pm Saturday/Sunday), Closed Tue – Thurs
MORE INFO: Red Hare Estate

We wish to acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Secrets of St Andrews and Surrounds

Words by Teyha Nicholas

We suspect the rocky hills of St Andrews have heard plenty of ‘Eurekas!’

The prosperous gold-mining town of the 1800s (then known as Queenstown) has transformed into a thriving, tight-knit community of artisans, winemakers and lovers of the quiet life. Located in Woi Wurrung country just 45 minutes drive north-west of the CBD, St Andrews is positioned where the city slips away and becomes country – with ample fresh air and attractions for all.

You may have visited the famed Saturday market, but the whole region is an explorers dream with an array of quality wineries, divine cafes, restaurants and local galleries.

Take a gander through our itinerary for all the weekend plans.

Gallery 7 Six 5

St Andrews GalleryFine art nestled in the redgums.

This regional gallery merges global thinking with local aesthetic within a charming old barn on the edge of Watson’s Creek. Owned and curated by artist Benny Archer, Gallery 7 Six 5 is home to some of Nillumbik’s finest pieces – from ceramics to large scale abstract paintings and metal works. A gallery par excellence for voyeurs, buyers, and collectors in search of ambience and inspiration.

Details here.

Panton Hill Winery

Panton Hill WineryStep back in time amongst the sandstone buildings.

In what could be described as outer Melbourne’s miniature Tuscany, Panton Hill manages to deliver on all the niceties one hopes for in a winery. Fruit-driven, handpicked wines prove silky on the palate and woodfired pizza on the weekends compliment the warm Southern European aesthetic. A day spent amongst these vineyards feels like a world away from the inner-city bustle.

Visit here.

Greasy Zoe’s

Restaurant HurstbridgeWord of mouth has built Greasy Zoe’s into an establishment.

Once described as hospitality’s response to the tiny-home movement, this intimate venue seats just 32 guests per week and features a new six or eight-course degustation menu daily. Curated, prepared and served by Zoe and her partner Lachlan, the food is locally grown with an emphasis on sustainable and ethical farming practices. Certainly the most honest farm to table dining experience north of the river.

Take a look here.

Black Vice Cafe & Roastery

Black Vice Cafe & RoasteryFeaturing a three-page menu of speciality coffee.

The polished concrete interior of Black Vice houses another highly precious material: coffee beans. Thousands of them, roasted, cupped, extracted and drunk en masse by locals and Melbournian’s alike travelling for one of their famous brews. Paired with clean, delicate dishes for breakfast and lunch, the cafe feels at once entirely cosmopolitan yet charmingly at home snuggled within tree-lined suburbia.

Find out more here.

Nillumbik Estate

Nillumbik EstateWhere visitors come for the wines and stay for the hospitality.

At just 45-minutes drive from the city, it’s hard to think of reasons not to visit Nillumbik Estate. Tucked away in the Kinglake Ranges, the winery boasts a bountiful selection of reds, whites and sparklings made with traditional Italian techniques. Head winemaker John Tregambe has been known to host a decadent barrel tasting or two.

Find out more here.

Punch Wine Room

Punch Wine RoomThe little winery that could.

The Lance Family winemakers know the value of community spirit. A truly collaborative process from vine to glass, their acclaimed wines–though greatly damaged by the 2009 bushfires–can now be found at top-tier restaurants around the city; Attica, Quay and Press Club to drop names. Skip the eye watering tab and take one home yourself at this cellar door.

Learn more here. 

 

DOWNLOAD ST ANDREWS TRAIL MAPSt Andrews

Feeling inspired for your own road trip around the St Andrews region? Well, the crew from visityarravalley.com.au have put together a handy trail map to explore all these experiences and more.

DOWNLOAD HERE.

 

St Andrews Collective

St Andrews CollectiveLocal produce, carefully curated.

The new kid on the block that has swiftly become a staple member of the Nillumbik family. Tucked into the rolling hills on a small corner of the Yarra Valley, the providore feels both whimsical, indulgent and singularly sensible. A place for the necessities; cheese, milk, bread, with room for newfound delights; orange and native rosemary marmalade. Nobody will stop you from eating cheese on the front lawn.

Details here.

A Boy Named Sue

A Boy Named SueA name that lingers in the mind; flavours that linger on the palate.

Rarely does a local pizzeria become such an institution. Huddled next to Punch Wine Room and St Andrews Collective on top of a grassy knoll, A Boy Named Sue serves wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas alongside a plethora of drinks, sides and alternate mains within a warmly renovated mud-brick building. Vegans, vegetarians and children are well catered for, and on Saturday the local market next door keeps this restaurant abuzz with hungry customers.

Take a look around here.

Buttermans Track Wines

Buttermans Track WinesWhere minimal intervention produces a premium drop.

Beside the winding, tree-lined Yow Yow Creek lies a micro, family-owned and operated winery boasting complex, fruit-driven wines. Head Winemaker Gary frequently impresses visitors with his in-depth knowledge of wine and the winemaking process during his Cellar Door tastings. Made in small batches with minimal chemical and technological intervention, these wines sing the praises of tender hands and perfectly ripened grapes.

More details here.

Shaws Road Winery

Shaws Road WineryGood wine, tasty food and country living.

As the famed song goes, you can check out any time you like, but at Shaws Road Winery you may never want to leave. Part winery, part restaurant and full-time Bed & Breakfast, Shaws Road offers the full package for a relaxing weekend getaway. Family owned and operated, this estate bottles quality wines across three small vineyards and serves them up alongside tasty, locally grown meals at their in-house restaurant. Drink up and stay the night.

Make plans here.

Omaru Alpaca Farm

Omaru Alpaca FarmBeyond wineries, St Andrews is also home to a bevy of alpacas.

What better way to round off your trip to St Andrews than some quality time with ever fluffy, often troublesome alpacas? The herd residing at Omaru have spent many hours with their human companions, making them ideal for children looking for an up-close Attenborough experience. Feed them hay, ogle at the babies in the mid-year months and spread out a picnic rug amongst the hills – just don’t forget to dress for the occasion (alpacas are known to spit!).

Details here.

We wish to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.