Discover the Beauty of Victoria’s High Country
Victoria's High Country region, in the state's north-east, is brimming with small villages that specialise in delicious local produce and regional wine. Follow this guide for the best things to do around Beechworth, Wangaratta, Tarrawingee and Mount Buffalo, including the best places to stay, restaurants to eat at and wine trails to follow.
Follow the Prosecco Road
Could anyone resist a trip down a route dubbed Prosecco Road? A healthy contingent of Italian winemakers settled their sangiovese, verduzzo and pinot grigio grapes here decades ago but it’s the prosecco vines that draw a significant crowd to King Valley. There are several worthwhile spots to stop on this charming path from Oxley to Cheshunt, including the long-established favourite Dal Zotto Wines.
Explore Mount Buffalo National Park
Mount Buffalo National Park (pictured top) has several peaks from which the alpine valley surroundings can be admired. From atop the 200-metre granite cliffs of the snow gum-shaded Gorge, as well as The Horn, the park’s highest point, you can see all the way to the Great Dividing Range on clear days.
Visit Provenance restaurant
Fine-diner Provenance bursts with contrasts. The setting of a 19th-century bank is opulent, while the hospitality is welcoming and warm. The foraged ingredients are hyper-local but the flavour influences are far-flung, drawn from head chef and owner Michael Ryan’s love of Japanese cuisine, as seen in kingfish ceviche with a sprinkle of smoked fish floss and kangaroo carpaccio with uni butter.
The best place to stay
The Lancemore Milawa has a provincial charm to its vineyard-facing rooms and each has a balcony ideal for an afternoon glass of wine.
The best restaurant for a long lunch
On the banks of Lake Mulwara, enjoy woodfired pizzas topped with local buffalo mozzarella. Blacksmith Provedore flies the flag for regional Australia in every sense, especially its locally focused wine list.
The best place to stock up on wine
Cellar Door Wine Store is not your average bottle-o. It’s also a wine bar that serves hunks of local and imported cheeses as well as an impressive collection of tipples from Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
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