Experience warm hospitality, stunning scenery and fresh alpine air in the high country of Victoria’s North East. The historic township of Euroa in the foothills of the rugged Strathbogie Ranges is the perfect base to explore the Strathbogie Ranges, a cool climate wine region with high altitudes and granite rich soils. This unique and relatively unknown area is perfect for those wanting an escape off the beaten track among misty mornings, shady gum trees and picture-perfect sunsets in historic Ned Kelly country. 

Nearby, Nagambie Lakes is known for its picturesque habitats of tall, shady red river gums and tranquil views of the Goulburn River and surrounding wetlands. A truly relaxing destination where visitors can enjoy premium wines, pristine habitat and quaint towns filled with cafés, local produce stores, antique shops and galleries.

DAY 1 – MORNING

FOWLES WINE

From Melbourne, set off on the 90 minute drive to Avenel in the foothills of the Strathbogie Ranges. Spend some time exploring the small historic township where Ned Kelly lived from the age of eight until his father’s death four years later. The unique and relatively unknown region of the Strathbogie Ranges, a highly diverse region incorporating farming land and forests, striking rocky outcrops, stunning vistas, glades and waterfalls, produces distinctive wines from over 25 vineyards. The high altitude of the area (elevations of up to 600m), coupled with nutrient poor granitic soils and a cool climate, results in wines full of intense character and elegance as well as stunning views across the central Victorian plains.

Named as a ‘Winery to Watch’ by Wine Spectator Magazine, a Five Star winery by James Halliday and Victoria’s Best Tourism Winery (three years in a row), Fowles Wine in Avenel crafts elegant cool climate wines that can be enjoyed alongside freshly prepared modern European dishes featuring the finest local produce in the relaxed atmosphere of their Cellar Door Café.

Discover the standout varietals of the cool climate Strathbogie Ranges wine region with a wine tasting or embark on the Fowles Farm Heritage Experience – a guided wine tasting, tour of the historic homestead of Killeen Station and its grounds and a two course lunch featuring the Fowles Wine Ladies who Shoot their Lunch range. 

DAY 1 – AFTERNOON 

HISTORIC EUROA

Take a slow and scenic drive to Euroa and spend the remainder of the day exploring the town and its picturesque surrounds. Euroa is situated in a rich agricultural district which is noted for its fine wool production and thoroughbred horse industry.   Settle in for the night at the Euroa Butter Factory. Take a turn about the manicured gardens, pick up some local produce from The Store, located in the old butter store of the building and enjoy a relaxed dinner of local and seasonal fare in the hotel restaurant.

DAY 2

A full day of history, wine, food and stunning surroundings.

Travel 50km to the next stop, Nagambie, Enjoy a peaceful breakfast in one of the many cafés in the town centre which is built around High Street opening up into a wide boulevard through Nagambie's colourful commercial precinct. After breakfast head to Tahbilk Wines in the beautiful and ecologically diverse region of Nagambie Lakes. Known for its picturesque habitats of tall, shady red river gums and tranquil views of the Goulburn River, the unique climate of the Nagambie Lakes region lends itself to viticulture, taking advantage of the cooling influence of the surrounding wetlands. 

Established in 1860, Tahbilk is not only Victoria’s and one of Australia’s oldest wineries but also boasts the world’s largest, and some of the oldest, plantings of Marsanne as well as some of the world’s oldest Shiraz vines. The winery and cellar door is set amongst beautiful gardens, original buildings and underground cellars dating back to the 1860s.

Experience all Tahbilk has to offer with A Day at Tahbilk. Begin with a personally guided tour of the winery encompassing both the old and the new technologies utilised. Next, learn the art of winemaking in the form of blending, the motto being that “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts”. Guided by a Wine Ambassador, start with individual wines and blend them to create a wine that is truly personal. Tahbilk’s Wetlands Café is perched overlooking the wetlands providing an ideal setting for a relaxed lunch with some fine wines. Enjoy a three-course lunch created with the finest local produce and matched to pairings of current and mature wines. Learn the characteristics of a wine when it is young and when it is mature.

Walk off a long lunch with a stroll to Jacobsons Outlook, an attractive park which extends from the shops and down to the shores of Lake Nagambie, offering panoramic views across the lake. Within the park is a statue of the great Australian racehorse Black Caviar who was born in Nagambie and won each of her 25 races.