Rugged up and ready
Crisp days and chilly evenings are prime time for getting cosy with a hearty meal and a glass of red in Victoria’s regions. Enjoy world-class wine, winter arts, culture and foodie events, dine at fireside tables and sip hot toddies in cosy retreats.
Cosy stays
Image: Clifftop at Hepburn, Daylesford & the Macedon Ranges
Curl up in a cocoon of warmth in a country cottage or at a luxury farm stay. Soak in a hot bath, read a book by the fireplace or sip wine by an outdoor fire pit. While the winter away among the rolling green hills of Gippsland and unwind in a countryside retreat in Halston, or soak up sweeping views of the surrounding valleys at Larnook on the Bay.
In spa country, indulge in massages and rejuvenating hot springs then curl up by the fire at Clifftop at Hepburn, or chase the chill of the mountains in winter followed by the luxury of a farm stay complete with furry farm friends at BullerRoo Luxury Chalet.
Fireside feasts
Image: SARDINE Dining, Gippsland
Escape the chill and warm up over a hearty meal and a glass of red at one of our favourite cosy eats. If you’re not already sold, the flickering fireplaces that ooze luxuriating heat with a delicious woody scent will definitely lure you in.
Choose from Merricks Store on the Mornington Peninsula for a spot of brunch and take a bottle of local wine home with you, or Bellarine Distillery in Drysdale for wood-fired pizza and freshly crafted spirits. Meanwhile, in Paynesville, treat yourself to a hatted meal at SARDINE Dining while soaking up views of the Gippsland Lakes.
Geothermal Springs
Image: Alba Thermal Spa & Hot Springs, Mornington Peninsula
Winter is the perfect time to slow down and partake in some extra ‘me’ time. Sink into the healing depths of natural geothermal hot springs and treat yourself to a soothing massage or spa treatment.
Victoria has abundant natural springs to enjoy, including the contemporary offerings at Alba Thermal Springs and Spa on the Mornington Peninsula or Metung Hot Springs’ lakeside pools in East Gippsland. Alternatively, head down the Great Ocean Road for pure indulgence at Deep Blue Hot Springs, where you can harness the natural benefits of countless spa and bathing offerings.
It's art, darling!
Image: Bendigo Art Gallery, Goldfields
Step into a world of art and wonder and let your creative juices flow. Wander halls filled with a vibrant retelling of Australia and the world’s creative history and gaze upon everything from oil paintings, sketches and sculptures to exciting pop-up exhibits celebrating the greats of the art world.
Major galleries across the state hold some of the best permanent and roaming exhibits, with Bendigo Art Gallery, Geelong Gallery and Ararat Gallery Tama among those with extensive displays.
Wine time
Image: Sally's Paddock at Redbank Winery, the Pyrenees
Turn crisp days and chilly evenings into a soul-warming, decadent adventure as you sip and savour award-winning wines paired with seasonal dishes at wineries across the state.
Taste refreshing whites and deep reds at Cannibal Creek Vineyard, where you can warm-up by the wood-fired oven or take a stroll through the surrounding bushland.
Sample the best of sustainable viticulture at Delatite Winery. The biodynamic cool-climate wines on offer have been crafted with wild yeasts and little to no filtration, while the cellar door is built around sustainable practices, with electric charging stations, solar panels and an on-site kitchen garden and chickens.
Sit back an enjoy views of the wild coastline along the Bellarine at Jack Rabbit Winery. Here, test your palate and pick up the subtle oaky flavours in cool-climate wines where the fruit is the real hero of the finished product, or sample the best of single-vineyard blended Shiraz and Merlot alongside a ploughman’s lunch at the rustic cellar door of Sally’s Paddock.
