Things to do in the High Country

Victoria's High Country is about a 3-hour drive north-east of Melbourne, and the things to do here follow the seasons: winery tastings and long lunches in the valleys, skiing and snowboarding on the mountains in winter, and bushwalking, cycling and scenic drives when it warms up. This page covers the experiences you can book in the region, starting with the cellar doors of the King Valley, Milawa and Rutherglen.

Food and drink experiences in the King Valley, Milawa and Rutherglen

Wine is the easiest way into the High Country, and the districts differ. The King Valley is known for Prosecco and Italian varieties such as sangiovese, grown where tobacco farms once stood. Milawa is home to Brown Brothers. Rutherglen, close to the Murray River, is known for fortified wine, and its winemaking history goes back to the gold rush of the 1850s.

The High Country food and drink experiences range from short food-and-wine matching sessions to a long lunch or a hands-on workshop. A morning at Brown Brothers in Milawa, for example, is the Brown Brothers Prosecco Brunch: a Prosecco range tasting alongside freshly baked pastries, local cheeses and terrines in a private lounge. Further north, the Stanton & Killeen Fortified Wine Blending Workshop in Rutherglen spends half a day on blending, with a take-home 10L barrel of your own blend at the end.

High Country tours and winery visits

A tour is the simplest way to see a wine region without planning the stops yourself. High Country tours and day trips centre on the scenery and the gourmet food and wine of the valleys. Tastings at Pizzini Wines in the King Valley are a good example: the Pizzini Winery Guided Wine Tasting Tour is a tutored session through current and back vintage wines, finishing with a glass of wine and an Italian-style grazing platter.

Winery experiences in the region meet you at the cellar door rather than picking you up, so work out how you are getting there and who is driving. Start times run from the morning to around midday.

When to visit the High Country

Winter brings skiing and snowboarding to Mt Buller, Mt Hotham and Falls Creek, with Mansfield and Bright as the usual bases. In the warmer months the region opens up for horse riding, bushwalking, cycling, fishing and scenic drives. Autumn has its own draw in Bright, where the foliage is the main event.

Rutherglen holds wine events across the calendar, so check dates if you want to build a trip around one.

Planning a High Country trip from Melbourne

The King Valley and Rutherglen are about a 3-hour drive from Melbourne. The wine districts are separate towns, so it is more realistic to focus on one at a time: Prosecco and Italian varieties in the King Valley, a brunch in Milawa, or fortified wine in Rutherglen.

Wine experiences are for adults, because alcohol is served. Tell the winery about any dietary requirements when you book.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Victoria's High Country from Melbourne?

Parts of Victoria's High Country, including the King Valley and Rutherglen, are about a 3-hour drive from Melbourne. The alpine areas around Mt Buller, Mt Hotham and Falls Creek sit further into the mountains.

What is Victoria's High Country known for?

Victoria's High Country is known for skiing and snowboarding at Mt Buller, Mt Hotham and Falls Creek in winter, and for its wine districts, including Prosecco and Italian varieties in the King Valley and fortified wine in Rutherglen.

What is the King Valley famous for?

The King Valley is famous for Prosecco and Italian grape varieties such as sangiovese, grown by winemaking families with Italian heritage. Wineries including Pizzini and Brown Brothers run tastings and food matching sessions.

What is Rutherglen known for?

Rutherglen is known for fortified wine, especially Muscat, in a region that has been making wine since the gold rush of the 1850s. Stanton & Killeen Wines in Rutherglen runs a half-day fortified wine blending workshop.

Can High Country wineries cater for dietary requirements?

Pizzini Wines asks guests to advise any dietary requirements when they book its food and wine tastings. Check with the winery at booking for any experience that includes food.

Pick a district, then browse High Country tours or the food and drink experiences to book a tasting, brunch or workshop in Victoria's High Country.