A Regional Feast

Four Pillars Gin

Wherever you are in Victoria, you’ll find a unique food or wine experience. Here’s a pick of the best of summer.

Yarra’s Best

Known for its incredible wineries and cellar doors, there’s plenty more to explore in the Yarra Valley. Until early January, head to CherryHill Orchards and pick your own luscious fruit. In Healesville, check out Four Pillars Gin’s newly expanded operation. Book the 55-minute tasting session that includes five of the distillery’s award-winning gins to try as well as signature G&T. It is, after all, the quintessential summer drink. +cherryhill.com.au +fourpillarsgin.com

Murray Magic

If it’s produce you’re after, the Murray Farm Gate Trail is the perfect way to experience it all. Stock up on organic almonds, honey, oils, seeds and other products at Aintree Farm Organics. The kids will love Zankers Farm, where they can check out the farm animals and learn about life on the land, as well as the Big Strawberry. Until January, they can grab a bucket and pluck fresh berries from the patch. +visitthemurray.com.au

Nothing says the temperature’s rising like a delicious plate of seafood. Head to Lakes Entrance where you can buy prawns, flathead, squid, flounder and heaps more right off the trawler. Have the freshest local seafood cooked for you at the floating restaurant Sodafish. It’s a great spot as the sun sets. On the Great Ocean Road, make a stop at the Apollo Bay Fishermen’s Co-Operative. Some of the best crayfish in the world are caught here, and you can grab fresh seafood or fish and chips to eat by the beach. +sodafish.com.au +apollobayfishcoop.com.au Raise a glass at Shedshaker Brewing, located in The Mill Castlemaine complex. The brewers here create a range of exciting beers, from Holy Grail Cloudy Ale to Robust Choc Porter, and you can taste them at the taproom. Just up the road, try the ciders and perries made from fresh apples and pears at Henry of Harcourt. +shedshakerbrewing.com +henrycider.com

CherryHill Orchards

Seaside Fling

Head to Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula this summer for a classic mix of good fun and great food.

Eastern Beach

City Beach

Stop first at Geelong’s Eastern Beach, where you can ride the giant sky wheel, check out the bollards painted to resemble historical characters or pull on your swimmers and jump into the ocean pool. There’s a shallow wading pool for little kids, and diving boards, pontoons and slides for teenagers. Plus, the vast swathe of lawn is lovely for a picnic.

Surf’s Up

If you’ve always wanted to try hanging 10, head to Ocean Grove and make a date with Go Ride a Wave at one of the best learner surf beaches in Australia. There are two-hour beginners’ classes most days or, if you’re staying a while, take the Surf Course, with three two-hour lessons to take you from complete beginner to intermediate surfer. All equipment hire is included as part of the course.

From the Sea

Plump mussels are farmed in abundance in the region, and there are plenty of places where you can taste them. They’re a specialty of the house in the bistro at the Portarlington Grand Hotel, where you can choose to have them with tomato sugo or green curry sauce. At the Little Mussel Cafe, the shellfish is prepared several ways, plus there’s other seafood on the menu. +visitgeelongbellarine.com.au