Beat the Heat

Murray River Paddle Steamers Robert Blackburn

Venture Out Jessica Shapiro

Daylesford Brewing Co

Summer is a glorious time of the year, but it can become a little … steamy, shall we say. Luckily there are plenty of ways to cool down right across the state.

Take a Paddle

The mighty Murray is famous for its fleet of paddlesteamers and no trip to Echuca would be complete without jumping on board. On an hour-long scenic cruise with Murray River Paddlesteamers, you’ll get to see how things worked in the old days, when either coal or redgum fired these historical vessels. The stunning scenery only adds to the feeling of having stepped back in time. +murrayriverpaddlesteamers.

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Jump Right In

When you’re spending a few days in Bendigo and want to immerse yourself in water head to Crusoe Reservoir, set in a huge area of bushland about 15 minutes’ drive from town. Work up a sweat on the 3.3-kilometre walking trail that surrounds it then jump right in. There’s a great swimming area, complete with pontoon, and it’s also popular with people who have a canoe, kayak or small sailboat. The waterway is stocked with tench, redfin, yellowbelly and Murray cod, so you might even want to throw in a line. +bendigo.vic.gov.au

Raise a Cold One

After a few hours browsing shops and markets, take a load off at Daylesford Brewing Co’s new tap house, located right on Vincent Street. There’s a line-up of four regular beers – pale ale, golden ale, porter and Daylesford Draught – all created using the town’s pure water, but you’ll also be able to sample new brews and seasonal specials. Team them with sliders or ribs from the kitchen. +daylesfordbrewingco.com.au

High Thrills

If you’re ready to take on a once-ina-lifetime adventure, join Venture Out for a three-hour HeliSUP tour of East Gippsland. Yes, you read that right. First, you’ll take a scenic helicopter flight over the Gippsland Lakes before landing near 90 Mile Beach. Then you jump on a stand-up paddle board for a guided tour of Lakes Entrance. It’s a great way to see this spectacular part of the state if you’ve only got a short time to explore. +ventureout.com.au

Follow the Tracks

Bendigo Tramways Robert Blackburn

Felix

Holgate Brewhouse

The Beatles Abbey Road London 1969 by Linda McCartney

Plan your journey

Use the free PTV app or visit the website below to plan your journey and get travel updates. +ptv.vic.gov.au You don’t need a car to take in the best of the regions. We've picked four destinations, easily accessible by V/ Line, for your next weekend getaway.

Brilliant Bendigo

The grand buildings of Bendigo hark back to goldrush days, when it was one of the richest cities in the world. You can explore that history across the city – it’s about two hours from Melbourne with V/Line – by joining Bendigo Walking Tours. Before the sun sets, head to Nimbus Rooftop, the only sky-high cocktail bar in central Victoria. Keep the heritage going with a night out at Ms Batterhams, a restaurant set in the basement of an old school hall. +bendigowalkingtours.com +nimbusrooftop.com.au +mackenziequarters.com/

msbatterhams Get to Geelong

You can see why more people are commuting between Geelong and Melbourne: it’s an easy trip that only takes an hour, and the beach lifestyle is the ultimate bonus. Head here for a summer weekend of sunshine, sand and serious food. Take a morning stroll at Eastern Beach, then swim at the sea baths. Base yourself at R Hotel Geelong, where some of the rooms overlook the bay and it’s an easy walk to bustling Little Malop Street. Be sure to book a table at Felix, tucked into a laneway, where the chefs celebrate seafood. +rhotelgeelong.com.au +felixgeelong.com.au

Ballarat’s New Beat

The streets are filled with heritage buildings, but there are also buzzing food and cultural scenes in this pretty town. Set yourself up at The Provincial Hotel, across the road from the station (it’s 90 minutes from Melbourne). The Ballarat International Foto Biennale has been extended until 9 January, so check out Linda McCartney: Retrospective then head around town to see the works displayed indoors and out. Make reservations at Moon & Mountain, where the banquet menus are influenced by South-East Asia’s hawker stalls. +theprovincialballarat.com.au +ballaratfoto.org +moonandmountain.com.au

Wonderful Woodend

Ready for a weekend in a quintessential country village? Woodend, about an hour from Southern Cross Station on the train, has one long main street lined with country bakeries, book shops, interesting stores and cafes. Be sure to drop into Holgate Brewhouse for craft beer and pub classics, like chicken parma. There’s accommodation upstairs, and some rooms have views of Mount Macedon. Got a bike? Bring it with you and cycle to Hanging Rock. +holgatebrewhouse.com