Our high quality local produce, including nuts, olives, berries, apples, carrots, honey, meat and fish, combined with our passionate artisans making olive oil, chocolate, coffee, beer, wine, smoked meats & smallgoods, butter & cheese, and the creative flair of our chefs, makes this area paradise for gourmands. What better way to experience then by tasting?

Here’s just a sample of the great value Foodie experiences you’ll find in The Ultimate Passport – Bright & Surrounds

Visit Bright Chocolate for their factory tour – discover how small-batch chocolate is made, from bean to bar. Bright Chocolate is at the forefront of the craft chocolate movement in Australia. Single-origin cacao beans are delivered to Bright from Madagascar, Ecuador, Trinidad and the Dominican Republic. Follow them on their journey as they become high-quality chocolate bars and treats. Participate in the factory tour 2 for the price of 1, then receive 20% off your purchases on the same day. Bright Chocolate is an Australia craft chocolate company making award-winning small-batch single-origin chocolate from their small factory in a restored brick stable in Bright, treating the cacao bean with respect and love. You’ll be surprised and delighted by the amazing flavours, so different (and we think, far superior!) to mass-produced chocolate.

Mt Buffalo Olives is a working olive grove, a shining example of the paddock-to-plate philosophy in action, producing award-winning Extra Virgin Olive Oil, table olives and condiments. Open for Farm Gate tasting & sales from 11am to 5pm Friday to Mondays. Olives are harvested by hand, pressed locally, and bottled on the farm. Stop by for a free tasting, then receive a free gift from their range of vinaigrettes or agrumato (flavoured oil) with the purchase of a 2- or 4-litre cask of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Ever wanted to know what goes on behind the scenes at a coffee roastery? Up for an afternoon tasting of House Blend and Single Origin coffees? Stop by Sixpence Coffee for their roastery tour & tasting. Pay for 1 tour and the second person is free! Sixpence Coffee is a family owned & run small batch coffee roastery nestled in the foothills of the Australian Alps in beautiful Bright. The roastery is warm & welcoming, whether you want to talk coffee, buy beans or simply settle in with a latte. Sixpence Coffee also offers a free gift of Single Origin coffee with the purchase of 250g or more of House Blend.

Let Wandiful Produce tempt you in two ways. A bio-dynamic micro farm, produce store & shed café, Wandiful Produce serves seasonal foods grown on the property or sourced locally: wood-fired chestnut dough pizza, healthy light lunches and a variety of delicious sweet treats. Their gourmet wood-fired pizzas use our specially-prepared chestnut sourdough bases and a variety of seasonal, locally foraged and sourced toppings. Order any 3 pizzas to receive a complimentary dessert pizza. Or, join their Farm Tour & Locavore lunch: a snack of chestnuts roasted over the fire and a tour through the farm paddock. Then, head back to the shed kitchen and create your own gourmet pizzas. Finished with a nut-infused dessert and local coffee or tea. Just a short drive or 25-minute bike ride from Bright in the charming village of Wandiligong.

Get your morning off to a celebratory start with the great value Sparkling breakfast special at Blackbird Café, a warm and welcoming café in Bright. Order two coffees, two of their amazing cooked breakfasts (try the scrambled with salmon or Spanish-style baked eggs with chorizo) and two glasses of local sparkling wine for just $40.

Kick back and enjoy a relaxing breakfast & coffee in the sunshine at the Rail Trail Café after a leisurely 15 minute ride from Bright on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. Sip their superb fair-trade organic coffee and try one of their tempting breakfast treats – maybe Jesse’s famous Breakfast Burrito – and enjoy the second breakfast & coffee at half price. The Rail Trail Café is a licensed café serving all day breakfast, meals with a Mexican twist, scrumptious home-made cakes & scones and fair-trade organic coffee. They use free-range eggs and fresh ingredients from the kitchen garden.

The Ox and Hound Bistro is a relaxed and inviting bistro tucked into a cosy shopfront in Beechworth, featuring large windows that saturate the room with light by day and frame the streetscape by night. The dining experience at The Ox and Hound reflects the wide variety of our quality local sub-alpine produce, including ingredients from our kitchen garden, and our seasonal menu delivers classic French & Italian dishes with a local twist. Treat yourself & a friend to a long and luxurious lunch at the Ox and Hound Bistro with a great lunch special for two – 2 courses with matched local wines, for $110.

Gapsted Wines Restaurant is open for lunch every day and takes pride in their outstanding food & wine pairings, using the finest local produce. Each season they select 3 top seasonal dishes for the set 3-course Taste of Season menu. You and a friend can enjoy the Taste of Season menu with matching wines – pay full price for one Taste of Season and the second is half price. Savour sweeping views of the surrounding vineyard, valleys and mountains beyond, while you relax and enjoy the region’s best food and innovative wine varieties.

Lupo’s Kiln Café is a family-friendly café and restaurant in a repurposed tobacco shed furnished almost completely with recycled materials. Lupo’s offers great coffee, breakfast, fresh hand-made pasta & sauces and housemade cakes & sweet treats, all served with a huge portion of country, Italian-style hospitality. Fresh, house-made pasta is the specialty at Lupo’s Kiln Café. All of their pastas and sauces are made fresh by hand in the traditional Italian style. This really is pasta just like Nonna makes. Order 2 pasta dishes from their outstanding selection and two glasses of house wine (or 2 coffees) for just $35. Enjoy a seat on the outdoor deck with magnificent views over Mount Buffalo, while the kids play in the awesome fully-enclosed playground.

Brown Brothers is one of Australia’s leading family-owned wine companies, founded in 1889 in Milawa, in the lower reaches of the King Valley. Their Milawa Cellar Door offers perhaps the largest range of wine varieties of any cellar door in Australia, and is home to the renowned restaurant Patricia’s Table. Dine at Patricia’s Table for lunch: 2 courses matched with Brown Brothers wine. Chef Douglas Elder is passionate about using fresh local produce to complement Brown Brothers wine, and the menu changes regularly to feature the freshest produce and new release wines. Afterwards, receive 20% off all wine purchased from the Cellar Door.

Enjoy one of Bastoni Pizzeria’s authentic wood-fired pizzas along with a fresh salad and two glasses of wine or beer at this friendly pizzeria in the heart of Myrtleford. Choose from the traditional margherita or napoletana, one of the tasty pizze bianche (white pizzas), or perhaps a limited-time-only Bastoni special. You’re sure to find a pizza that delights the taste buds! Or, if you’re in Myrtleford for dinner, their dinner special includes 2 pizzas and 2 glasses of house wine or beer for $35.

Local, Tasty, Lively – that’s the motto at Stones Throw restaurant at Hotel High Plains, and they strive to live up to it by using locally grown and sourced ingredients wherever possible and by selecting wines from many local boutique wineries. Come and try the fresh summer menu (designed by head chef Ben Bound formerly of Vue de Monde), experience their friendly & attentive service, and relax in comfort and style in front of their open fires. The Ultimate Passport features two exclusive offers for Stones Throw – either receive two drinks for the price of one with every meal, or order an entrée and main and receive a complimentary dessert. Located on Big Muster Drive in Dinner Plain, just a 10-minute drive from Mt Hotham Alpine Resort.

When you deserve a long, luxurious, three-course dinner for two, milch café (bar) can help. Each order a starter (menu changes seasonally but options may include pan-fried saganaki or pulled pork taco), main (may include the highly healthy ‘Good Stuff Salad’, confit duck leg or grass-fed scotch fillet), and your dessert is FREE. milch is the place to be in Falls Creek village, a sumptuous mix of bar meets restaurant. The best coffee on the mountain, house-made cakes & treats, extensive cocktail list, share plates, kids’ meals – all in a modern dining room with a fresh & relaxed feel.

On the lighter side, a number of our local wineries, cafés and restaurants have special offers exclusive to The Ultimate Passport for tasting platters combined with wines:

Stop in at Boynton’s Feathertop Winery cellar door right off the Great Alpine Road in Porepunkah, and refuel with their 2-for-1 tasting platter, selected from a huge range of local deli products, including cured & smoked meats, local cheeses, housemade baguettes, dips & pestos, olives, patés and local trout. Sit back and take in the magnificent views of Mount Buffalo and the Ovens Valley while you nosh on your beautifully prepared platter and sip matching wines.

Amulet Winery is the pioneer of Italian varieties in the iconic region of Beechworth – a small-volume family-owned winery producing a diverse range of Italian & French varieties, giving traditional styles a unique twistAmulet Wines is also the home of Beechworth Cider. Stop by the Cellar Door, just 10 minutes’ drive from Beechworth, for a free tasting, then purchase two glasses of wine from their diverse range of Italian & French style varietals, or two glasses of Beechworth Cider, and receive a complimentary deconstructed tasting plate, featuring an extensive array of seasonal local produce, to enjoy with your drinks.

A stop at Milawa Cheese Company is a must if you’re intent on sampling the finest offerings of the Milawa Gourmet Region. Grab a table on their airy, shaded deck and order a Cheese Platter (a selection of 2 Milawa Cheeses served with season fruit, nuts and Milawa bread) and 2 glasses of house wine, for just $30.

Great Alpine Produce & Trading is a friendly café & provedore situated just opposite the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail in Porepunkah. Order a Large Tasting Plate – the menu changes daily but options may include local smoked meats or fish, cheeses, olives, breads, dips, and fresh vegetables. Then receive 2 free glasses of the wine of the day to enjoy with your platter.

Or, if you’re more in the mood for a lazy picnic, see our picnic options with Bright provedores The Loaded Basket, Food Wine Friends or Milawa’s Snow Road Produce.

Our local provedores, delis and foodstores are great places to snap up some amazing local produce: Great Alpine Produce & Trading, The Loaded Basket, Food Wine Friends and Snow Road Produce all have shelves just groaning with a wide variety of food & drink most produced within 100km – or 1 hour’s drive of their location.

And, for a whole package built around the North East’s food & wine experience, go no further than the Gourmet Getaway at The Statesman Motor Inn. Stay three nights in a deluxe room, with country-style cooked breakfast each day, and receive a complimentary bottle of Rutherglen wine on arrival. Then be whisked away on a 3-hour chauffeur-driven winery tour in a classic Mercedes – you choose the vineyards – and enjoy a two-course gourmet lunch with glass of wine at the Pickled Sisters Café, the noted café at Cofield Wines. Located in the centre of Corowa just minutes from the mighty Murray River and the Rutherglen wine region, the Statesman Motor Inn is a family-run country motel with spacious rooms set around the extensive pool & garden area.

Fine print: Please check the exclusions & conditions of each offer. All offers are subject to availability and some may require advance booking.

Dinner in Bright, Victoria.

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Here’s a taste of the great value experiences Wine Lovers will find in The Ultimate Passport – Bright & Surrounds

At Ringer Reef Cellar Door, order two glasses of their small-batch, handcrafted wine, with Annie’s special homemade bread, served with local olive oil, for just $15. Sip your wine on the expansive lawns or the terrace, with magnificent views of Mount Buffalo, the Buckland Valley and the Alpine National Park. Ringer Reef is a small winery, vineyard & cellar door, owned & operated by Bruce & Annie Holm – you’re likely to see Annie at the cellar door and Bruce around the property, perhaps for a chat about winemaking. Their range of handmade wines includes white, red, sparkling & dessert wines, many in French or Italian styles.

Visit the Michelini Wines cellar door right on the Great Alpine Road in the heart of Myrtleford for a free wine tasting. Try their trophy & award-winning cool climate Italian varietals (Pinot Grigio, Barbera, Sangiovese, and more), or their very approachable Devils Creek range, then receive two glasses of wine for only $10 to enjoy at a table in their beautiful Tuscan-villa style cellar door. The Michelini family first started growing grapes and making wine in Italy in 1851.Today the family proudly continues their wine-making tradition with grapes grown in the shadow of Mount Buffalo, focusing on cool climate Italian varietals in the style of the Trentine Alto Adige region, sometimes using them in innovative new-world style.

Eaglerange Estate is a family-owned vineyard located in Happy Valley, part of the Alpine Valleys wine region. The estate has been in the Ivone family for more than three generations and is named after the watchful eagles that soar over the valley. They produce small batches of carefully crafted, cool-climate wines and are constantly expanding their range with the planting of new varieties of vines. Call in to the Cellar Door in the beautiful Happy Valley, just a few minutes’ drive from the Great Alpine Road, and taste our range of cool climate wines. also offer tastings and sell handmade salami, made to a family recipe handed down through the generations. Then receive 20% off your purchase of 3 or more bottles of wine, and 20% off your purchase of any salami.

Boynton’s Feathertop Winery in Porepunkah offers a 2-for-1 tasting platter with matched wines at their cellar door on the Great Alpine Road. Select from their huge range of local deli products, including cured & smoked meats, local cheeses, housemade baguettes, dips & pestos, olives, patés and local trout, then sit back and take in the magnificent views of Mount Buffalo and the Ovens Valley while you nosh on your beautifully prepared platter and sip matching wines. And, if you’d like to stay in luxury and style in the middle of a working vineyard, please see our Accommodation deals: stay 4 nights, pay for 3 at either the elegant Peggy Adelaide Suite or the spacious 2-bedroom Mount Buffalo View Apartment at Feathertop Wines.

A visit to Gapsted Wines Cellar Door & Restaurant is one of the highlights of North East Victoria. Just 5 minutes’ drive from Myrtleford on the Great Alpine Road, close to Beechworth & Bright, and near the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, Gapsted Wines Cellar Door offers over 25 cool-climate wines for tasting including innovative varieties like Petit Manseng and Saperavi, along with your old favourites. Gapsted Wines Restaurant is open for lunch every day and takes pride in their outstanding food & wine pairings, using the finest local produce. Each season they select 3 top seasonal dishes for the set 3-course Taste of Season menu. You and a friend can enjoy the Taste of Season menu with matching wines – pay full price for one Taste of Season and the second is half price. Savour sweeping views of the surrounding vineyard, valleys and mountains beyond, while you relax and enjoy the region’s best food and innovative wine varieties.

Pennyweight Winery is a small, unique, traditional vineyard & winery owned & operated by the Morris family, now in their 5th generation of winemakers, known for their range of premium table wines and fortified wines including their flagship Pennyweight Gold, a fortified dessert wine. Taste their range of premium biodynamic table wines and fortifieds at the unpretentious cellar door set among stringybarks and vines, then purchase a glass of wine and receive a free glass of wine up to the same value. Pennyweight is located off the Beechworth-Wangaratta Road, and just 2.5km from town directly on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail.

Amulet Winery is the pioneer of Italian varieties in the iconic region of Beechworth – a small-volume family-owned winery producing a diverse range of Italian & French varieties, giving traditional styles a unique twist. Wines include Prosecco, Moscato, Sangiovese, Barbera & Pinot Blanc. Amulet Wines is also the home of Beechworth Cider. Stop by the Cellar Door, just 10 minutes’ drive from Beechworth, for a free tasting, then purchase two glasses of wine from their diverse range of Italian & French style varietals, or two glasses of Beechworth Cider, and receive a complimentary deconstructed tasting plate, featuring an extensive array of seasonal local produce, to enjoy with your drinks.

The Indigo Vineyard Ultimate Taste Experience is a fun & informative wine education adventure. Taste a flight of wine using the internationally recognised Jean Lenoir ‘Le Nez du Vin’ tasting kit, designed to improve your understanding of wine bouquet. At the end of the hour-long tasting, take home a boxed Riedel wine glass, along with your enhanced knowledge. Indigo Vineyard is a specialist grape grower, with their premium grapes used in many fabulous wines produced by great winemakers. Small parcels of carefully chosen estate-grown grapes are reserved to produce small batches of Indigo Wines.

Treat yourself & a friend to a long and luxurious lunch at the Ox and Hound Bistro in Beechworth with this lunch special for 2. Order two courses – perhaps a terrine or a salad of spring asparagus, followed by Harrietville trout, or, if you saved room for dessert, Beechworth honey pannacotta – with matched local wines, for just $110. The Ox and Hound is a relaxed and inviting bistro tucked into a cosy shop featuring large windows that saturate the room with light by day and frame the streetscape by night. The dining experience at The Ox and Hound reflects the wide variety of high quality local sub-alpine produce, including ingredients from their kitchen garden, and their seasonal menu delivers classic French & Italian dishes with a local twist.

Brown Brothers is one of Australia’s leading family-owned wine companies, founded in 1889 in Milawa, in the lower reaches of the King Valley. Their Milawa Cellar Door offers perhaps the largest range of wine varieties of any cellar door in Australia. Dry, sweet, fruity, sparkling, classic varietals or new niche varietals, Brown Brothers strives to have a wine for everyone. There are many Limited Release and Cellar Door releases that can only be tasted by visiting the winery. Brown Brothers Milawa Cellar Door is also home to Patricia’s Table restaurant, Epi.Curious wine bar, a large grassy lawn for picnics and relaxing, and a children’s playground. We have two great deals with Brown Brothers.  The 2-for-1 Tasting Tour is a 1-hour tour taking you behind the scenes of this iconic winery. Learn from your guide about Brown Brothers’ rich history as pioneers of winemaking in Victoria, as well as tasting some of the many wines produced here. Also included are shared tasting plates for food matching. Tour cost is $20 per person – now 2 for the price of 1 with this offer. Or, dine at Patricia’s Table for lunch: 2 courses matched with Brown Brothers wine. Chef Douglas Elder is passionate about using fresh local produce to complement Brown Brothers wine, and the menu changes regularly to feature the freshest produce and new release wines. Afterwards, receive 20% off all wine purchased from the Cellar Door.

Enjoy all that the Corowa-Rutherglen region has to offer with a stay at The Statesman Motor Inn. Get away from all your troubles & cares with this great value 3-night gourmet food & wine accommodation package with the Statesman Motor Inn. Stay three nights in a deluxe room, with country-style cooked breakfast each day, and receive a complimentary bottle of Rutherglen wine on arrival. Then be whisked away on a 3-hour chauffeur-driven winery tour in a classic Mercedes – you choose the vineyards – and enjoy a two-course gourmet lunch with glass of wine at the Pickled Sisters Café, the noted café at Cofield Wines. Located in the centre of Corowa just minutes from the mighty Murray River and the Rutherglen wine region, the Statesman Motor Inn is a family-run country motel with spacious queen/twin rooms and family rooms set around the extensive pool & garden area. Whether you want to relax near the river, indulge in a spot of fishing, walk through a forest of River Red Gums or explore the region – Rutherglen, Beechworth, Lake Mulwala and Albury are all just a short drive away – the Statesman Motor Inn makes a perfect base.

Fine print: Please check the exclusions & conditions of each offer. All offers are subject to availability and some may require advance booking.

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Here’s our Insiders Guide to exploring Beechworth with The Ultimate Passport

Australian beer lovers, here is a great deal for you – the 10-beer tasting paddle at Bridge Road Brewers, for just $10. Yep, you heard us right. Try 10 of Bridge Road’s craft beers – including seasonal brews, ground-breaking collaborations, and of course their flagship Beechworth Pale Ale – for just $10. Bridge Road Brewers is one of historic Beechworth’s top attractions, with good reason. The brewery has an open fire for winter and a large beer garden & kids’ play area for the warmer months. They also serve lunch or dinner, with tasty pizzas made with local ingredients and other beer-friendly menu options. Keep your eyes out for Maria’s famous pretzels, the best pretzels this side of Munich – they sell out fast so get in early!

Amulet Winery is the pioneer of Italian varieties in the iconic region of Beechworth – a small-volume family-owned winery producing a diverse range of Italian & French varieties, giving traditional styles a unique twist. Amulet Wines is also the home of Beechworth Cider. Visit the Cellar Door, just 10 minutes’ drive from Beechworth, for a free tasting, then purchase two glasses of wine from their diverse range of Italian & French style varietals, or two glasses of Beechworth Cider, and receive a complimentary deconstructed tasting plate, featuring an extensive array of seasonal local produce, to enjoy with your drinks.

Pennyweight Winery is a small, unique, traditional vineyard & winery owned & operated by the Morris family, now in their 5th generation of winemakers, known for their range of premium table wines and fortified wines including their flagship Pennyweight Gold, a fortified dessert wine. Taste their range of premium biodynamic table wines and fortifieds at the unpretentious cellar door set among stringybarks and vines, then purchase a glass of wine and receive a free glass of wine up to the same value. Pennyweight is located off the Beechworth-Wangaratta Road, and just 2.5km from town directly on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail.

The Indigo Vineyard Ultimate Taste Experience is a fun & informative wine education adventure. Taste a flight of wine using the internationally recognised Jean Lenoir ‘Le Nez du Vin’ tasting kit, designed to improve your understanding of wine bouquet. At the end of the hour-long tasting, take home a boxed Riedel wine glass, along with your enhanced knowledge. Indigo Vineyard is a specialist grape grower, with their premium grapes used in many fabulous wines produced by great winemakers. Small parcels of carefully chosen estate-grown grapes are reserved to produce small batches of Indigo Wines.

The Ox and Hound Bistro is a relaxed and inviting bistro tucked into a cosy shopfront in Beechworth, featuring large windows that saturate the room with light by day and frame the streetscape by night. The dining experience at The Ox and Hound reflects the wide variety of our quality local sub-alpine produce, including ingredients from our kitchen garden, and our seasonal menu delivers classic French & Italian dishes with a local twist. Treat yourself & a friend to a long and luxurious lunch at the Ox and Hound Bistro with a great lunch special for two – 2 courses with matched local wines, for $110.

The Spa Beechworth, one of Victoria’s premium country spa and wellbeing destinations, has two relaxing, indulgent offers: Choose from their vinotherapy treatment, a 75-minute full-body exfoliation & massage using locally sourced, wine-infused therapeutic products, for just $179 per person, or pamper yourself and a friend at The Spa Beechworth – book 2 or more people on any treatments of 60 minutes or longer (ranging from complete body scrub & mud treatment through to hot stone massage and couples’ retreats), and receive a complimentary glass of wine and local tasting plate to enjoy whilst relaxing, valued at up to $65.

If you’re basing yourself in Wangaratta, River Tribe Adventures have some wonderful offers allowing plenty of time to explore Beechworth & surrounds. Their cycle hire & transfer service begins with a transfer from Wangaratta to Beechworth. Then you have all day to explore Beechworth and leisurely pedal mostly downhill back to Wangaratta on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. Includes full-day cycle hire, one-way transfer from Wangaratta to Beechworth, and tour notes. Book 3 people and the 4th goes free. Or, for a more indulgent experience, book 3 people on their Pedal for Picnic, and the 4th goes free – includes full-day cycle hire, one-way transfer from Wangaratta to Beechworth, and a freshly-prepared picnic with a selection of local produce, Prosecco and a sweet treat. Again you’re dropped off in Beechworth with a full day to cycle around Beechworth and back to Wangaratta mostly downhill on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail – a cycling route that boasts spectacular scenery and is dotted with wineries and beautiful picnic spots.

Fine print: Please check the exclusions & conditions of each offer. All offers are subject to availability and most require advance booking.

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No need for soggy salad sandwiches on paper plates when you can pick up a beautifully prepared spread of fabulous local produce in a fully-equipped hamper from one of our local provedores or delis. We’ll even share some of our favourite picnic spots with you…

The Loaded Basket – really, the name says it all when it comes to picnics. Let the Loaded Basket deli & provedore prepare your picnic – either choose from their extensive selection or let the resident caterer surprise you – then take your vintage picnic hamper to Lake Catani or the Horn at Mount Buffalo, or one of the secret swimming holes on the Buckland River, sit back & enjoy.

Let Food Wine Friends create a gourmet picnic experience for you to share at home (or in the park….by the river….up the snow etc). Food Wine Friends is a café & gourmet foodstore serving modern comfort food with a strong regional focus. Gourmet picnic baskets are made with love and the finest local ingredients and might include a loaf of Milawa ciabatta, homemade broadbean dip, Lochelian cheese, North-east lamb & roast pumpkin salad with chevre, zesty lemon tart or our signature chocolate brownie. The menu is seasonal and ever-changing and they work with you to create your perfect picnic. Picnic baskets, thermos & picnic rugs are available to complete the experience.

Snow Road Produce – Placing the North East region on a pedestal. Let Snow Road Produce put together the finest selection of local & regional produce for you, in a fabulous picnic hamper for 2. Featured produce includes local cheeses, butter, olives, oils, breads, dips and more. Once you’ve enjoyed your feast of local produce, return to SRP for coffee and one of their yummy house-made sweet treats. Snow Road Produce is situated in the heart of the Milawa Gourmet Region. They stock an extensive range of regional produce, including Milawa Cheese, Myrtleford Butter, local olives, oils, breads, dips, jams, nuts, berries and so much more. They also carry local wines and boutique beer. Whether you’re on your way to the snow or touring our beautiful region, SRP has the selection for you.

Pick up a lunch special from Rok Salt Fish & Chippery and enjoy your fish ‘n’ chips in the fresh air, the way they’re meant to be enjoyed, down by the Ovens River in Bright.

Another way to picnic is with River Tribe Adventures. Their Pedal to Picnic package includes full-day cycle hire, one-way transfer from Wangaratta to Beechworth, and gourmet picnic with a selection of local produce, Prosecco and a sweet treat. Explore Beechworth then leisurely pedal (mostly downhill) back to Wangaratta on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail – a cycling route that boasts spectacular scenery and is dotted with wineries and beautiful picnic spots.

Here are some fabulous spots for a lazy summer picnic:

By the water: There’s the ever-popular choice of Centenary Park and Howitt Park in Bright, with the nearby playground, splash park and swimming hole with water slide & diving board. But there are many other magical spots along the Ovens & its tributary creeks. Riverside Park in Porepunkah and Tavare Park in Harrietville are two excellent choices, or head to secluded and shady Alpine Park in Wandiligong, right on the burbling waters of Morses Creek and easily reached on a short drive or 20-minute bike ride from Bright. There are also a number of swimming holes with space to spread a picnic blanket along the Canyon Walk and Cherry Walk, or on the Buckland River in Porepunkah and Buckland. Head to Mount Buffalo National Park to laze by the cooling waters of Lake Catani (go for a hike, a swim or perhaps hire a canoe or kayak to build up your appetite). Relax near tumbling waterfalls at Rollasons Falls and Eurobin Falls. Or lay out your picnic mat at Lake Sambell in Beechworth. Lake William Hovell in the upper King Valley has a number of scenic spots for a leisurely picnic and a swim. Paradise Falls, on the Wabonga Plateau outside of Cheshunt, has picnic tables just before the short walk to the spectacular 31-metre waterfall.

Views & Lookouts: Mount Buffalo National Park is just brimming with perfect picnic spots. Take in majestic views from the picnic area at the Horn, Mount Buffalo’s tallest point, or the Gorge, near the Mt Buffalo Chalet. Tawonga Gap, just 8km from Bright on the winding Tawonga Gap Road, offers magnificent views of Mount Buffalo, Mount Bogong and the Kiewa Valley. Murmungee Lookout, in the Stanley State Forest, is a spectacular spot for a picnic, with an expansive panorama of Mount Buffalo and the floodplains of the Ovens and King Valleys. Or head up into the Alpine National Park along the Great Alpine Road – there are many spots to stop and admire the view and breathe the fresh mountain air. Dargo Lookout is a short walk from Wire Plain on the road to Dinner Plain, with lovely views over the Dargo High Plains. Powers Lookout, on the Whitfield-Mansfield Road, was reputed to be a vantage point for notorious bushranger Harry Power (supposedly Ned Kelly was his apprentice in outlawry). Today you can enjoy a picnic with views over the King Valley; there’s a second lookout point if you’re up for a short steep walk.

High Country Huts: History and natural beauty meet at the many huts of the High Country. Some are were built by cattlemen, others to shelter skiers during the brunt of winter, still others are replica huts built specially for film & television – but they’re all great spots for a picnic. Build up an appetite with a walk to Silver Brumby Hut at Mount Hotham, standing on the Plains of Heaven near Swindler’s Creek, just past the base of Blue Ribbon chairlift. Wallace’s Hut is a true cattlemen’s hut built in 1889, reached by a picturesque walk through snowgums from the Bogong High Plains Road at Falls Creek.

Wineries: A few of our local wineries are perfectly happy for self-caterers to bring a gourmet picnic. Ringer Reef in Porepunkah and Brown Brothers in Milawa both have expansive lawns perfect for a picnic with a glass or two of wine.

Fine print: Please check the exclusions & conditions of each offer. All offers are subject to availability and some may require advance booking. Some picnic spots require a walk or a drive on gravel roads and some may be accessible by 4WD only. Check conditions locally.

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All year round of course! But if we have to pick a favourite time of year… it’s a bit like saying which child you love the best… okay fine it’s winter. The air is fresh and crisp, the scenery is particularly gorgeous (all those picturesque snow-covered peaks), the woodfires are pumping out heat, and when it rains you just walk around with a grin on your face because hey, it’s snowing on the mountaintops.

We’re spoiled for choice in the winter, with the choice of Falls Creek, Mount Hotham, Dinner Plain or Mount Buffalo for our snow activities. Beginner or expert, ski or snowboard, downhill or cross-country, snowplay or snowsports – we’ve got you covered.

Here are some of the exclusive snow season offers featured in The Ultimate Passport – Bright & Surrounds:

Join Adventure Guides Australia on a Cross-Country Ski Adventure at beautiful Mount Buffalo, two for the price of 1. Start with a cross-country ski lesson – an hour & a half of expert tuition followed by a 2-hour ski tour exploring the many kilometres of trails on the great granite plateau. Whether it’s your first time or you’re looking to brush up on your skills, Mount Buffalo is the ideal location – friendly & welcoming, only a 45-minute drive from Bright, and no entry fees. Adventure Guides Australia has been offering amazing outdoor experiences for more than 30 years in a range of locations, with particular emphasis in the Mount Buffalo region of northern Victoria, their ‘spiritual home’.

Your trip to the snow just got a little more affordable with this 2-for-1 gear hire deal from Absolute Outdoors on the Great Alpine Road in Porepunkah. Stop in on your way to Mt Hotham or Falls Creek ski resorts to pick up your skis or snowboard for yourself and a friend, and save some real $$.

Ashwood Cottages offers two great value deals. Stay either Friday & Saturday nights and add an extra night (Thursday or Sunday) for FREE, or stay 4 nights, pay for 3. These one-bedroom self-contained cottages feature a king sized bed, ensuite, spa, kitchenette, Free WiFi, log fire, and BBQ facilities. The cottages are spread out over one hectare of tranquil bushland, offering privacy & seclusion, though only an easy 5-minute cycle or 25-minute walk from cosmopolitan Bright. On the banks of the Ovens River adjacent to the Canyon Walk.

An intimate alpine experience at Rundells Alpine Lodge Dinner Plain (pictured) is not to be missed. Breakfast and dinners are catered and the well-appointed guest rooms are serviced daily. Drive to the lodge door. Tobogganing, dog sleds, cross country trails and a beginner ski run are a few steps away. During ski season, from 14 June to 22 September, Stay 2 nights (mid week Sunday to Thursday) and receive two additional nights for FREE. Exclusive through The Ultimate Passport – Bright & Surrounds.

Book your ski holiday at Frueauf Village and receive a complimentary cheese platter & bottle of Prosecco as a welcome gift. Frueauf Village is a luxury oasis in the heart of Falls Creek village, with ski-in, ski-out access. Featuring 25 architect-designed apartments, ranging from studios up to 6-bedroom chalets, Frueauf Village is the perfect base for your Falls Creek holiday. Apartments are self-contained and elegantly furnished, most featuring European appliances in fully-equipped kitchens, many with private outdoor hot tub. milch café (bar), with its buzzy, fun vibe (and the best coffee on mountain) is located at Frueauf Village. Whether you’re a couple looking for a romantic snow getaway or part of a large, fun-seeking group, there is an apartment or chalet at Frueauf Village that will suit you.

Get a taste of winter with this great-value winter accommodation package from Adina Lodge. Stay 4 nights for the price of 3, and your stay includes guaranteed late checkout, FREE bicycle hire, 1 day FREE snow chain hire, and FREE toboggan hire. Adina Lodge is just a 35-minute drive to Mount Buffalo for snow play, tobogganing and cross-country skiing. Or stay in the valley, ride the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail and admire the wintry mountain scenery – it’s up to you! Adina Lodge may be Bright’s best kept secret. With the Rail Trail on one side of the property and the Canyon Walk on the other, Adina Lodge feels like a secret garden haven and yet it is still only an easy stroll into the centre of Bright with all its cafes, restaurants and boutiques.

Stay 3 nights for the price of 2, or 6 nights for the price of 4, and enjoy a warm welcome from your hosts Ros & Brendan at Bright Mystic Valley Holiday Units. With 5 one- and two-bedroom units on 3 acres of tranquil gardens, complete with tennis court, kids’ play area, BBQ gazebo and solar heated swimming pool & spa, right at the base of Mystic Mountain in Bright, this is a great winter getaway. All units have a fully-equipped modern kitchen, reverse-cycle air-conditioning and a veranda for relaxing, reading or just sitting & reflecting. The units have a cosy and rustic feel thanks to the striking stone feature walls, built by hand with Glenrowan stone. Superior linen, fluffy towels and high-quality toiletries complete the package.

Stay 3 nights for the price of 2 at Panoramia Villas, the ultimate in luxury and relaxation. Located on 60 acres of private bushland, just 4 kilometres off the Great Alpine Road in Myrtleford, the villas offer full panoramic views of the Ovens Valley from their floor-to-ceiling windows. Each of the two villas is elegantly appointed with a range of unique and exotic furniture, homewares, and objets d’art, as well as all of the accoutrements you expect from a deluxe property – fully equipped kitchen, free WiFi, balcony with barbeque, wood fire (firewood supplied), premium linen & towels, and undercover parking. Panoramia Villas is just 45 minutes from Mount Buffalo National Park and 1 1/2 hours’ drive from Falls Creek and Mount Hotham Ski Resorts.

Ellie Mae’s Bed & Breakfast offers a luxurious getaway in a charming historical building. Ellie Mae’s Bed and Breakfast, located in a cottage built around 1890 in Bright, retains all the charm and character of yesterday while providing all the contemporary touches you expect from a deluxe accommodation property, including free WiFi throughout. Book a minimum of 2 nights mid-week in July at this wonderful traditional bed & breakfast, and receive a complimentary gourmet platter for two.

If it’s spring skiing you’re after, stay 3 nights for the price of 2 at the Harrietville Hotel Motel, located at the base of Mt Hotham and Mt Feathertop on the Great Alpine Road. Fabulous off-mountain location, directly across from Hoy’s ski hire and the departure point of the Snowball Express service to Mt Hotham ski resort, and right on the Ovens River in beautiful Harrietville. Valid September, outside of school holidays.

On your way to Falls Creek? Don’t pass by without stopping at Sweetwater Brewing brewery bar, on the Kiewa Valley Highway in Tawonga South. Sample their range of craft beers – order two tasting paddles with a selection of 5 beers, for just $10, and enjoy the magnificent views of the Big Fella as you sip.

Blackbird Café in Bright is one of the cosiest dining options around in wintertime. Lounge on one of their comfy couches in front of the woodfire, and indulge in a celebratory start to the day with the great value Sparkling breakfast special. Order two coffees, two of their amazing cooked breakfasts (try the scrambled with salmon or Spanish-style baked eggs with chorizo) and two glasses of local sparkling wine for just $40.

Other accommodation options include:

G.G’s By The River is a luxury 2-bedroom self-contained cottage at the foot of Mount Buffalo in Eurobin, taking pride in their attention to detail and warm hospitality. Elegantly appointed, comfortable bedrooms feature king beds, full luxury bathrooms and superior quality linen & robes. Stay 4 nights, pay for 3, and receive a complimentary welcome hamper.

Merrimeet Cottages has a superb location in a hectare of rambling English-style gardens which flow on to the Canyon Walk alongside the Ovens River, just a few minutes’ walk from Bright town centre. Stay 4 nights, pay for 3 in either a self-contained garden apartment or a spacious cottage. Your hosts Alistair and Kellie look forward to welcoming you.

Motel on Alpine offers warm country hospitality in a superb location, right on the Great Alpine Road and the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. Stay 3 nights for the price of 2 in one of 20 spacious suites and cabins, featuring tea & coffee making facilities, well-stocked minibar, flat screen TVs and off-street, undercover parking.

Molly’s@Wandi is great value for those on a tighter budget. Again choose from one of two offers. Either stay Friday & Saturday nights and stay an extra night (Thursday or Sunday) for FREE, or stay 4 nights, pay for 3. Molly’s@Wandi is a comfortable, cosy 2-bedroom miners’ cottage in the charming historical gold-mining village of Wandiligong. Molly’s@Wandi is close to the iconic Wandi pub and to the river walks along Morses Creek. This cosy little home includes a full kitchen (with oven), tidy bathroom, TV & DVD player and a washing machine. The polished floorboards and wood fire-place (wood supplied) enhance the period feel of the home.

Fine print: Please check the exclusions & conditions of each offer. All offers are subject to availability and most require advance booking.

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Grape & Grain Bar is the place to catch up with friends in the heart of beautiful Bright. This stylish bar has a reputation for professionalism and a friendly sociable atmosphere. The perfect venue for those looking for a drink in a welcoming and enjoyable environment. We have two offers to choose from at Grape & Grain: Purchase one of their tasty burgers and receive a pot of beer for free. OR, order a bottle of wine from their extensive list, featuring wines from some of the North East’s best wineries and estate wines from further afield, and receive two meals for the price of one.

Enjoy two Bastoni Pizzeria authentic wood-fired pizzas and two glasses of wine or beer for just $35 at this friendly pizzeria in the heart of Myrtleford. Choose from the traditional margherita or napoletana, one of the tasty pizze bianche (white pizzas), or perhaps a limited-time-only Bastoni special. You’re sure to find a pizza that delights the taste buds!

Motel on Alpine Restaurant (pictured) offers warm country hospitality in a superb location, right on the Great Alpine Road and the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail in Myrtleford – a perfect spot to enjoy the gourmet food & wine delights of the northeast. The stylish dining room has floor to ceiling windows revealing extensive views over the Ovens Valley and Mount Buffalo and the menu focuses on seasonal, local produce. Come enjoy a relaxing or romantic dinner at the Motel on Alpine Restaurant. Order 2 courses per person for yourself & a friend, and receive a FREE bottle of house wine to go with your meal.

Enjoy a traditional pub meal or gourmet dish at Redgum Bar and Bistro at the Harrietville Hotel Motel. Whether you’re craving a classic parma or the deboned Harrietville Trout (long a favourite on the menu), stop by for dinner, order 2 main courses and receive 2 glasses of house wine for free. If you prefer cider, draught beer or soft drink, feel free to substitute.

Local, Tasty, Lively – that’s the motto at Stones Throw restaurant at Hotel High Plains, and they strive to live up to it by using locally grown and sourced ingredients wherever possible and by selecting wines from many local boutique wineries. Come and try the fresh summer menu (designed by head chef Ben Bound formerly of Vue de Monde), experience their friendly & attentive service, and relax in comfort and style in front of their open fires. The Ultimate Passport features two exclusive offers for Stones Throw – either receive two drinks for the price of one with every meal, or order an entrée and main and receive a complimentary dessert. Located on Big Muster Drive in Dinner Plain, just a 10-minute drive from Mt Hotham Alpine Resort.

You’ve had a big day breathing in the fresh clean air of the Alpine National Park. Maybe you tore up Falls Creek’s MTB trails. Maybe you walked out to the summit of Mt McKay. Maybe you just relaxed on the deck of your accommodation reading a book and taking in the views. Whatever. You deserve a long, luxurious, three-course dinner – and milch café (bar) can help. Each order a starter (menu changes seasonally but options may include pan-fried saganaki or pulled pork taco), main (may include the highly healthy ‘Good Stuff Salad’, confit duck leg or grass-fed scotch fillet), and your dessert is FREE. Hope & pray that their famous sticky date is on the menu, and that it has your name on it. milch café (bar) is the place to be in Falls Creek village, a sumptuous mix of bar meets restaurant. The best coffee on the mountain, house-made cakes & treats, extensive cocktail list, share plates, kids’ meals – all in a modern dining room with a fresh & relaxed feel. Vegetarian, vegan & gluten-free options available. Call us to check our summer trading hours.

Fine print: Please check the exclusions & conditions of each offer. All offers are subject to availability and some may require advance booking.

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Once this productive farmland was used for growing tobacco; now it is an epicentre of incredible produce, as farmers have turned their hands to dairying and beef and to growing wine grapes, hops, berries, apples, pears, stonefruit, nuts, olives, lavender, and more. The unmistakeable shapes of old tobacco drying kilns still dot the landscape, now turned to such varying uses as cafés and accommodation. Farm gates proliferate or you can find local produce at the Myrtleford Community Produce Market (Saturdays from December to May).

Myrtleford’s population swelled with Italian migrants in the 1920s and after WWII, and that Italian heritage is still celebrated today, in many of Myrtleford’s cafés and restaurants, and in the yearly autumn festival La Fiera. Even if you’re not in the area for La Fiera, you can celebrate Myrtleford’s Italian heritage with the Ultimate Passport’s great value offers at Michelini Wines, Eaglerange Estates, Lupo’s Kiln Café and Bastoni Pizzeria.

Scenic views abound in Myrtleford. From almost anywhere in town you will see the granite bulk of Mount Buffalo. For views from different angles, walk the Ovens River loop, a sealed, mostly flat track linking Apex and Rotary parks along the river, partly through native bushland. Walk up to Reform Hill lookout (there are three different tracks to choose from) for expansive views of the Ovens Valley, Mount Buffalo and the Victorian Alps.

The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail runs right through the centre of town if you want to take a spin on two wheels – ride out past the hop fields to Eurobin or onwards to Bright (about 35km), or head the other direction towards Gapsted. If you’re up for a bit of a climb, pass through Gapsted to Everton then take the spur line to Beechworth.

Lake Buffalo is about 20 kilometres from town along the Buffalo River Road, at the western foot of Mount Buffalo. It’s an excellent spot in summer for swimming, kayaking, water-skiing and wake-boarding, and for fishing year-round. Facilities include playground, picnic area, electric BBQs and boat ramp.

Myrtleford is the commercial centre of the Alpine Shire and is just a 25-minute drive from Bright and Beechworth, about 40 minutes from the Milawa Gourmet Region, 45 minutes from the entrance to Mount Buffalo National Park and 1 1/2 hours from Falls Creek and Mount Hotham resorts. The small hamlet of Stanley, with its orchards and berry farms, is a scenic 35-minute drive through the eucalypts of the Stanley State Forest.

The Ultimate Passport has three great-value accommodation offers for Myrtleford:

Stay 3 nights for the price of 2 at Panoramia Villas, the ultimate in luxury and relaxation. Located on 60 acres of private bushland, just 4 kilometres off the Great Alpine Road in Myrtleford, the villas offer full panoramic views of the Ovens Valley from their floor-to-ceiling windows. Each of the two villas is elegantly appointed with a range of unique and exotic furniture, homewares, and objets d’art, as well as all of the accoutrements you expect from a deluxe property – fully equipped kitchen, free WiFi, balcony with barbeque, wood fire (firewood supplied), premium linen & towels, and undercover parking. Panoramia Villas is just 45 minutes from Mount Buffalo National Park and 1 1/2 hours’ drive from Falls Creek and Mount Hotham Ski Resorts.

G.G’s By The River is a luxury 2-bedroom self-contained cottage at the foot of Mount Buffalo in Eurobin, taking pride in their attention to detail and warm hospitality. Elegantly appointed, comfortable bedrooms feature king beds, full luxury bathrooms and superior quality linen & robes. Stay 4 nights, pay for 3, and receive a complimentary welcome hamper.

Motel on Alpine offers warm country hospitality in a superb location, right on the Great Alpine Road and the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. Stay 3 nights for the price of 2 in one of 20 spacious suites and cabins, featuring tea & coffee making facilities, well-stocked minibar, flat screen TVs and off-street, undercover parking.

The Ultimate Passport features eight fantastic food & wine offers in the Myrtleford area:

You can’t miss the Michelini Wines Cellar Door– it’s the Tuscan villa-style building right on the Great Alpine Road in the heart of Myrtleford! Try their trophy & award-winning cool climate Italian varietals (Pinot Grigio, Barbera, Sangiovese, and more), or their very approachable Devils Creek range, then receive two glasses of wine for only $10 to enjoy at a table in the beautiful cellar door, made largely with recycled materials. The Michelini family first started growing grapes and making wine in Italy in 1851.Today the family proudly continues their wine-making tradition with grapes grown in the shadow of Mount Buffalo, focusing on cool climate Italian varietals in the style of the Trentine Alto Adige region, sometimes using them in innovative new-world style.

Eaglerange Estate is a family-owned vineyard located in Happy Valley, part of the Alpine Valleys wine region. The estate has been in the Ivone family for more than three generations and is named after the watchful eagles that soar over the valley. They produce small batches of carefully crafted, cool-climate wines and are constantly expanding their range with the planting of new varieties of vines. Call in to the Cellar Door in the beautiful Happy Valley, just a few minutes’ drive from the Great Alpine Road, and taste their range of cool climate wines. Eaglerange also offer tastings and sell handmade salami, made to a family recipe handed down through the generations. Then receive 20% off your purchase of 3 or more bottles of wine, and 20% off your purchase of any salami.

A visit to Gapsted Wines Cellar Door & Restaurant is one of the highlights of North East Victoria. Just 5 minutes’ drive from Myrtleford on the Great Alpine Road, and near the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, Gapsted Wines Cellar Door offers over 25 cool-climate wines for tasting including innovative varieties like Petit Manseng and Saperavi, along with your old favourites. Gapsted Wines Restaurant is open for lunch every day and takes pride in their outstanding food & wine pairings, using the finest local produce. Each season they select 3 top seasonal dishes for the set 3-course Taste of Season menu. You and a friend can enjoy the Taste of Season menu with matching wines – pay full price for one Taste of Season and the second is half price. Savour sweeping views of the surrounding vineyard, valleys and mountains beyond, while you relax and enjoy the region’s best food and innovative wine varieties.

Lupo’s Kiln Café is a family-friendly café and restaurant in a repurposed tobacco shed furnished almost completely with recycled materials. Lupo’s offers great coffee, breakfast, fresh hand-made pasta & sauces and housemade cakes & sweet treats, all served with a huge portion of country, Italian-style hospitality. Fresh, house-made pasta is the specialty at Lupo’s Kiln Café. All of their pastas and sauces are made fresh by hand in the traditional Italian style. This really is pasta just like Nonna makes. Order 2 pasta dishes from their outstanding selection and two glasses of house wine (or 2 coffees) for just $35. Enjoy a seat on the outdoor deck with magnificent views over Mount Buffalo, while the kids play in the awesome fully-enclosed playground.

No need for a plane ticket to transport you to Morocco – simply enter Café Fez, nestled inside Red Ramia bazaar on the Great Alpine Road in Myrtleford. Enjoy a taste of more exotic climes: Moroccan Mint Tea (or a more quotidian coffee if you prefer) and the honey-sweet, nutty delight that is Café Fez’s house-made baklava for two people, for just $10.

For dinner, enjoy two Bastoni Pizzeria authentic wood-fired pizzas and two glasses of wine or beer at this friendly pizzeria in the heart of Myrtleford. Choose from the traditional margherita or napoletana, one of the tasty pizze bianche (white pizzas), or perhaps a limited-time-only Bastoni special. You’re sure to find a pizza that delights the taste buds! And check the Ultimate Passport for Bastoni’s exclusive lunch special too.

Motel on Alpine Restaurant offers warm country hospitality in a superb location, right on the Great Alpine Road and the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail in Myrtleford – a perfect spot to enjoy the gourmet food & wine delights of the northeast. The stylish dining room has floor to ceiling windows revealing extensive views over the Ovens Valley and Mount Buffalo and the menu focuses on seasonal, local produce. Come enjoy a relaxing or romantic dinner at the Motel on Alpine Restaurant. Order 2 courses per person for yourself & a friend, and receive a FREE bottle of house wine to go with your meal.

Finally, if you cycle or drive to Beechworth, take advantage of these great offers:

Australian beer lovers, here is an amazing deal for you – the 10-beer tasting paddle at Bridge Road Brewers, for just $10. Yep, you heard us right. Try 10 of Bridge Road’s craft beers – including seasonal brews, ground-breaking collaborations, and of course their flagship Beechworth Pale Ale – for just $10. Bridge Road Brewers is one of historic Beechworth’s top attractions, with good reason. The brewery has an open fire for winter and a large beer garden & kids’ play area for the warmer months. They also serve lunch or dinner, with tasty pizzas made with local ingredients and other beer-friendly menu options. Keep your eyes out for Maria’s famous pretzels, the best pretzels this side of Munich – they sell out fast so get in early!

Amulet Winery is the pioneer of Italian varieties in the iconic region of Beechworth – a small-volume family-owned winery producing a diverse range of Italian & French varieties, giving traditional styles a unique twist. Amulet Wines is also the home of Beechworth Cider. Visit the Cellar Door, just 10 minutes’ drive from Beechworth, for a free tasting, then purchase two glasses of wine from their diverse range of Italian & French style varietals, or two glasses of Beechworth Cider, and receive a complimentary deconstructed tasting plate, featuring an extensive array of seasonal local produce, to enjoy with your drinks.

Pennyweight Winery is a small, unique, traditional vineyard & winery owned & operated by the Morris family, now in their 5th generation of winemakers, known for their range of premium table wines and fortified wines including their flagship Pennyweight Gold, a fortified dessert wine. Taste their range of premium biodynamic table wines and fortifieds at the unpretentious cellar door set among stringybarks and vines, then purchase a glass of wine and receive a free glass of wine up to the same value. Pennyweight is located off the Beechworth-Wangaratta Road, and just 2.5km from town directly on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail.

The Indigo Vineyard Ultimate Taste Experience is a fun & informative wine education adventure. Taste a flight of wine using the internationally recognised Jean Lenoir ‘Le Nez du Vin’ tasting kit, designed to improve your understanding of wine bouquet. At the end of the hour-long tasting, take home a boxed Riedel wine glass, along with your enhanced knowledge. Indigo Vineyard is a specialist grape grower, with their premium grapes used in many fabulous wines produced by great winemakers. Small parcels of carefully chosen estate-grown grapes are reserved to produce small batches of Indigo Wines.

The Ox and Hound Bistro is a relaxed and inviting bistro tucked into a cosy shopfront in Beechworth, featuring large windows that saturate the room with light by day and frame the streetscape by night. The dining experience at The Ox and Hound reflects the wide variety of our quality local sub-alpine produce, including ingredients from our kitchen garden, and our seasonal menu delivers classic French & Italian dishes with a local twist. Treat yourself & a friend to a long and luxurious lunch at the Ox and Hound Bistro with a great lunch special for two – 2 courses with matched local wines, for $110.

The Spa Beechworth, one of Victoria’s premium country spa and wellbeing destinations, has two relaxing, indulgent offers: Choose from their vinotherapy treatment, a 75-minute full-body exfoliation & massage using locally sourced, wine-infused therapeutic products, for just $179 per person, or pamper yourself and a friend at The Spa Beechworth – book 2 or more people on any treatments of 60 minutes or longer (ranging from complete body scrub & mud treatment through to hot stone massage and couples’ retreats), and receive a complimentary glass of wine and local tasting plate to enjoy whilst relaxing, valued at up to $65.

Fine print: Please check the exclusions & conditions of each offer. All offers are subject to availability and most require advance booking.

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The Ox and Hound Bistro (pictured) is a relaxed and inviting bistro tucked into a cosy shopfront in Beechworth, featuring large windows that saturate the room with light by day and frame the streetscape by night. The dining experience at The Ox and Hound reflects the wide variety of our quality local sub-alpine produce, including ingredients from our kitchen garden, and our seasonal menu delivers classic French & Italian dishes with a local twist. Treat yourself & a friend to a long and luxurious lunch at the Ox and Hound Bistro with a great lunch special for two – 2 courses with matched local wines, for $110.

Gapsted Wines Restaurant is open for lunch every day and takes pride in their outstanding food & wine pairings, using the finest local produce. Each season they select 3 top seasonal dishes for the set 3-course Taste of Season menu. You and a friend can enjoy the Taste of Season menu with matching wines – pay full price for one Taste of Season and the second is half price. Savour sweeping views of the surrounding vineyard, valleys and mountains beyond, while you relax and enjoy the region’s best food and innovative wine varieties.

Pick up a lunch special from Rok Salt Fish & Chippery and enjoy your gourmet fish ‘n’ chips plus a salad for two (only $20) in the fresh air, the way they’re meant to be enjoyed, down by the Ovens River in Bright.

Lupo’s Kiln Café is a family-friendly café and restaurant in a repurposed tobacco shed furnished almost completely with recycled materials. Lupo’s offers great coffee, breakfast, fresh hand-made pasta & sauces and housemade cakes & sweet treats, all served with a huge portion of country, Italian-style hospitality. Fresh, house-made pasta is the specialty at Lupo’s Kiln Café. All of their pastas and sauces are made fresh by hand in the traditional Italian style. This really is pasta just like Nonna makes. Order 2 pasta dishes from their outstanding selection and two glasses of house wine (or 2 coffees) for just $35. Enjoy a seat on the outdoor deck with magnificent views over Mount Buffalo, while the kids play in the awesome fully-enclosed playground.

Let Wandiful Produce tempt you for lunch in two ways. A bio-dynamic micro farm, produce store & shed café, Wandiful Produce serves seasonal foods grown on the property or sourced locally: wood-fired chestnut dough pizza, healthy light lunches and a variety of delicious sweet treats. Their gourmet wood-fired pizzas use our specially-prepared chestnut sourdough bases and a variety of seasonal, locally foraged and sourced toppings. Order any 3 pizzas to receive a complimentary dessert pizza. Or, join their Farm Tour & Locavore lunch: a snack of chestnuts roasted over the fire and a tour through the farm paddock. Then, head back to the shed kitchen and create your own gourmet pizzas. Finished with a nut-infused dessert and local coffee or tea.

Brown Brothers is one of Australia’s leading family-owned wine companies, founded in 1889 in Milawa, in the lower reaches of the King Valley. Their Milawa Cellar Door offers perhaps the largest range of wine varieties of any cellar door in Australia, and is home to the renowned restaurant Patricia’s Table. Dine at Patricia’s Table for lunch: 2 courses matched with Brown Brothers wine. Chef Douglas Elder is passionate about using fresh local produce to complement Brown Brothers wine, and the menu changes regularly to feature the freshest produce and new release wines. Afterwards, receive 20% off all wine purchased from the Cellar Door.

For just $30, enjoy one of Bastoni Pizzeria’s authentic wood-fired pizzas along with a fresh salad and two glasses of wine or beer – at this friendly pizzeria in the heart of Myrtleford. Choose from the traditional margherita or napoletana, one of the tasty pizze bianche (white pizzas), or perhaps a limited-time-only Bastoni special. You’re sure to find a pizza that delights the taste buds!

On the lighter side, a number of our local wineries, cafés and restaurants have special offers exclusive to The Ultimate Passport – Bright & Surrounds for tasting platters combined with wines:

Stop in at Boynton’s Feathertop Wines cellar door right off the Great Alpine Road in Porepunkah, and refuel with their 2-for-1 tasting platter, selected from a huge range of local deli products, including cured & smoked meats, local cheeses, housemade baguettes, dips & pestos, olives, patés and local trout. Sit back and take in the magnificent views of Mount Buffalo and the Ovens Valley while you nosh on your beautifully prepared platter and sip matching wines.

Amulet Winery is the pioneer of Italian varieties in the iconic region of Beechworth – a small-volume family-owned winery producing a diverse range of Italian & French varieties, giving traditional styles a unique twist. Amulet Wines is also the home of Beechworth Cider. Stop by the Cellar Door, just 10 minutes’ drive from Beechworth, for a free tasting, then purchase two glasses of wine from their diverse range of Italian & French style varietals, or two glasses of Beechworth Cider, and receive a complimentary deconstructed tasting plate, featuring an extensive array of seasonal local produce, to enjoy with your drinks.

A stop at Milawa Cheese Company is a must if you’re intent on sampling the finest offerings of the Milawa Gourmet Region. Grab a table on their airy, shaded deck and order a Cheese Platter (a selection of 2 Milawa Cheeses served with season fruit, nuts and Milawa bread) and 2 glasses of house wine, for just $30.

Experience Brown Brothers 2-for-1 Tasting Tour. This 1-hour Tasting Tour takes you behind the scenes of this iconic winery. Learn from your guide about Brown Brothers’ rich history as pioneers of winemaking in Victoria, as well as tasting some of the many wines produced here. Also included are shared tasting plates for food matching. Tour cost is $20 per person – now 2 for the price of 1 with this offer.

Great Alpine Produce & Trading is a friendly café & provedore situated just opposite the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail in Porepunkah. Order a Large Tasting Plate – the menu changes daily but options may include local smoked meats or fish, cheeses, olives, breads, dips, and fresh vegetables. Then receive 2 free glasses of the wine of the day to enjoy with your platter.

Or, if you’re more in the mood for a relaxed picnic, see our picnic options with Bright provedore The Loaded Basket, Food Wine Friends or Milawa’s Snow Road Produce.

Finally, if you want to keep kicking on to afternoon tea, look no further than these offers:

No need for a plane ticket to transport you to Morocco – simply stop into Café Fez, nestled inside Red Ramia bazaar on the Great Alpine Road in Myrtleford. Enjoy a taste of more exotic climes: Moroccan Mint Tea (or a more quotidian coffee if you prefer) and the honey-sweet, nutty delight that is Café Fez’s house-made baklava for two people, for just $10.

Step back in time when you step into Bright’s Coral Lee, a retro café with a modern menu. All food is handmade on premises and they serve locally roasted Fair Trade coffee. Linen napkins, vintage tableware and tunes on the record player all add to the 1950s vibe, as do the cakes, slices and biscuits which are kickin’ it CWA-style. Grab a table on the footpath or in the cosy restaurant, or relax in the sunny courtyard. Enjoy afternoon tea (or coffee) and one of Coral Lee’s delicious housemade cakes for just $15.

Or, pop back over to Great Alpine Produce & Trading in Porepunkah: purchase 1 coffee & muffin and receive the second coffee & muffin free.

Fine print: Please check the exclusions & conditions of each offer. All offers are subject to availability and some may require advance booking.

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• Enjoy the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail that combines a scenic ride past vineyards and gourmet eateries situated in local towns. Ask Absolute Outdoors about the best drop-off and pick-up points and we will be happy to get you there. Two for the price of one – Mountain Bike Hire & Drop Off.
• Bright & Surrounds are quickly developing a gnarly reputation with Mountain Bikers, and there’s no better way to explore the trails than with Blue Dirt MTB Shuttles. Not only will they take you to the epic trails, they’ll also suggest the best trails to tackle for your level of skill. So whether you’re a beginner just starting out, or an expert looking to test your limits, Blue Dirt MTB Shuttles can take you there. Bring a friend and enjoy one day Blue Dirt downhill shuttle tickets for two people for just $75.00 (normally $100), or two days shuttle for two people for $135.00 (valued at $180).
• Start your cycling adventure with a transfer from Wangaratta to historic Beechworth. Explore Beechworth (taste honey and beer, indulge in a spot of boutique shopping, visit historic buildings, learn more about Ned Kelly, enjoy wonderful local produce at the many cafés and restaurants in town) and enjoy a leisurely pedal mostly downhill back to Wangaratta on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. This cycle hire & transfer service includes full-day cycle hire, one-way transfer from Wangaratta to Beechworth, and tour notes. Book 3 people and the 4th goes free with River tribe Adventures.
• River Tribe Adventures pick you up & launch you upstream of Wangaratta for a 7 kilometre paddle on the tranquil Ovens River. This is an easy paddle, ideal for beginners, because it is all “downhill”.Gently float through vibrant red gum forests and keep an eye out for turtles, yabbies and crayfish, and listen to the croaking frogs. If you’re very lucky, very observant and very quiet you may even spot platypus. River Tribe Adventures provide you with everything you need including kayaks, paddles, life jackets, and  exclusive tour notes. They’ll be waiting for you at the meeting point when you finish your paddle. Pay for 3 people, get the 4th person free.

* Conditions apply. Subject to availability. Some offers not valid on Public Holidays or School Holidays. Bookings required.

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How much do you know about craft brewing? If the answer is ‘not enough’ then stop by Bright Brewery for their Monday afternoon brewery tour & tasting – 2 people for $20. Come behind the scenes with the brewer for an in-depth tour, and find out how they brew their award-winning Mountain Crafted beers using delicious local ingredients right in the heart of beautiful Bright. Afterwards sample a selection of craft-brewed, small batch beers currently on tap. The brewery’s Hop Terrace is an ideal spot to relax with a beer – with views of the Ovens River, the adventure playground, and the hills surrounding the valley.

Australian beer lovers, here is an amazing deal for you – the 10-beer tasting paddle at Bridge Road Brewers, for just $10. Yep, you heard us right. Try 10 of Bridge Road’s craft beers – including seasonal brews, ground-breaking collaborations, and of course their flagship Beechworth Pale Ale – for just $10. Bridge Road Brewers is one of historic Beechworth’s top attractions, with good reason. The brewery has an open fire for winter and a large beer garden & kids’ play area for the warmer months. They also serve lunch or dinner, with tasty pizzas made with local ingredients and other beer-friendly menu options. Keep your eyes out for Maria’s famous pretzels, the best pretzels this side of Munich – they sell out fast so get in early!

Hmm… can we slip a little cider in here too? Beechworth Cider is making some very nice cider indeed – a fresh, vibrant, slightly sweet and easy-drinking beverage made from locally grown apples. Stop by the Amulet Wines cellar door for a free tasting of Beechworth Cider or their range of Amulet wines, then purchase two glasses of cider and receive a complimentary deconstructed tasting plate, featuring an extensive array of seasonal local produce, to enjoy with your drinks.

Fancy a majestic view of Victoria’s tallest mountain with your brew? Then stop by the Sweetwater Brewing brewery bar in Tawonga South, at the base of Mount Bogong, to sample their range of craft beers. Order two tasting paddles with a selection of 5 beers, for just $10. The core lineup of beers is an American-style pale ale, an ESB-style bitter, the Summer Ale, the German-style Weissbier, and a robust porter. Seasonal and limited-release beers also make an appearance. Kick back & relax at one of the outdoor tables or near the wood fire in winter and soak up the views of the Big Fella along with your beer.

And, if all this beer tasting has built up a hunger, how about one of these great Beer & Burger deals –

Grape & Grain Bar in Bright – Purchase one of their tasty burgers and receive a pot of beer for free. Burgers come with all the trimmings and are served with fat-cut chips. Check out their website or stop by to see what’s on tap as draught beers change frequently. Chic and contemporary, Grape & Grain Bar is the place to catch up with friends in the heart of beautiful Bright. This stylish bar has a reputation as a venue offering professionalism and a friendly sociable atmosphere. The perfect venue for those looking for a drink in a welcoming and enjoyable environment.

Milch Café (bar) – A ‘posh burger‘ (steak, chicken, or veggie) – served with shoestring fries and milch mayo – and a beer – for just $25 per person for 2 people. Crazy value, and you leave with full belly and thirst quenched. No question, this is the place to & drink at Falls Creek in the summertime! (Call to check summer trading hours.)

Looking for fine pizza and beer? Enjoy a Bastoni Pizzeria authentic wood-fired pizza along with a fresh salad and two glasses of beer (or wine) for lunch for just $30. Choose from the traditional margherita or napoletana, one of the tasty pizze bianche (white pizzas), or perhaps a limited-time-only Bastoni special. You’re sure to find a pizza that delights the taste buds! Or, if you’re in Myrtleford for dinner, their dinner special includes 2 pizzas and 2 glasses beer (or house wine) for just $35.

Fine print: Please check the exclusions & conditions of each offer. All offers are subject to availability and some may require advance booking.

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