Beechworth, VIC
History meets indulgence with beautifully preserved gold rush-era buildings, renowned bakeries and wineries, and a vibrant local culture in this must-visit town.
Where To Stay In Beechworth
Whilst there’s several Holiday Parks in the area, our go to is Beechworth Lake Sambell Caravan Park which occupies a beautiful green, lakeside location and is just a short walk into the main streets in town. Accommodation wise, you can choose between Unpowered Sites, Powered Sites and a wide range of Cabins and Villas that can sleep up to eight people.
Where To Eat & Drink In Beechworth
Start your day by grabbing a coffee at Project Forty Nine, a local providore and wine store that also serves delicious coffee, pastries and paninis. Whilst all the food here is appealing (and if you want to make consolidate stops, we wouldn’t talk you out of it), we think the best way to go is head to the famous Beechworth Bakery located just around the corner (less than 2 minutes walk away) and indulge in a sweet treat. Go for the famous Beesting Pastry, a decadent combination of vanilla and custard sandwiched between delicious pastry and topped with almonds. Billson’s is a household name having first begun making cordials in Beechworth in 1865, and the brewery building and business was recently acquired by a local couple who have since take the building itself and the Billson’s brand on a journey to new heights, innovating with a wide range of beverages from the tradition cordials to craft beers and a variety of spirit based pre-mixed drinks. Many in-the-know consider this region to be one of Australia’s very best for producing cooler climate wine varietals, mainly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and the local wineries feature a who’s who of names you’re likely to see on some of the best wine lists in Australia including Giaconda, Sorrenberg, Pennyweight and more. Unfortunately most of these locations don’t have public cellar doors, however if you’re keen to visit, reach out to them ahead of time - they’re often willing to set up private tastings. One great vineyard that does have a cellar door is Indigo Vineyard, who are open for tastings and serving Grazing Plates 7 days a week from 11am to 4pm, with the added bonus of freshly cooked pizzas on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
What To Do In Beechworth
Beechworth is a town that was at the heart of the gold rush period and its buildings were the beneficiaries of this huge creation of wealth. Thankfully for us, many of them remains\ beautifully preserved, making it a great town to simply wander around and bask in the history. The Old Beechworth Gaol is also a must visit, a significant site for its role played in the lead up to the execution of infamous bushranger Ned Kelly. Having recently been acquired by a community group, the space has become somewhat multi-purpose and beyond tours also has a cafe, rents E-Bikes to explore the region and hosts other pop up events. For some more targeted learning, the Burke Museum & Historic Precinct is the place to go. If you’re up for fishing you don’t have to go too far, you’ll find trout, redfin, yellowbelly and trout cod stocked in Lake Sambell.
The Essentials In Beechworth
Beechworth is a well stocked town and you’ll find multiple pharmacies, supermarkets, fresh food stores and more for all your provisions or emergency needs. If you’re on the hunt for caravan or camping gear, your best bet is to head to BCF in Wodonga approximately 30 minutes drive away.
The Drive To Beechworth
As always, we give you the rundown on the drive you’ll take from some nearby major cities.
From Melbourne - An easy drive of 286km means no overnight stops needed, but consider getting lunch or stretching your legs at the interesting town of Avenel.
From Sydney - A 598 km drive almost entirely on highways means just over 6 hours driving time. It’s possible to do in a day (with some stops), or you could break up your trip with a few nights in the Snowy Valley.
From Adelaide - The shortest route is 855 km and we don’t have any recommended stops on it. We like to detour via the Coonawarra and Castlemaine, this adds about 150 km to the trip but adds in two fantastic destinations.
