Celebrating the simple things…
Gumnut Cottage is a tiny acreage nestled in the Foothills of Central Gippsland, Victoria.
Enjoy beautiful panoramic views across the Macalister and Thomson River Valleys. Stay in our cosy Hamptons style eco cabin as the perfect getaway retreat or base to explore this stunning region.
Our Local Area
Here are some local towns you might like to visit during your stay. (Source: https://www.visitgippsland.com.au/)
Snuggling into the base of the Great Dividing Range, these idyllic rural townships – in true village style – are brimming with welcoming communities who love their beautiful surrounds. With the Avon Wilderness Area on the doorstep, the towns are a base for venturing into the high country, 4×4 adventure, camping and fishing.
Heyfield:
Sitting on the banks of the dreamy Thomson River, Heyfield is a handsome country town, laced with quality cafes and classic pubs. The Heyfield Wetlands is a twitcher’s paradise with more than 4km of walking paths and boardwalks. The wetlands also get top billing if you’re feeling stroll-ready or fancy a spot of fishing.
Heyfield Food & Wine Festival (held annually in October) offers a delicious day out to sip, sample and savour a variety of food and wine, live music and art.
Anytime of year, you can embark on the Central Gippsland Wine Trail. Enjoy a tipple from Glenmaggie Wines and Blue Gables Vineyard to the north into the foothills of the alps, or Narkoojee and Traralgon Vineyard towards the valley in the south.
Heyfield’s cafes will warm the cockles of your heart. Cafe 3858 for its cosy décor, excellent coffee and generously portioned lunches, and Stag & Doe for the warming fireplace in winter and rustic cakes year-round.
The Railway Hotel Heyfield, which dates back to 1878, offers a traditional country pub feel and a focus on hearty country food with a warm welcome to make you feel at home.
Cowwarr:
This bite-sized picturesque country town is home to unique heritage buildings and is famed for the series of metal cow sculptures around the town centre, a nod to Cowwarr’s rich dairying history.
Clad in 1930s art deco splendour, the Cowwarr Cricket Club Hotel offers classic old-world charm as the backdrop for quality pub grub. Nearby, the impressive Cowwarr Weir is a tranquil location for swimming, fishing or enjoying a picnic.
Laced with scenic picnic areas, the large expanse of water is a hotspot for recreational boating, swimming and fishing.
Travel through bucolic countryside to this serene and very pretty lake. On the drive up itself, you will be blessed with stunning views across the scenic rolling hills that make up this part of Victoria.
Due to water restrictions, Lake Glenmaggie has 5-knots per hour limit. So this is the perfect location for a quiet day trip with a spot of fishing. You will not be bothered by pesky waterskiing and jetskiing ruckus.
Idyllic countryside stretches around the warm village, and whispers of high country adventures are carried on the wind.
Around Town:
Take a soulful wander past the town’s cafes, gift and boutique clothing stores, lavished with the kind of heritage shop-fronts that never go out of vogue.
The town’s history is tied to the sugar beet industry of the early 1900s, and you can step inside the Sugar Beet Museum, in the former beet processing plant.
The Gippsland Vehicle Collection is housed inside the old sugar store. Featuring an ever-changing display of interesting and vintage cars and memorabilia, this quirky museum is on the map for auto enthusiasts and car clubs.
There’s also a rare mineral and gem display when you pop into the Visitor Information Centre.
Get your next art fix from the Maffra Exhibition Space, supporting local Gippsland artists and a host of exhibitions. Down the road, the artist-run Briagolong Art Gallery showcases contemporary works.
Take a picnic or enjoy a barbecue at the Macalister River Park with playground and walking tracks around the serene river.
Eat & Drink:
Café L’Attitude offers up decadent muffins and friendly service, or try Coffee House 138’s delicious breakfasts, and The Food Store’s gourmet wood fired pizzas. Then head to the Maffra Community Sports Club for a cool drink and a top-notch pub meal. Chilli Dream offer a great Vietnamese option in town to enjoy something a bit spicier if that’s where your tastes take you.
Grab your fermented goods, health and wholefoods from The Pickle Pot when you pop in for a healthy lunch or snack on the go.
Along the Central Gippsland Wine Trail and set amongst rolling pastures of the Avon River Valley, Avon Ridge Vineyard offers a superb vista to enjoy the quality wines. Feeling indecisive? That’s ok, because you can try red, white, sparkling or even cider. The restaurant produces an innovative menu from locally sourced ingredients making for a delicious breakfast or lunch.
This bite sized country village is a base to explore country surrounds, and is best known for the tranquil Blue Pool swimming hole; a large natural pool in a gorge on Freestone Creek that is a gloat-worthy place to while away an afternoon.
Take in the goldfields heritage and delightful buildings on the Briagolong Historic Town Walk, littered with interpretive signs at key points of interest.
Briagolong Art Gallery showcases contemporary works by local artists, and is close to the artsy offerings of neighbouring towns, including Maffra Exhibition Space (Maffra) and the Stratford Arts Trail (Stratford) a self-guided, Shakespeare-themed walking tour.
The Briagolong Hotel specialises in country hospitality and hearty pub fare and Small Planet Cafe serves nourishing vegetarian fare and cakes.
The final stop on the Central Gippsland Wine Trail, Mt Moornapa Wines is in the foothills of Briagolong and specialises in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Merlot. More info and links here.
Broader Local Region – Not Recommended for Day Trips:
Also not intended as a day trip but rather a well researched addition to your extend your stay in the region… Licola is a remote alpine town, and gateway to world-class national parks and outdoor adventures.
The town was once a saw milling settlement and today has just one shop. You can refuel and stock up on groceries and maps for your adventure.
Nature & Outdoors:
Rivers like the Macalister and Caledonia make trout fishing dreams come true. These mighty rivers also provide excellent rafting, kayaking and canoeing after the snow melts after winter.
Follow in the footsteps (and horse hooves) of the high country cattlemen with Snowy Range Horseback Tours and discover cattlemen’s huts, high plains and gorges reached by the romance of horseback riding.
The best ways to experience the Alpine National Park from Licola is hiking to the summit of Mt Howitt, part of the Australian Alps Walking Track or a visit to “the hidden lake” of Tali Karng, a stunningly beautiful place steeped in Dreamtime legend.
Macalister Gorge Scenic Reserve is a beautiful place. The wide, gently flowing Macalister River provides excellent spots for camping, swimming and fishing.
More info and links here (including 4WD info and track information).
Source: Visit Gippsland Website
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