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Victoria (Eastern Region) |
| Nagambie | |
| NAGAMBIE
lies on the shores of the man-made Lake Nagambie. The town itself is
uninteresting, but two prominent wineries nearby add some welcome
flavour.
Chateau Tahbilk (Mon–Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 11am–5pm), 6km southwest, is the oldest continually operating winery and vineyard in Victoria: it opened in 1860 and survived the phylloxera blight that devastated the Australian wine industry in the 1890s. The Shiraz and Marsanne are still made from the old vines that have seen more than 130 harvests. The whitewashed buildings have been well preserved and there are extensive grounds to explore. |
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complete contrast is the ultramodern Mitchelton Winery (daily
10am–5pm; guided tours on weekends by arrangement; 1hr; $5; tel 03/5794
2710), 14km southwest of Nagambie in Mitchellstown, off the Goulburn
Valley Highway: its distinctive sixty-metre observation tower features on
the Mitchelton label. The extensive riverside grounds have a pool and
barbecues, which draw the crowds on Sunday. At the Mitchelton
Restaurant & Winebar, overlooking the river, the wines from the
winery are matched with outstanding food, using regional produce (daily
10.30am–3pm).
Cruises ply the Goulburn River between Chateau Tahbilk and the Mitchelton Winery (Sept–April Sat & Sun; other days on demand; 2–3hr; $12.50 or $25 including lunch on the boat; tel 03/5794 2877). The Nagambie Lakes Visitor Information Centre, at 145 High St (daily 9am–5pm), also deals with bookings for V/Line; or get your tickets at the newsagent, at 310 High St. As few people stop over in town, accommodation is very inexpensive: try the Nagambie Goulburn Valley Highway Motel, 143 High St, or the Nagambie Caravan Park next door. |
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