An insider’s guide to Cobram and Yarrawonga

Where I go

For a great coffee…

Lake Cafe and Deck, over at the Visitor Information Centre in Yarrawonga. You can sit out on the deck, looking out over the lake. It’s a beautiful spot.

For a long lunch…

Honestly, I think I’d stay at my place, at Rich Glen Olive Estate. We’ve got this big open space and you can sit out on the lawn or under the veranda while your kids run around. There’s also a cafe serving up seasonal local produce, as well as a farmgate store selling a variety of homegrown food goods and beauty products.

To get back to nature…

My family and I love going down to the river. People find it funny when I say I’m ‘going down to the beach’ but we’re surrounded by some gorgeous inland beaches. My family and I have a decked-out old bus. We’ve removed the seats and filled it with our ski gear, jet ski, and a canoe. It’s parked close to our house and we go down maybe four nights a week. It’s even got a bed and a small kitchen. It’s our little piece of paradise. My husband and kids have slept there, but I haven’t.

To treat myself…

There’s an amazing day spa in Corowa called Circa. It’s an old bank that’s been renovated and it feels like something out of a movie. They also serve Spanish tapas and great local wines. It’s a nice spot for a date night.

For a drive…

The Farm Gate Trail in Yarrawonga is pretty awesome. There’s Cactus Country for something different, quite a few wineries, cheeseries – the whole family loves it. We’ve got four kids and we’re all foodies – even the youngest. My favourite stop is probably Katamatite Garlic. A husband-and-wife team work the farm, and when you visit they take you through the whole process of how things are grown and prepared.

For a special gift…

There’s a place called Floral Harvest in Yarrawonga. They have a nice clothing range and beautiful homewares, even the wrapping is lovely. It makes receiving the present about the whole experience, even unwrapping it.

To unwind…

In winter, I really love just sitting by the fire with a glass of wine. We’re a busy family, so it’s nice just to be at home, fluffing around in my PJs sometimes.

When I have visitors…

I take them into town, down to the boardwalk along the river and then around to some of the beaches. We’ve got some beautiful white sandy beaches in this region; it’s pretty amazing. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.