Best regional Victoria food towns: top foodie destinations worth visiting

Best gourmet towns in regional Victoria

Daylesford: Victoria's spa capital with a gourmet reputation

Just 90 minutes from Melbourne, Daylesford has become one of Victoria's premier food destinations. Surrounded by rich farmland and mineral springs, the region is renowned for farm-to-table dining, boutique producers and seasonal ingredients.

Local restaurants champion produce sourced from nearby farms, while weekend markets overflow with fresh vegetables, artisan cheeses, preserves and baked goods. The surrounding region is also home to wineries, cider makers and olive groves, making it easy to spend an entire weekend eating and drinking your way through the area.

Take the opportunity to sample locally made cheeses, organic produce and freshly baked sourdough from the many independent bakeries.

Don't miss:

• Kadota – one of regional Victoria's most acclaimed degustation restaurants, blending Japanese techniques with local produce.
• The Boathouse Restaurant – fine dining with views of Lake Daylesford.
• Bistro Terroir – classic French country cooking using seasonal Victorian ingredients.
• Passing Clouds – a boutique winery known for cool-climate shiraz and cabernet sauvignon.
• Lake House - seasonal menu showcasing produce sourced from their own purpose-built regenerative farm, plus an award-winning wine list.
• Du Fermier - this acclaimed garden-to-table French restaurant is worth the 20-minute drive to Trentham.
• Black Cat Truffles - enjoy truffle-focuses meals or join Farmer Tom and his truffle dogs as you search for this  gourmet fungus.
• Daylesford Sunday Market – browse local produce, baked goods and artisan food stalls.

RACV Goldfields Resort is just a 25-minute drive from Daylesford, offering easy access to foodie experiences across the Creswick, Ballarat, and Daylesford region.

More: Best things to see, eat and do around Daylesford and Hepburn Springs

Beechworth: historic streets and gourmet discoveries

One of Victoria's best-preserved gold rush towns has also earned a reputation as one of its finest culinary destinations.

Beechworth is famous for artisan bakeries, handcrafted chocolates, premium honey and excellent local produce. The town's thriving café culture makes it a favourite stop for travellers exploring Victoria's High Country.

Food lovers can visit specialty stores selling locally made condiments, gourmet pantry items and small-batch spirits, while nearby farms produce berries, walnuts, chestnuts and free-range meats.

The surrounding wineries also make Beechworth an ideal destination for pairing exceptional food with award-winning cool-climate wines.

Don't miss:

• Provenance – chef-hatted Japanese-inspired fine dining in a historic bank building.
• Bridge Road Brewers – one of Australia's best-known regional craft breweries, with excellent pizzas and share plates.
• Pennyweight Winery – family-owned winery producing excellent cool-climate wines.
• Beechworth Honey – learn about local beekeeping and sample the region's famous honey.
• Last St Brewery - formerly Billson's Brewery, this Aussie family-owned brewery creates indulgent liqueurs, sodas and cordials. Tour the brewery, settle in for a lunch and drink, or head to the intimate Last Supper Club dining room.
• Brown Brothers - if you're a wine fan, make the 25-minute drive out of town to Brown Brothers: a household name when it comes to Australian wines. Their cellar door is open seven days a week for seated tastings, and there's also a lovely restaurant open for lunch Thursday to Monday.

More: Best towns to visit on a trip to Victoria's High Country

Queenscliff: Bellarine Peninsula seafood and local wine

Located at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay, Queenscliff is synonymous with exceptional seafood. Fresh mussels, oysters, calamari and fish feature on menus throughout the historic seaside town, while nearby wineries produce cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling wines.

The Bellarine Peninsula is also known for olives, artisan cheeses, berries and cider, making Queenscliff an excellent base for exploring local producers.

After lunch, visitors can continue along the Bellarine Taste Trail to discover farm gates, cellar doors and boutique food experiences.

Don't miss:

• 360Q – waterfront restaurant specialising in local seafood.
• TARRA Queenscliff – contemporary café and restaurant overlooking the harbour.
• Jack Rabbit – Bellarine winery with panoramic bay views and an acclaimed restaurant.
• Queenscliff Harbour – home to seafood outlets, cafés and fresh local catches.
• Basils Farm - modern Australian dining with seasonal produce straight from its onsite garden, just outside of town.

RACV Torquay Resort provides luxury escapes with access to the Surf Coast, Bellarine Peninsula and Great Ocean Road.

More: What to do in Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula

Healesville: the gateway to Yarra Valley food and wine

Less than an hour from Melbourne, Healesville combines world-class wineries with acclaimed restaurants, artisan distilleries and gourmet producers. It's the perfect base for exploring the Yarra Valley, where cool-climate wines, local cheeses and farm-fresh produce take centre stage.

Whether you're after a long winery lunch or a relaxed café brunch, Healesville delivers exceptional dining surrounded by vineyard views.

Don't miss:

• Jayden Ong Winery & Cellar Bar – seasonal dishes paired with estate-grown wines in a relaxed vineyard setting.
• No.7 Healesville – modern Australian dining highlighting Yarra Valley produce.
• Giant Steps – award-winning winery and cellar door renowned for its pinot noir and chardonnay.
• Four Pillars Gin Distillery – sample Australia's most awarded gin alongside creative cocktails and share plates.
• Innocent Bystander – a local favourite for wood-fired pizzas, wine tastings and casual dining.
• The Chocolateries Yarra Valley - visiting this delectable chocolate factory is one of Victoria's best chocolate experiences.
• CHANDON - the renowned makers of sparkling wines have a glamourous tastings rooms, a casual lounge bar, a restaurant specialising in local ingredients, and more.
• Yering Station - visit the oldest winery in the Yarra Valley for cellar door tastings or a classy restaurant meal.

Relax at the RACV Healesville Country Club & Resort, an idyllic Yarra Valley resort with lush mountain views.

More: The best things to do in Healesville

Red Hill: Mornington Peninsula's gourmet heart

Nestled among rolling vineyards and orchards, Red Hill is one of Victoria's premier food and wine destinations. The region is renowned for cool-climate pinot noir and chardonnay, award-winning restaurants, artisan producers and farm gates selling everything from berries and apples to olive oil and cheese.

A visit to Red Hill can easily be spent hopping between cellar doors, enjoying long winery lunches and browsing gourmet stores showcasing the best of the Mornington Peninsula.

Don't miss:

• Montalto – a favourite for seasonal dining, estate wines and kitchen gardens.
• Foxeys Hangout – boutique winery specialising in cool-climate pinot noir, shiraz and sparkling wines.
• Cape - haute cuisine can be intimidating if you’re unfamiliar with it, but Cape is all about bringing the fun back to fine dining.
• Green Olive at Red Hill - winery and olive farm with picnic boxes and a bunch of farm-made products like mamalades, jams, chutneys, relishes, spices, olive oils, and of course olives.
• Red Hill Truffles – offers seasonal truffle hunts, tastings and gourmet products during winter.
• Red Gum BBQ - American-style barbecue feasts with all the traditional trimmings like cornbread, slaw, pickles and fries.

Unwind at RACV Cape Schanck Resort, a 5-star coastal resort on the Mornington Peninsula

More: Best things to eat, see and do on the Mornington Peninsula

Cobram: fresh produce in Victoria's food bowl

Set on the banks of the Murray River, Cobram sits in the heart of Victoria's renowned food bowl. Surrounded by orchards, dairy farms, olive groves and vineyards, the region produces everything from stone fruit and citrus to award-winning olive oil, wine and dairy products. Visitors can explore the local Farm Gate Trail, meeting growers and tasting produce straight from the source.

Don't miss:

• Jack's Restaurant – a local favourite for modern Asian cuisine using fresh regional ingredients.
• Tay & Co – popular café serving specialty coffee, brunch and house-made baked treats.
• Squires Winery – around 20 minutes from Cobram near Yarrawonga, this boutique winery is known for Mediterranean-style wines and a relaxed restaurant.
• Cobram Estate Olive Grove – visit one of Australia's best-known olive oil producers to learn about extra virgin olive oil production and sample award-winning oils.
• Murray Farm Gate Trail - pick up seasonal stone fruit, strawberries, citrus, cheese and other local produce directly from growers across the Cobram-Barooga region.

RACV Cobram Resort is an ideal Murray River resort destination for a relaxing escape to the sun country.

More: The best things to do in Cobram

Meeniyan: South Gippsland's gourmet village

Just a short drive from Inverloch, Meeniyan has evolved into one of South Gippsland's most exciting food destinations. Surrounded by rich dairy farmland and close to Wilsons Promontory, the town champions seasonal produce, artisan food makers and regional wines.

The town's compact main street is lined with cafés, restaurants and gourmet stores, making it an easy stop for a long lunch before exploring the rest of Prom Country. Nearby producers supply premium cheeses, beef, vegetables and wine, while neighbouring towns such as Fish Creek and Foster add even more culinary experiences.

Don't miss:

• Trulli – a destination Italian restaurant celebrated for handmade pasta, wood-fired dishes and local South Gippsland produce.
• Waratah Hills Vineyard – boutique cool-climate winery near Fish Creek offering cellar-door tastings with spectacular rural views.
• Promontory Restaurant and Winery – an award-winning winery and restaurant near Foster showcasing regional ingredients.
• Long John Pickles – a popular Fish Creek café known for excellent coffee, brunch and house-made preserves.
• Fish Creek Hotel – a classic country pub serving local produce and Gippsland wines, just 15 minutes from Meeniyan.
• Radius - light-filled restaurant showcasing local, regional products and an extensive wine list.

Make a stay of it at RACV Inverloch Resort, an oceanside resort on Gippsland's Bass Coast.

More: Best things to do and places to see in Gippsland