The Ultimate Drinks Trail through Victoria’s Heartland

Castlemaine & Maldon

Starting in Castlemaine, Shedshaker Brewing at The Mill serves some of the region’s finest beers paired with delicious (and affordable) fare. Just up the road, The Bridge Hotel is the go-to spot for live gigs and family-friendly vibes.

In the heart of town, drop in to Table Records for a small but considered drink offering (think whisky and yuzu highballs or sample a local vermouth). A few doors down, Love Shack is a lively brewpub, where you can sip on housemade craft beers. Around the corner, Mostyn Street Cellars is an intimate wine bar and bottle shop, with a distinct European vibe. Or for cocktails paired with a comfy couch, take a short stroll to the eclectic Maurocco Bar.

In nearby Maldon, 48 Main is an intimate venue, known for its local drops and live music, while Killiecrankie Wines offers a cellar door in the heart of town.

Kyneton & Newham

Heading south to Kyneton, Piper Street Wine Company is a European style bar, cellar and restaurant, where you can tuck into rustic Spanish fare. The leafy outdoor courtyard is especially popular on sunny days. A little further down Piper Street is Fook Shing, where you can feast on tasty Southeast Asian cuisine, paired with expertly crafted cocktails in a historic hotel setting. Grab a seat in one of the cocktail lounges or on the deck and order the Shing Sling, the venue's playful take on a Singapore Sling.

Around the corner, The Kyneton Hotel offers a robust wine list and rotating craft beers. History buffs will appreciate the chance to stay in the same room where young Ned Kelly once slept. Heading east, sip on a gin cocktail or try a gin flight made with local botanicals at Big Tree Distillery, which is surrounded by farmland in Newham.

Lancefield & Romsey

In Lancefield, the Lost Watering Hole is a family-friendly brewery and restaurant that celebrates the area’s rich megafauna fossil history. Next door you’ll find The Lancefield Hotel, a welcoming pub that dishes up hearty meals. In Romsey, drop into The 1860, a historic landmark named after the year it first opened its doors.

Macedon & Mount Macedon

You’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into an old English tavern at the Mt Macedon Hotel. Pull up a pew in the expansive beer garden under the century-old tree. Down the hill, the revamped Macedon Village Hotel is a great spot for a hearty pub meal. Nab a spot in the beer garden and enjoy the view back towards Mount Macedon.

Woodend

Next stop is Woodend. Start at 600 Above, a lively and welcoming venue which offers a wide selection of local wine, beer and spirits, paired with regional tasting platters. A short stroll away, Josephine’s is the newest kid on the block. Here you can sip on a rotating list of natural and minimal-intervention wines as you enjoy the seasonal menu comprised of small share plates. Nearby, Woodend Cellar & Bar is an intimate space offering classic cocktails and local wines.

Built in the 1860s, The Victoria Hotel is rich in heritage and home to the Rock & Wombat Bar, alongside a spacious dining room. Just down the road is Holgate Brewhouse, one of the region’s pioneers in craft brewing. It is home to a main bar, restaurant and taproom.

Trentham

Further east, Trentham also boasts its share of great spots. The Cosmopolitan Hotel, or The Cosmo, serves up local produce and craft beers, while the Pig and Whistle in Trentham East is a hidden gem, an ivy-wrapped pub with a fantastic beer garden and regular live music. Back in town, Hotel Trentham is another welcoming country pub. Or, for cocktails and shared bites in a cosy space, head to Mr Peacock.

Daylesford

Heading towards Daylesford, pop into Daylesford Cider and enjoy a tasting paddle of ciders within their beautiful English-style tavern cellar-door. Here, traditional styles of cider are made using English heritage cider apples grown organically on the property.

In the heart of Daylesford, the Daylesford Hotel is a classic pub with wraparound verandahs, a cosy fireplace and seasonal pub fare, while next door, the Daylesford Royal Hotel provides another welcoming venue for hearty pub meals. Across the road, Winespeake Cellar + Deli is a wine and cheese lovers’ paradise with a prominent corner location. A few doors away, Dilworth and Allain is an art studio and cellar door in one.

Tucked around the back of Vincent Street, Hepburn Distillery offers tasting flights of their locally distilled gin, vodka and whiskey, along with delicious cocktails. A short stroll away, the award-winning Bar Merenda boasts a curated selection of local and international wines, along with expertly crafted cocktails. Or for a leisurely wine, matched by lake side views, head to newcomer Leggatt St Wine Bar, perched on the edge Lake Daylesford.

Hepburn Springs

In Hepburn Springs, the Mineral Springs Hotel has been a popular spot for an afternoon tipple since the 1930s. You might also like to try a limited-release craft beer or handcrafted gin at the nearby Hepburn Springs Brewing Co.

Creswick

In Creswick, drop into Odessa at Leaver's Hotel for a wine or cocktail, accompanied by live music in one of Creswick's most historic settings. Dating back to 1856, the town's oldest building retains its original stone walls, shingled roof and unmistakable gold rush character.

Maryborough & Talbot

In the tiny heritage town of Talbot, pop into Fossickers Fine Food and Eatery. This cafe, wine bar, store and art space housed in the historic London House building in the centre of town.

Finishing in the heart of Maryborough, the grand Bull & Mouth Hotel is home to a bistro, wine and cocktail bar, and a café. Or, for a drink with an extra dose of history, pop into the Station Cafe Bar & Restaurant. Set within the former First-Class Dining Room of the Maryborough Railway Station, this iconic 1890s setting retains its Victorian grandeur, complete with soaring ceilings and elegant interiors.