Roughly the size of Malta, this blessed region spills over with cool-climate wineries, artisan producers and dairy farms.
You could try to conquer South Gippsland’s culinary trail in a single weekend, but that would mean driving past some of its best bits – a tragedy for a dedicated foodie. Meeniyan makes an ideal base. Stay at the retro Meeniyan Motel, whose gently renovated rooms are set just back from the main street. Its best asset is its location: you’re a five-minute walk from the town’s top restaurants, and the renowned Meeniyan Town Hall, a 250-seat venue that hosts gigs by the likes of Paul Kelly, Martha Wainwright and Steve Earle.
Trulli is another of Meeniyan’s star performers. This lively Italian hub rolls a providore, pizzeria, gelateria, enoteca and restaurant into one sprawling site. For snacks, join the queue next door at Pandesal Bakery, stocked with pastries, pies and its signature: chicken, walnut and aioli Turkish rolls. For those sticking around, try Mahob at Moo’s, where morning coffee and big breakfasts give way to flavourful Cambodian share plates after dark.
After coffee and breakfast, drive 20 minutes south-east to Gurneys Cidery in Foster. The Gurnett family, British expats channelling their native Somerset, grow the fruit for their award-winning traditional and experimental ciders. (Mexican-inspired pineapple tepache cider, anyone?). Find your favourite on a tasting paddle at the cellar door, which overlooks lush sculpture-dotted gardens and Wilsons Prom.
Just 12 minutes along the Fish Creek-Foster Road lies the pretty township of Toora, home to Italo-American Tooradeli. Opened by Collingwood exiles Meghan and Stephen Scoglio in late 2023, it’s a must-visit for coffee, snacks and hard-to-find deli goods. Don’t leave without trying a sandwich on made-to-order puccia, a warm, puffy roll ideal for cradling mortadella, stracciatella, pickled peppers and pistachios. Across the road, browse The Panton Store, a small emporium crammed with unique finds from beechwood porridge spurtles and goatskin gardening gloves to pottery thrown by owner Shelley Panton.
Then roll into Welshpool, where the local Shell servo does double duty as Welshpool Eatery. Refuel the car, then choose from a classic Aussie chicken parma, rich butter chicken, goat masala or mushrooms 65: golden ’shrooms coated in a spicy, crunchy batter.
The tiny fishing village of Port Welshpool, four minutes away, offers a stroll along the historic long jetty, which curves more than 900 metres into Corner Inlet. That will sharpen the appetite for dinner at The Rusty Gurnard. New owners have transformed the once-dilapidated waterside pub into a cheerful community magnet with spin-the-wheel competitions, a pool table and dependable fare like fish and chips, vegetarian lasagne, and beef and Guinness stew.
On your return to Melbourne, make a final stop in charming Loch, where you can load up on local supplies and gifts with one sweep of the retail strip. Start at the Loch Cheese Merchant, browse vintage treasures at Talking Pieces and finish with a tasting of gin, whisky or beer at the Loch Brewery and Distillery, housed in a century-old former bank.
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