Beechworth guidebook
City/town information
Cute little town, only 15 mins drive away. Good for breakfast and a stroll along the main street or a hike along the scenic gorge. There are some interesting (but pricey) 2nd hand shops.
https://www.exploreyackandandah.com.au/listing/yackandandah-gorge-scenic-walk/
I like the Star Hotel for brekky.
28 locals recommend
Yackandandah
Cute little town, only 15 mins drive away. Good for breakfast and a stroll along the main street or a hike along the scenic gorge. There are some interesting (but pricey) 2nd hand shops.
https://www.exploreyackandandah.com.au/listing/yackandandah-gorge-scenic-walk/
I like the Star Hotel for brekky.
About 40 mins drive, Albury is not overly interesting but there is a shop there that sells local produce including a lot of vegan options. It's called Harris Farm Market.
https://www.harrisfarm.com.au/pages/albury
7 locals recommend
Albury
About 40 mins drive, Albury is not overly interesting but there is a shop there that sells local produce including a lot of vegan options. It's called Harris Farm Market.
https://www.harrisfarm.com.au/pages/albury
Sightseeing
Cycle on the historic Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. From Beechworth to Myrtleford takes about 4-5 hours.
Prebook lunch at a winery en route e.g Gapstead. https://www.gapstedwines.com.au/
Prebook return transfer for you and your bikes. I recommend bringing your own bikes if you want to tackle the rail trail as bike hire can be limited in the busy periods.
There is a bike hire company who also does return transfer shuttles with your bikes: https://thebikehirecompany.com.au/
Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail
Murray to the Mountains Rail TrailCycle on the historic Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. From Beechworth to Myrtleford takes about 4-5 hours.
Prebook lunch at a winery en route e.g Gapstead. https://www.gapstedwines.com.au/
Prebook return transfer for you and your bikes. I recommend bringing your own bikes if you want to tackle the rail trail as bike hire can be limited in the busy periods.
There is a bike hire company who also does return transfer shuttles with your bikes: https://thebikehirecompany.com.au/
Nice lookout for sunset. It is a 15-minute drive including on some gravel roads.
Take supplies up there as there is nothing there except a picnic table.
8 locals recommend
Murmungee Lookout
Lady Newton DriveNice lookout for sunset. It is a 15-minute drive including on some gravel roads.
Take supplies up there as there is nothing there except a picnic table.
Only 2 blocks away from this house. You can circumnavigate the entire lake in around 1 hour from the house.
In Summer there is a beach for swimming with a pontoon.
There is no life guard.
19 locals recommend
Lake Sambell Reserve
Only 2 blocks away from this house. You can circumnavigate the entire lake in around 1 hour from the house.
In Summer there is a beach for swimming with a pontoon.
There is no life guard.
Close to town and a nice view of a small waterfall and a hiking track. Worth a visit for some local scenery. 10 mins out of Beechworth.
https://www.explorebeechworth.com.au/listing/woolshed-falls/
Head out of town on the road to Chiltern then turn off for the Woolshed falls.
Woolshed Falls Road
Woolshed Falls RoadClose to town and a nice view of a small waterfall and a hiking track. Worth a visit for some local scenery. 10 mins out of Beechworth.
https://www.explorebeechworth.com.au/listing/woolshed-falls/
Head out of town on the road to Chiltern then turn off for the Woolshed falls.
Farmer's market held 1st Saturday of every month.
9am-12:pm at Christ Church on the Hill, Ford Street Beechworth
https://www.beechworth.com/events_calendar/market_days.html
Beechworth Honey
70 Ford StFarmer's market held 1st Saturday of every month.
9am-12:pm at Christ Church on the Hill, Ford Street Beechworth
https://www.beechworth.com/events_calendar/market_days.html
Drive or walk the scenic gorge road. Best time is sunset or late afternoon as the sun is in the best position for the view points. It’s around a 10km loop from this house. There are a few lookouts for pretty views, a set of waterfalls where you can swim in the summer.
It is a one way drive so you can turn off onto the gorge scenic drive from the road out of town to Wodonga. You will emerge at the Shell Service Station which is on the road out to Wangaratta.
https://www.explorebeechworth.com.au/listing/beechworth-gorge-walk/
8 locals recommend
Gorge Road
Gorge RoadDrive or walk the scenic gorge road. Best time is sunset or late afternoon as the sun is in the best position for the view points. It’s around a 10km loop from this house. There are a few lookouts for pretty views, a set of waterfalls where you can swim in the summer.
It is a one way drive so you can turn off onto the gorge scenic drive from the road out of town to Wodonga. You will emerge at the Shell Service Station which is on the road out to Wangaratta.
https://www.explorebeechworth.com.au/listing/beechworth-gorge-walk/
Mount Buffalo National Park
Mount Buffalo RoadFood scene
In my opinion, this is a better place to get fresh pies than the more well-known Beechworth Bakery.
Gum Tree Pies Beechworth
49 Ford StreetIn my opinion, this is a better place to get fresh pies than the more well-known Beechworth Bakery.
2nd best restaurant in town. You will need to make a reservation in advance.
https://www.oxandhound.com.au/
Phone: +61 3 5728 2123
16 locals recommend
The Ox and Hound Bistro Beechworth
52 Ford St2nd best restaurant in town. You will need to make a reservation in advance.
https://www.oxandhound.com.au/
Phone: +61 3 5728 2123
Best restaurant in town - and most expensive. Beautiful ambience. You will need to make a reservation in advance. Approx. $235 for a degustation menu with matched wines.
http://www.theprovenance.com.au/
Phone: +61 3 5728 1786
16 locals recommend
Provenance
86 Ford StBest restaurant in town - and most expensive. Beautiful ambience. You will need to make a reservation in advance. Approx. $235 for a degustation menu with matched wines.
http://www.theprovenance.com.au/
Phone: +61 3 5728 1786
Historic building and one of only 4 pubs in town. In my opinion this is the pub with the best food. Get a spot in the dining room.
https://www.hotelnicholas.com.au/
Phone: +61 3 5728 1051
8 locals recommend
Hotel Nicholas
1A Camp StHistoric building and one of only 4 pubs in town. In my opinion this is the pub with the best food. Get a spot in the dining room.
https://www.hotelnicholas.com.au/
Phone: +61 3 5728 1051
I think this is the best coffee in town. They also serve great (and award-winning) toasties for breakfast. Not many places to sit so plan to get take-aways.
TINY of Beechworth
14A Camp StreetI think this is the best coffee in town. They also serve great (and award-winning) toasties for breakfast. Not many places to sit so plan to get take-aways.
Best pizza in town. Best to book ahead as it can get busy. Good selection of craft brews too. Pet friendly.
40 locals recommend
Bridge Road Brewers
42 Ford StBest pizza in town. Best to book ahead as it can get busy. Good selection of craft brews too. Pet friendly.
For a lovely setting and good food on the weekend - a little further out of town (about 10 mins drive). They even have a free shuttle from Beechworth. You can make reservations online for lunch, dinner and the shuttle.
https://glenbosch.com.au/restaurant/
Friday: Lunch and Dinner
Saturday: Lunch and Dinner
Sunday: Lunch
9 locals recommend
Glenbosch Wine Estate
For a lovely setting and good food on the weekend - a little further out of town (about 10 mins drive). They even have a free shuttle from Beechworth. You can make reservations online for lunch, dinner and the shuttle.
https://glenbosch.com.au/restaurant/
Friday: Lunch and Dinner
Saturday: Lunch and Dinner
Sunday: Lunch
Lovely restaurant - a 20 min drive out of town to one of the local wineries
https://www.sammiranda.com.au/the-restaurant/
10 locals recommend
Sam Miranda King Valley
1019 Snow RdLovely restaurant - a 20 min drive out of town to one of the local wineries
https://www.sammiranda.com.au/the-restaurant/
Supplies and services
The closest place to get supplies that you cant get in Beechworth. There is an OfficeWorks, Bunnings, Pets Domain, Spotlight, KMart, BigW, Coles, Aldi. While there take a stroll through the botanical gardens - they're lovely.
6 locals recommend
Wangaratta
The closest place to get supplies that you cant get in Beechworth. There is an OfficeWorks, Bunnings, Pets Domain, Spotlight, KMart, BigW, Coles, Aldi. While there take a stroll through the botanical gardens - they're lovely.
City advice
Ways to save
The water is safe to drink out of the tap
Tap water is high quality and tastes good. Drink it from the tap - no need to buy bottled water.
Customs and culture
Check fire danger rating before a BBQ or fire pit
!Important! - check the fire danger rating before you start a BBQ or the fire pit.
If the rating is high it is illegal to start an open fire.
Check here: https://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/
What to pack
It gets cold here - bring warm clothes (May-Oct)
It can get to -5 degrees C here in the winter so bring warm clothes and slippers and maybe your Oodie so you can rug up. The house has a fireplace and a heater but it can still get cold at night.
There is no heating in the bedrooms.
Book before you go
Phone reception is patchy
Phone reception for any service other than Telstra can be patchy here at the house. If you are on Telstra you will be ok otherwise the front yard or the very rear of the yard is the best place to get phone reception. I suggest you get set up with WhatsApp or similar to receive and make calls via VOIP over WiFi.
Don't miss
@fairviewbeechworth for more info
See my profile @fairviewbeechworth on IG which has a mixture of history, the current state of affairs at the house and sightseeing insp.