Renowned for its charming colonial heritage and bushranger tales, you’ll also discover acclaimed cool-climate wineries, gourmet food, and friendly locals offering country-style hospitality.

The famed Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues, regarded as Australia's finest, is held each November at venues in town and at various wineries across the region, showcasing international and local performers. Discover opera, theatre and comedy shows at the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre, while next door you can enjoy diverse visual arts exhibitions at the Wangaratta Art Gallery.

Wangaratta marks the start of the Murray to Mountains rail trail, a 95km scenic cycling and walking trail through the heart of the Victorian Alpine region. One of Australia’s most popular regional rail trails, it follows the old route of the original 1880 Bright Railway Line, which ran from Wangaratta to the town of Bright in the Victorian Alps, meandering through picturesque valleys with mountain views.

A short drive from Wangaratta, Warby-Ovens National Park’s granite peaks and giant boulders are nestled among redgum and ironbark forests and crisscrossed with hiking trails. Enjoy a day kayaking, fishing and boating on the heritage-listed Ovens River and experience spectacular views from Ryan’s Lookout and the Kwat Kwat Lookout.

This region is famed for its bushranger folklore. Visit the Ned Kelly Museum at historic Glenrowan, 15 mins south of Wangaratta, where Ned Kelly made his famous last stand in 1881. You can also visit the grave of Dan ‘Mad Dog’ Morgan, the infamous local bushranger buried in the Wangaratta Cemetery. The Wangaratta Historical Museum, in the old fire station in town, also houses a remarkable collection of artefacts and collectibles of the area.

Showcasing some of the region’s finest producers, Wangaratta’s thriving food and wine scene  has everything from gastro pubs and acclaimed fine dining restaurants to craft breweries and laid back country beer gardens. Local favourite Rinaldo's Casa Cucina pairs local wines with classic Italian fare while Cafe PreVue is a great spot for a sunny lunch overlooking the river.

With its close proximity to some of Victoria’s fastest growing wine regions, Wanagaratta is the perfect base to explore the bounty of boutique wineries and cellar doors in the area. From Beechworth to the King Valley, you’ll find premium cool climate wines and superb Italian varietals such as pinot grigio, sangiovese and the famous King Valley prosecco.

Wangaratta is 250kms northeast of Melbourne or a 2.5 hour drive up the Hume Freeway, the main route between Melbourne and Sydney. Bus services run frequently between Melbourne and Wangaratta, with the journey taking around 2hr and 45 mins. The XPT rail service runs daily between Melbourne and Sydney, stopping at Wangaratta. You can also fly into Albury Airport from most major cities in Australia and hire a car for the hour’s drive south to Wangaratta.