Rutherglen

The Rutherglen area, which includes towns like Wahgunyah, Yackandandah and Chiltern, was an important cattle grazing and gold rush area in the 1800s. After the gold rush, Rutherglen transitioned to a prosperous agricultural and wine-producing district.

In fact, Rutherglen boasts three separate wine festivals during the year. In March, Tastes of Rutherglen introduces the region’s best wine and produce, with masterclasses, workshops, tours and talks. Come June, the Winery Walkabout encourages visitors to a selection of premium wineries for special tastings, tours and entertainment. And the Rutherglen Wine Show in September showcases the region’s wines with exhibitions, tastings and judged competitions.

Best things to do in Rutherglen

In this wine town, head straight to the Rutherglen Wine Experience Visitor Information Centre, located in the town centre on Main Street. Learn how wines are made and all about Rutherglen’s rich history. Main Street maintains much of its historical charm, with many hotels and shops retaining their 19th-century fronts.

Just a 15 minute drive away from Rutherglen is Chiltern, another historic town where you can visit several important sites. Dow’s Pharmacy is over 160 years old, originally run by the father of Australian prime minister John McEwen and later by Hilda Dow (nee Grey), an iconic female pharmacist during most of the 20th century. Everything remains intact from their tenures, including medicines, shop fittings, and stock in original packaging. Also in town is the Federal Standard Printing Works, a living museum with a working printing press still in use. There’s also Lake View House, a red brick house built in 1870 that was home to acclaimed author Henry Handel Richardson.

Consider staying at Rutherglen’s Mount Ophir Estate, a luxury hotel in a historic vineyard famous for its shiraz.

Best walks near Rutherglen

Explore the Rutherglen Sculpture Trail on the Lake King Walk (1.2km loop), featuring plenty of local birdlife. While long, the Lake Moodemere Walk (12km loop) around a huge natural billabong is also a beautiful and peaceful walk.

In the nearby Warby-Ovens National Park, you’ll be treated to spectacular viewpoints and incredible spring wildflowers. The Warby Falls Heritage Trail (7.6km return) showcases the region’s history, following a gully with a historic saw mill, weirs, sheep washes, dams and waterfalls. Climb Mount Warby through Salisbury Falls Gorge on the Salisbury Falls Walk (4.5km return) or Mount Glenrowan (9.5km return) to Morgans Lookout for wide-spreading views. Easier trails include the Friends Track (5.5km loop with diversion to Kwat Kwat Lookout), Pangarang Lookout Walk (4.5km return) and the Sunrise Walking Tracks (2-6km loop options).

There’s also the beautiful Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, which includes historic gold mining sites, box-ironbark forests, and the stunning Woolshed Falls. View Aboriginal rock art at Yeddonba, go prospecting at Reedy Creek, or head up to the Mount Pilot Lookout (1km loop) to see Mount Buffalo on a clear day.

One of the best walks in the area is the St Leonards-Granthams Walk (4km loop), which wanders along the banks of the mighty Murray River from Wahgunyah, just an eight minute drive from Rutherglen.

Best places to eat and drink in Rutherglen

Hungry visitors should head straight to The Victorian, a classy pub that celebrates local produce cooked over open flames. If you’re after more basic grub, go to Barnawartha Star Hotel for classic pub meals or Rutherglen Eastern Palace for Chinese. Pickled Sisters is a great option for modern Australian breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you’re just feeling snacky, then Parker Pies is a fantastic country pie shop.

Wineries abound in the Rutherglen area. All Saints Estate not only has a cellar door with winery tours on offer, but also has two onsite restaurants to keep bellies full between glasses. Campbells Wines also offers delectable wine tastings, with occasional access to their century-old cellars. Jones Winery‘s heritage cellar door comes with picnic hampers, platters and a full-service restaurant, while Buller Wines has both a cellar door and a distillery door alongside its restaurant.

More into whisky? Head to Morris of Rutherglen for a celebrated whisky an fortified wine cellar door.

Don’t miss GooraMadda Olives, whose cellar door offers extra virgin olive oils, table olives, dressings, chutneys, jams, marmalades and tapenades complete with wine and cheese pairings.

More: 10 of the best wineries and cellar doors to visit in Rutherglen