IT’S ONLY NATURAL
The sheer ABUNDANCE of natural wonders in Victoria’s Gippsland spoils even the most dedicated CITY-SLICKER, hosted by no less than MOTHER NATURE herself.
HEADING EAST, with the Melbourne skyline in your rearview mirror, the land ahead of you begins to unfold. Making your way through impossibly green hills that seem to roll on endlessly, you breathe out and feel the country calm wash over you. This is Gippsland. East of Melbourne, and reaching all the way to the NSW border, the Gippsland region is vast and diverse. The first thing you will notice is the changing landscapes, like a wondrous choose-your-own-adventure story that takes you from the snow-capped Victorian Alps to grassy plains and bushland; mighty mountain rivers and pounding waterfalls to shimmering lakes and pristine beaches. The enviable line-up of national parks is the playground of walkers, mountain bike riders and cyclists, paddlers and campers. In the natural sanctuary of Gippsland, you could be excused for thinking that Mother Nature is just plain showing off. Hanging its hat on over 500 kilometres of coastline, the largest inland waterway in Australia and many mountain rivers, Gippsland is unsurprisingly a water-lover’s paradise, offering fishing or boating, surfing or swimming, by canoe or sail. There are waves that gently lap at your feet and giant ocean swells; mighty river torrents and lakes so still it’s impossible to make out where reality ends and the reflection begins. Mother Nature is awe inspiring, but she is also a provider. Some of the best produce in Australia is grown, raised and made on this fertile patch of earth: the creamiest milk and world-class cheese, succulent beef and famous prawns, tangy berries, crisp apples and the freshest of fresh vegetables that are packed full of flavour. The secret’s out about the rainfall-rich soil producing beautifully balanced cool-climate wines, too, with winemakers flocking here, along with a new wave of brewers and distillers. Many a savvy restaurateur has championed the region’s exceptional produce in their menus, showcasing seasonal deliciousness and supporting local. Some of the nation’s top chefs have followed the call of a simpler way of life, opening restaurants and cafes that feature quality Gippsland produce and hero its rich and honest flavours. Gippsland is dotted with towns full of character and welcoming folk who truly love where they live. Townships – situated by wood, hill and sea – are full of life fed by quirky festivals and vibrant farmers’ markets, connected by farm gates, produce and wine trails, and glorious country roads. Travel the region and you start to get the picture of a land that has been smiled upon by the Mother Nature and winked at by the food gods. This is Gippsland.