Holiday houses in Maffra

Maffra is a small country town in Victoria, less than a three-hour drive from Melbourne. The area’s traditional custodians are the Gurnaikurnai Aboriginal people, though the town was given the name Maffra by early European settlers. The area was once a popular destination for gold fossickers, and had a flourishing sugar beet industry. Today, Maffra is home to many dairy farms surrounded by rolling, green pastures.

Wander through town to see many of the original Victorian-era shopfront verandas. Maffra is also close to the Macalister and Thomson rivers, where it’s possible to fish for trout at certain times of the year. You can also visit nearby Lake Glenmaggie, which is less than a 30-minute drive away, and is a popular spot for picnicking, water-skiing, kayaking, and boating.

Maffra is a popular spot to visit at any time of the year. There are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities, and the weather remains fairly mild year-round — though you’ll need to pack your woollies in the winter months. Autumn is a lovely time to visit, and an ideal time for cycling the local rail trail or bushwalking. The temperatures usually remain high, and there is usually less rainfall than at other times of the year. Spring is also very pleasant, with lots of blossoms and wildflowers in the surrounding areas. The hottest days in summer don’t exceed those of autumn, though it can be quite chilly in winter.

Gippsland Plains Rail Trail

If you’re interested in cycling, you can also take the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail — a flat, 63-kilometre trail on fine or coarse gravel that’s usually open all year round. Pass by wineries, stop for a bite to eat, drop into some local boutiques and enjoy magnificent views of the great Dividing Range along the way. You can either bring your own bikes or hire them from one of the local operators.

Rivers and Lakes

Maffra is a short drive to two rivers — the Macalister river and Thomson river, both of which flow into Lake Glenmaggie. There is a swimming spot at Sandy Point, and the lake is also popular for trout fishing, boating, water-skiing, and kayaking. It’s also a lovely spot to take a picnic and relax in the shade.

Beet Museum

For a glimpse of Maffra’s early history, stop by the Beet Museum in town, where you’ll find insights into the area’s once-thriving sugar beet industry, and its transition into dairy farming. The nearby Gippsland Vehicle Collection also offers an overview of Australia’s early motoring history.