Holiday houses in Nagambie

The traditional lands of the Taungurung Aboriginal people, Nagambie is a relaxed rural town in the Goldfields region of central Victoria, hugging the shores of Lake Nagambie, a reservoir fed by the Goulburn River. Nagambie’s waterways are a key attraction for many visitors, with river cruises and boat hire and other watercraft rentals available in town. Fishing is also popular here, with Murray cod and golden perch among the prized catches.

Nagambie is also the hub of the lesser-known Nagambie Lakes wine region, a subregion of the Goulburn Valley wine region, with more than half a dozen cellar doors within 20 minutes’ drive of town. The region’s Shiraz vines date from the 1860s, though Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Marsanne, and Merlot are also commonly grown here. Several wineries also have restaurants, as does the brewery and distillery on High Street, Nagambie’s main drag, which is still home to several buildings dating from the late 19th century. Look out for the white Nagambie Historical Society building (1871), which houses a small museum.

The greater Shepparton region enjoys a temperate climate, with enough sunny days per year to rival Queensland’s Gold Coast. Summers are hot and dry, and while winter mornings can be frosty, they typically turn into bright sunny days. Nagambie hosts a community market on the first Saturday of every month, as well as several annual festivals. In March, the Nagambie on Water Festival is celebrated on the shores of Lake Nagambie, with community markets, live entertainment, and swimming competitions. Come November, the Vineyards Running Festival sees runners race around local vineyards, followed by a festival at a local winery with food stalls and live bands. More recently held in June, the Shepparton Festival is a top regional draw, with more than two weeks of arts events including comedy, film, exhibitions, and performance.

Visit a ghost town

A 20-minute drive northeast of Nagambie lies the former township of Whroo. Developed after gold was found here in 1854, Whroo had been all but abandoned by the mid-20th century. Today, there’s not much left other than a couple of dilapidated buildings, an open-cut mine, the remains of cyanide vats, and a cemetery, but it’s an interesting excursion nonetheless.

Get your tank fix

Ever wondered where Australia’s old army tanks end up? Some of them, at least, find their way to the Australian Army Tank Museum, a 30-minute drive south of Nagambie, which features more than 80 armoured vehicles and anti-tank weapons in the outside exhibition area alone. Inside, the collection focuses on the history of operations, from World War I through to the 21st century.

Take a wetlands wander

Opened in 2021, the Tahbilk-Tahbilk Indigenous Flora Trail is a two-kilometre trail forming part of an eight-kilometre wetland walking trail network southwest of Nagambie. Designed in collaboration with the local Aboriginal community, the trail’s interpretation panels explore Taungurung connections to the diverse plant species abundant in the wetlands.