Holiday houses in Rutherglen

Rutherglen is a historic town in Victoria’s northeast, around a three-hour drive from Melbourne. The town is just 10 kilometres from the Murray River and New South Wales border. Rutherglen has its origins in Victoria’s famous Gold Rush era. The discovery of gold in 1860 saw the town spring to life with several churches built, as well as a school and the post office in 1863. After the gold rush, Rutherglen prospered as an agricultural town, and today it has established itself as one of Victoria's most important wine producing areas — with almost 20 wineries located within a short drive from the town centre.

The main street of Rutherglen maintains its historical charm, with most of the shop fronts retaining the same look they had in the 19th century. There are several interesting spots along the Murray River close to Rutherglen worth visiting, including Lake Moodemere, which is surrounded by extensive wetlands and river red gums — a haven for the local birdlife.

If there is a best time to visit Rutherglen, it is probably in the autumn months of March to May when the weather offers clear sunny days that are perfect for exploring the region. The Tastes of Rutherglen festival takes place in March when the region's best food and wine producers put on a progressive foodie fest weekend. You can visit several wineries and sample delights from celebrated regional chefs. Spring is also a great time to visit the region, as the weather is pleasantly warm and dry. Music on the Murray occurs on the first Saturday of every month from August to December, during which you can enjoy lunch while listening to local artists perform live. Whenever you decide to visit you will find a wide range of accommodations in Rutherglen to suit all tastes and budgets.

Bike Murray to Mountains Rail Trail

Take the nine-kilometre bike ride along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, from Rutherglen to the banks of the mighty Murray River in Wahgunyah. This flat and easy to cycling trail will take you past several wineries where you can stop for a spot of lunch. Remember to pack your swimming gear in summer for a refreshing dip when you reach the Murray River in Wahgunyah.

Big Wine Bottle

Australia is known for its big monuments, and in Rutherglen, they have the Big Wine Bottle. Standing at 36 metres tall and only a 15-minute walk from Main Street, this landmark used to be the town’s water tower. Now converted to look like a wine bottle to represent the region's wine heritage, this is a great place to enjoy a picnic and look out onto the vast surrounding landscape.

Rutherglen Farmers Market

The Rutherglen Farmers Market brings together all that is seasonal and beautiful about the local produce in Northeast Victoria. Held on the second Sunday of every month at Rutherglen Lions Park in the town centre, the market attracts several stall holders offering artisan breads, seasonal fruits and vegetables, specialty meats, oils, jams, preserves, local honey, and much more.