WANGARATTA & MORE!

Welcome to Painters Island Holiday Park, we hope you enjoy your stay.

Wangaratta and the surrounding areas have a lot to offer, with some ideas below.

If you would like more information the Performing Arts Centre has an information Kiosk or you can take a short drive to GLENROWAN to the Information Centre.

WANGARATTA

* Historic Building walk                                                    * Merriwa Park

* King George V Gardens                                                 * Warby Ovens National Park

* Ryan’s Lookout                                                                * Holy Trinity Cathedral

GLENROWAN

A town famous for the Bush Ranger NED KELLY and the place of his LAST STAND. Whether you like or hate him, there is a lot to learn about the man and his gang in this quaint little town full of character.

·        Information Centre & Ned Kelly Discovery Hub

·        The Big Ned Kelly Statue

·        Ned Kelly Museum & Homestead

·        Kelly Land

·        Mt Morgan Store

·        Morrisons Winery

·        Baileys Winery

·        Taminick Cellars

MILAWA

If you enjoy a cheese platter with a glass of wine, this is the town for you, it is part of Victorias' hidden gourmet region.

·        Milawa Cheese Company

·        Milawa Mustards

·        Milawa Bread & Kitchen

·        Brown Brothers winery

·        Wood Park Winery

·        Walkabout Wineries

·        The Olive Shop

·        Milawa Bakery

·        Hurdle Creek Still - Gin Distillery

DAY TRIPS

OXLEY, MILAWA, EVERTON, BEECHWORTH, CHILTERN, (RUTHERGLEN,) WANGARATTA (160KMS RETURN)  

If historical buildings, wine, and cheese are your thing, you will love this area.

Head up to the main street, turn left at the second set of lights, and head towards Moyhu. Turn Left at the large roundabout towards Oxley.

You will come across several wineries, Sam Miranda, Brown Brothers, King Valley Wine Cellars, Wood Park Wines, and Glenbosch Wine Estate just to name a few.

Your taste buds will go crazy in Milawa! A must visit is the Cheese Company, a nice spot for morning tea. Do not forget Milawa Mustards, Milawa Bread & Kitchen, The Olive Shop, Milawa Bakery, and the Hurdle Creek Still - Gin Distillery.

Take the back roads to Beechworth, via Everton, enjoying the countryside. (You may need your GPS for this bit!) Beechworth is a historical town that was at its peak during the gold rush of the 1850s. The buildings are a great reminder of the history of this beautiful town. The first stop is the information centre and they can help you decide what to see. Our favourites are The Old Gaol, The Beechworth Bakery, Lake Sambell (a nice spot to sit and relax for lunch), wandering through the wide variety of shops, the Historic and Cultural Precinct, the Old Asylum, Bilsons, and the Burke Museum. You can easily spend a day here, if you have time take a 10-minute drive out to Woolshed Falls, this area was once the richest goldfield in Australia.

From here head to Chiltern, a perfectly preserved gold-rush-era town full of history and character.

To get back to Wangaratta you can come straight down the freeway or add 60kms to your drive and go through Rutherglen, a lovely little town with historic buildings and an amazing bakery, “Caffeine n Machine”, it has delicious food and a great collection of vintage bikes & cars on display.

Continue through town and follow the signs to Yarrawonga, Murray Valley Hwy, approx. 5 minutes out, and turn left onto Federation Way towards Wangaratta.

DAY TRIPS

TARRAWINGEE, MYRTLEFORD, BRIGHT, MT BUFFALO, WANGARATTA (220KM RETURN)

Beautiful scenery, delicious & unusual eateries, and exploring a beautiful National Park!

Turn left at the main road (service station) and right onto the Great Alpine Road. Enjoy the countryside and the drive to Myrtleford, stop at the “Log Tobacco Kiln” and see how tobacco was grown, harvested, and cured in this large building, grab morning tea from one of the local eateries, and relax at the park and learn a bit more about the history of Tobacco in the area. For something a bit different, drop in at the only Pumpkin Seed producers in Australia, “Pepo Farms” and try a “chocolate coated pumpkin seed”!

The next stop is the Red Stag Deer & Emu Farm and Restaurant. Sit on the balcony for your lunch or a Devonshire tea, breathe in the fresh valley air, and enjoy breathtaking alpine views, including Mount Buffalo NP. This unique property offers guests something a little different, you can feed, touch, and learn about deer, emus, and ostriches. If you are “game” you can even have a taste of venison, kangaroo, and emu!

The next part of your travels takes you to Bright, a beautiful scenic town with a tranquil creek/river flowing through the town, a year-round Christmas shop, a delicious ice creamery where the ice cream is made in the shop, boutique clothing and so much more.

If time allows, (a minimum of 3 hours return to Porpunkah), a visit to the picturesque        Mt Buffalo National Park, “The Island in the Sky”, is a must. You may need warmer clothes in the cooler months as the temp can drop up to 10 degrees. There are NO shops, cafes, or petrol available on the mountain, so take water with you. The road is windy, but the views are breathtaking. If you love hiking this is the place to go, if you love taking photos, this is the place to go, if you love relaxing, you guessed it! The first stop is Lady Bath Falls, where the water is crystal clear and the air is fresh and clean. Next is the Historical Mount Buffalo Chalet, built in 1910 and affectionately known as “The Grande Old Dame” of the Victorian Alpine Region, it is the largest Timber building in Victoria. This beautiful building is overflowing with history and character. Unfortunately, it is not open to the public, but you can stroll around the gardens and stop, sit, and let the world pass you by. Surrounded by gum trees, waterfalls, and picturesque views from Bent’s Lookout, over the valley, whilst here, a must do is the “Gorge Heritage Walk.” Continue up the mountain to “The Horn” the highest point at 1723m elevation. The Horn offers magnificent 360-degree views of the Victorian High Country.  

 DAY TRIPS

MOYHU, WHITFIELD, POWERS LOOKOUT, CHESHUNT, LAKE WILLIAM HOVELL,

PARADISE FALLS (steep walk), WANGARATTA (224kms return)

A beautiful day outside, with scenic drives, wineries, lookouts, lakes, and waterfalls.

Head up to the main street, turn left at the second set of lights, and head towards Moyhu.

You will come across several wineries, Sam Miranda, Brown Brothers (Milawa), King Valley Cellars, Wood Park Wines, Pizzini Wines, and Glenbosch Wine Estate just to name a few.

As you arrive in Whitfield, try some morning tea at the cute little cafes before you head up to the infamous Powers Lookout, where the bushranger Harry Power use to hide out from the police in the 1860’s. To get there, turn right at the pub (Mansfield- Whitfield Rd) travel for 17kms and turn left onto Powers Lookout Rd, this is a well-maintained dirt Rd, 2wd accessible, travel for 3.6 kms, and you will come to the wheelchair accessible lookout that provides sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding mountain and valley landscape. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous there is a walking track to the left that will take you out to “the point.” This is a rocky and uneven track, with a series of ladders, it is worth the walk for the spectacular views. There is also a 20-minute return walk through the bush to a waterhole amongst beautiful rocky ledges. Follow the path near the toilets in a westerly direction.

Head back to Whitfield and turn right towards Cheshunt, turn right at the cross roads onto Upper King River Rd, stop in for a taste of the local wines at Chrismont Cellar Door, and then head up to the beautiful Lake William Hovell. You can swim, Kayak, or just relax and watch the kangaroos hop by! This is also a beautiful spot for a picnic and a game of footy.

Off the beaten track, buried deep in the King Valley is the magnificent Paradise Falls. To see this spectacular concave waterfall. Head back to Cheshunt and turn right at the cross roads along King Valley Rd. Travel for approx. 1.8 kms, turn right onto Paradise Falls Rd, the last 11 kms is gravel, but in good condition, so accessible by 2wd vehicles. When you arrive at the   carpark, you will need to walk 500 metres to the viewing platform. Even though it is a very well-maintained stepped path, it can get slippery in parts and is quite a trek back up. If you take your time, this is a very enjoyable and scenic walk.

On the way back to Wangaratta, you have many choices for a delicious evening meal. Chrismonts, Pizzinis, Dal Zottos, Mountain View Hotel Whitfield, Moyhu Hotel, and a wide choice of restaurants within an easy walk from the caravan park.

DAY TRIPS

WINTON WETLANDS, BENALLA, GLENROWAN, WANGARATTA

Kangaroos, birds, National Park, wetlands, murals, and a famous Bushranger!

Head up the main St and follow the road towards Melbourne. Turn right just before the freeway overpass towards Glenrowan, then a quick right onto Taminick Gap Road. Enjoy the drive over the top of the Warby Ovens National Park, keeping an eye out for kangaroos and other wildlife, continue 9.5kms and turn right onto Glenrowan-Bowya Rd. Travel 3.8kms, veer left onto Lake Mokoan Rd, your next stop is 10kms on the left at the spectacular Winton Wetlands and the Mokoan Hub, which is a beautiful spot to enjoy morning tea or lunch from 9am -4pm, 7 days a week. If you have time, go for a walk, or do the “self-drive art trail” through the wetlands and enjoy nature, wildlife, art, and culture. It is a bird watchers and photographers paradise!!

Next stop is Benalla, turn left coming out of the “Hub” onto Lake Mokoan Rd, when you get to the T intersection, turn Left onto the Benalla-Yarrawonga Rd, travel 4.1kms, turn right onto the Link Rd, travel 4.9kms, turn left onto the Midland Hwy and this will take you to the centre of town. Benalla is a town full of amazing murals and street art, a beautiful lake with a relaxing boardwalk to stroll along, and a very interesting museum, where you can see the original scarf, the infamous Ned Kelly was given when he saved a drowning boy and was wearing at the Glenrowan shootout (“Last stand”)! Be sure to cross the bridge and look at the distinguished rose gardens and Botanical gardens that are next to the Art Gallery. There is also a great playpark here for the kids to get rid of some energy.

When you are ready, head back towards the freeway and the cute township of Glenrowan. A town famous for the Bush Ranger NED KELLY and the place of his “Last Stand” at the Glenrowan Inn. Whether you like or hate him, there is a lot to learn about the man and his gang in this quaint little town which is full of character. Make sure you stop in at the Ned Kelly Museum and Homestead where there is a replica of his home and a collection of themed memorabilia. Do not forget to get a photo in front of the 6-metre high “Big Ned Kelly” statue! Now that you are intrigued about the infamous bushranger, venture down to the “Ned Kelly Discovery Centre,” where there is historical resources and personal accounts of the era, a platform so you can be immersed in the locations that played a pivotal role in Neds “Last Stand” ensuring you cover every facet of this compelling story.