East Gippsland Winter Festival 2023

Overview

It's impossible to fit Gippsland on a plate but every year the chefs, brewers and cheesemakers of Victoria give it a red hot crack.

Yep, it's that time of year again. The East Gippsland Winter Festival is back for 2023, running from June 9 to July 9 with more artisanal tasting plates than anyone could consume in an average human lifetime.

If you haven't attended this one before, bring your appetite. It's an incredible celebration of everything Gippsland — the people, food, produce and communities that make this place special. The event runs for a full month, with activations and lunches popping up all over the region.

Some of this year's highlights include the Nicholson Bridge Long Lunch (general release tickets have sold out for this one, but you can still get lucky on the waitlist), ice carving and fire dancing at Metung, a sunrise bathe and breakfast (in old wine barrels, no less), and a special Duck & Pinot Dinner at Northern Ground in Bairnsdale.

Special shout out to the FAT Ride, which sounds amazing: 40km of the beautiful Gippsland Rail Trail, with pop-up food, art and tune (FAT) along the way. They're even throwing in post-ride beers and return transfers.

You can browse the full program over here.

We recommend basing yourself somewhere central, like Bairnsdale or Bruthen, and then strategically filling your diary with delicious events and winery activations.

Images: Supplied