Festival of Short Walks

Overview

It might not feel like it somedays in Melbourne, but winter is done and dusted for another year. With that in mind, Victoria's High Country is celebrating spring with the first-ever Festival of Short Walks. Visitors are invited to spend a week exploring the area on foot, with a bunch of walking tours taking place in and around the quaint towns of Beechworth, Chiltern, Yackandandah and Rutherglen.

The festival's program is stacked with more than 30 guided tours and 40 self-guided walks, each one mapped out, timed and graded on how hard it is, so you know what you're committing to from the get-go. Don't stress if you're not super fit as the walks cater to everyone from adventurous explorers to nature lovers just wanting to escape the city — even those of us who only go for walks if there's food at the end of it.

Some of the guided tours will cost you a small fee (it's $26 for Disco Dee's silent disco walking tour of Beechworth — worth it), but there are plenty that won't cost you a penny, leaving more coin to put towards cute accommodation for the weekend or dinner at Bridge Road Brewers.

If you're keen to make the most of being in some of Victoria's best wine country — and don't mind spending a few more dollars — there are a couple of ticketed foodie events. Wine producers from Lake Moodemere Estate will be taking punters on a walking tour through their vineyards before serving up a three-course meal with matched wines ($175), while the 1500 Pound Party will set you back $100 for a hidden shindig with drinks, nibbles and tunes — a reward for the rocky trail hike it will take you to get there.

All the info you need, including tour sign-ups, tickets, maps and tips for where to stay and eat while you're in town, can be found here.