An Art Lover's Weekend Guide to Nagambie and Its Surrounds

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If there's one reason why art-loving Melburnians should take a road trip to Nagambie — a pretty, lakeside town 90 minutes north — it's Mitchelton Winery. In June 2018, this epic estate casually opened the biggest commercial Aboriginal art gallery in Australia. Once you've taken your fill, head further afield for adventures on Tahblik Lagoon, boating escapades on Nagambie Lakes and hearty local eats, including woodfired pizza overlooking stunning landscaped gardens.

To help you plan, we've partnered with Mitsubishi in celebration of its new Eclipse Cross to bring you an art-filled itinerary for your next weekend escape to Nagambie.

Mitchelton Gallery of Aboriginal Art.

SEE AND DO

Your first stop is The Mitchelton Gallery of Aboriginal Art at Mitchelton Winery. With painting, drawing and sculpture from more than 15 communities, this collection is an artistic journey across Australia, taking in some of its most far-flung art centres. Look out for The Message Stick Vehicle, a Vietnam War ambulance-turned-totemic symbol of unity and peace, created by 200+ artists, as well as monumental paintings by the late Yannima Tommy Watson, Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi and George Hairbrush Tjungurrayi.

Next up is an adventure through 19th-century architecture at Noorilim Estate, a ten minutes' drive north of Nagambie near Murchison. This magnificent mansion, designed by James Gall, features a grand hall, ten bedrooms, 15 fireplaces and seven staircases, surrounded by 20 acres of ornamental gardens and 75 acres of vineyards. Then, another 30 minutes north is the Shepparton Art Museum, home to one of Australia's largest ceramics collections, plus contemporary works by Patricia Piccinini, Matthew Griffin, David Noonan and Tracey Moffatt, among others.

Mitchelton Winery.

Back in Nagambie, swing by La Galerie to peruse a private collection of antiques, collectables, jewellery and local crafts in a former colonial bank built in 1873. Then, climb to Jacobson's Lookout to get up close with a life-size sculpture of local-born hero Black Caviar, the fastest horse in the world. Backdropped by Nagambie Lakes, this creation is most spectacular at sunset — consider arming yourself with a picnic.

Once you've art-ed to your heart's content, it's time to explore the great outdoors. At Tahblik Lagoon, accessible via Tahblik Winery, a six-kilometre trail weaves through a fragile ecosystem of wetlands and creeks. If you're good at keeping quiet, you maybe be able to spot platypuses, koalas and members of Australia's southernmost freshwater catfish community. An alternative perspective can be gained on an Eco Cruise, or hire a tinnie and captain your own adventure on Nagambie Lakes.

Mitchelton Winery.

EAT

Right next to The Mitchelton Gallery of Aboriginal Art is The Muse Restaurant. Here, executive chef Daniel Hawkins forages wild blackberries, walnuts and whatever other edibles he can find, before transforming them into decadent dishes, like Sevens Creek Wagyu steak with Higgins olive oil roll, onion jam and basil or Cone Bay barramundi with fried tomato, lettuce and tarragon aioli. Match your pick with a shiraz, cab sav or marsanne from the cellar door.

At Tahblik Winery — aforementioned gateway to Tahblik Lagoon — a modern cafe overlooks the wetlands. On a cool day, enjoy the view from the stunning red gum-framed interior through glass doors; when it's warm, claim a table on the deck, where you'll be well protected by vast umbrellas. The comforting, seasonal menu offers dishes like braised pork belly with apple-vanilla puree, braised green lentils, butter poached leeks and crispy sage. Leave yourself time to visit Tahblik's underground cellar, built in the 1860s, and maybe have a crack at blending your own wine. 

Bank Street Pizza.

Another spot with gorgeous views is Bank Street in Avenel, a little town 20 minutes southeast. Tuck into woodfired pizza while gazing at pretty landscaped gardens or, on chilly afternoons, stay inside, beside the roaring fireplace. Among the pizza offerings are Michelle's Magic Mushroom, loaded with local mushrooms, porcini, smoked scarmoza (an Italian, semi-soft, cow's milk cheese), truffle oil and mozzarella, as well as the King Kamehameha, which takes the old Hawaiian to the next level, with tomato, smoked leg ham, pineapple and mozzarella.

Also in Avenel is Fowles Wine. Soak up sweeping vistas of the Victoria Plains while sampling affordable award-winning wines, such as the 2015 Are You Game? cab sav, which took out the Kemenys Perpetual Trophy for Best Value Dry Red Table Wine at the Sydney International Wine Competition. The cafe serves up simple, generous dishes driven by local produce, including baked semolina with local mushrooms, gorgonzola and rocket pesto.

Mitchelton Hotel.

STAY

To completely immerse yourself in art and wine, sleep over at Mitchelton Winery's luxurious boutique hotel, opened in 2017. Designed by the internationally acclaimed Hecker Guthrie, each room surrounds you in soothing, earthy tones, bathed in natural light. Choose between views over the Goulburn River or the vineyards — either way, you'll have plenty of privacy on your own balcony, as well as access to the hotel's glorious 20-metre infinity pool. Should serious relaxation be on the agenda, ask for a room with a deep-soak bathtub.

Thornbridge Guesthouse.

A more historical — yet still luxe — experience is Thornebridge, a heritage-listed Victorian guesthouse in Murchison, a 20 minutes' drive north of Nagambie. Owners Clare O'Reilly and Tim Linton spent 21 years renovating this beauty before opening it to the public. Whichever of the four rooms you choose, you'll be lazing about in a solid timber queen-sized bed, reading in a cast iron bath and generally marvelling at the fact that you've just walked into a Jane Austen novel. Alternatively, get cosy in Avenel after feasting on woodfired pizza at the Bank Street Cottage. This super-cute hideaway comes with an open fire, shady verandah, polished floors, gardens and room for up to five guests across two bedrooms. Starting at $101 a night for two (or one, why not?), it's a steal.

Where to next? Make the most of every week with Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and navigate to your next destination here.