Rug up and pull on your Uggs for winter in Rutherglen when the mean minimum temperature drops to about 2.5°C. Enjoy a couple of rich, robust reds around a roaring fireplace at cellar doors such as Buller Wines and Campbell’s Wines. Head to restaurants Bonnie or Kin at All Saints Estate which backs onto the banks of the Murray River. The Lakeside Restaurant at Lake Moodemere Estate also has an open fireplace in winter. You will enjoy warm, country hospitality along the Pedal to Produce Cycle Trail, too.

Brush up on your bushranger history in Ned Kelly country so you can justify being driven indoors by the cold and bunkering down at the Benev. The boutique hotel is housed in a building founded in 1813 by The Benevolent Society, Australia’s first charity. You won’t care about missing any winter attractions while ensconced at the Benev. which has an onsite spa as well as a a café by day and sippery. If you must head out, go to Bridge Road Brewers to enjoy malty Robust Porter or Little Bling IPA alongside triangles of pizza. Pick up some souvenirs at one-stop-shop providore Project Forty Nine.

There’s nothing quite like visiting Falls Creek in winter. While the landscape resembles a threadbare quilt in summer, it’s covered in a blanket of snow each winter in a scene straight out of a fairytale. There’s no shortage of places to eat, drink, play and stay in Falls Creek. But if it’s snug and ambient you’re after, head to the Scandi-chic Astra, which is giving European chalet. Wear your going-out Ugg boots to the Little Chop Italian Shop or Sorella, both oozing European charm.

Warm your cockles in Trentham by the 140-year-old wood-fired Scotch oven at RedBeard Historic Bakery where you can also pick up a loaf of artisan sourdough. Stay toasty on a Sunday when the bakery runs workshops teaching bread-heads the art of wild ferment sourdough. Crunch along a leaf-strewn track to Trentham Falls and then swap some tall tales over pork belly with swede and carrot mash and a glass of pinot noir at The Cosmopolitan Hotel. The charming Cosmo is housed in a converted stable and has an open fire making it one of the most cosy places to visit during winter in regional Victoria.

Olinda is one of the cosiest towns to visit in regional Victoria thanks to its location nestled in the folds of the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. Fossick for antiques. Wander through the rhododendrons in the botanic garden. And then ready that pinky finger for a darling Devonshire tea at the Olinda Tea House & Restaurant. On colder days, the Pig & Whistle Tavern makes for a cosy hangout. The English-style pub has a crackling fireplace and it’s totally cool if all you do is spend the day here waiting for the fog to lift.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire whisper of winter in Stanley, Victoria. The historic gold mining village located just 10km southeast of Beechworth is known for its chestnut farms, which you can visit during the season. But it’s The Stanley Pub, established in 1854 and recently renovated, which piques the interest of visitors to the subalpine town in Victoria’s High Country. The kitchen is known for its pan-Asian pub grub such as chicken katsu with sesame cabbage salad or the comforting Thai red duck curry. explorebeechworth.com.au

Those yearning to bring out their winter boots can show them off along Yackandandah high street, which is dotted with buildings listed on the National Estate Register. The historic hamlet dates back to the 1850s. Wrap your hands around a cup of hot chocolate and fresh-baked pastry at the Happy Baker before jumping on your mountain bike and heading out to the Yack Tracks. Ask regional folk where to go after dark and they’ll point you to the Star Hotel, known for its build-your-own barbecue platters and live music. BYO woolen scarf. exploreyackandandah.com.au

Pootle up the Murray River onboard the PS Adelaide paddle-steamer to get a sense of place in Echuca Moama. In winter, the rich history of the river comes alive with the Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Festival, which includes performances on the PS Pevensey paddle-steamer. The sister towns that straddle the border of Victoria and NSW in Australia’s River Country are known for everything from wineries to wildlife. Lean into the season at The Echuca Hotel, which has fire pits and festoon lighting in the beer garden. Go off the beaten path and spend the night in an avocado orchard at Lost & Found Retreat in Barham. visitechucamoama.com.au

Sovereign Hill is all about rum toddies and roaring hearths in winter when the district transforms into a glittering winter wonderland. Lean into the cooler evenings at the annual Winter Wonderlights festival where the snow might be faux but the vibes are high. Sovereign Hill is not technically a town or a suburb in its own right; it’s designed as a recreated Gold Rush town that traces the history of Ballarat following the discovery of gold in 1851. Get your fix of fairy lights under a flurry of snowflakes. sovereignhill.com.au

A trip to the seaside village of Flinders in winter is best enjoyed when bundled up. You’ll find peace and tranquillity in spades in the tiny town which was first settled on the Mornington Peninsula in 1854. Tackle a section of the 100-kilometre-long Mornington Peninsula Walk so you can justify that hot chocolate and molten brownie at the Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery. Dinner at Moke is also an appealing proposition in winter for head chef Michael Cole’s degustation, which sings of the season. visitmorningtonpeninsula.org