The cliffs along Great Ocean Road are in a perpetual state of flux, with the ocean clawing at the coastline. The towering limestone stacks known as the 12 Apostles are like sculptures, with Aireys Inlet one of the most popular places to stop and gawp along this iconic stretch of coastline. The pub perched here since the early 1900s has survived a fire and a closure and remains integral to the Surf Coast community. Live music and ocean views at Aireys Pub help make the coastal town one of the best to visit in Australia. 45 Great Ocean Rd, Aireys Inlet; aireyspub.com.au

Positioned in Apollo Bay and framed by the Otways on one side and Southern Ocean on the other, Apollo Bay Hotel is a natural waypoint along the Great Ocean Road. Being within easy reach of the Twelve (actually, seven) Apostles, it sees a considerable amount of traffic from travellers chasing scenery and substance. The expansive menu caters to everyone from families to grey nomads and surf-weary day-trippers. Indulge in an Apollo Bay Fisherman’s Feasting Platter to keep everyone in the fam happy. apollobayhotel.com.au

You might have eaten your way around Melbourne. But you won’t really taste Victoria’s terroir until you’ve explored the countryside. Set at the leafy end of Castlemaine near The Mill precinct and Botanical Gardens, The Bridge Hotel has an umbilical link to its community thanks to its ties with Central Victorian producers like Yapunyah Chickens, Angel Organics Lamb, Tuki Trout and Windarring Urban Mushrooms. The bar keeps it local with top drops from Shedshaker Brewing and Sutton Grange Winery. thebridgehotelcastlemaine.com

The landscape around Lorne is strewn with limestone relics, which demand closer inspection. After winding your way along the Great Ocean Road, where you pass by these ethereal installations, keep chugging onwards to the Grand Pacific Hotel in Lorne. No need to break the flow, as the pub overlooks the coastline, which stretches out into the grand Pacific like a piece of blue corduroy. Smash a Pacific burger and Little Creatures Pale Ale. grandpacific.com.au

Wander around Warragul, Gippsland, without a map and leave everything to chance. Or plot a course from the historic Trestle Bridge to Toorongo Falls and Alpine Trout Farm. After a full day of exploring, your pace will start to quicken as you follow the stomp of a thousand boots to Noojee on the banks of the Latrobe River. Sit inside around the fire or outside on the deck overlooking the river enjoying a smoked trout pizza. The Gippsland is one of many regions in Victoria worthy of a drive. noojeehotel.com.au

The Stanley Pub, Stanley Road trippers edging away from the big cities are rewarded when they roll into the village of Stanley. Wander around the town in autumn and spring, when apple, cherry and chestnut orchards daub the landscape in colour. You will likely run into locals who will wish you a cheerful good morning and point you to the 150-year-old pub to enjoy pan-Asian dishes like five-spice pork belly with miso apple slaw and kaarage fried chicken. A concise wine list and generous beer garden add to the earthly pleasures of this pub. stanleypub.com.au

You will need somewhere to refuel as the miles squeak by along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. Follow the loose trail that threads from a patchwork quilt of farmland and vineyards to Tanswell’s Hotel, one of the oldest pubs in Beechworth in Victoria’s High Country. It’s the obvious place to park your e-bike and settle in for hearty plates such as wild boar dim sums or wild venison schnitzel. The drinks list is also about High Country favourites such as Willem Kurt’s vermentino and Reed & Co gins from Bright. tanswells.hotel.com.au

Hold your beer up to the sky to add an amber filter to the light casting its glow over the Wye Beach Hotel at dusk. As one of the few pubs along the Great Ocean Road, Wye Beach Hotel trades heavily on its front-row seat to the Bass Strait. The drawcard is simple: cold bevoirs, a relaxed dining room and uninterrupted water views. The drinks list leans towards small-scale, independent producers and the menu reinforces the community-first ethos. A standout place to stop for anyone mapping the best pubs in country Victoria. wyebeachhotel.com.au

The Dart & Marlin, Warrnambool This old timer’s pub was originally a painter’s shop built in the 1850s. And despite getting a reboot, the boozer is still full of old timers and local characters who creak in here for a schooner, stone-baked pizza or hand-rolled pasta. The bar and restaurant spill out onto a sage-planted courtyard that doubles as a dance floor when DJs and live touring acts crank out the tunes. Take a selfie with the taxidermy marlin with a dart in its mouth above the bar. thedartandmarlin.com.au

Sneeze and you might miss it. The smallest pub in Victoria in historic Eldorado has a bar that measures just 1.5 metres long. What it lacks in size, however, it makes up for in heart. Attached to the town’s general store and post office, the pint-sized pub doubles as a community hub known for its old-fashioned hospitality and hearty meals. Named after the region’s last working mine, visitors also strike it lucky when they strike up a conversation with apple-cheeked local characterS. facebook.com/mcevoytavern

See if you can split the G at Mickey Bourke’s Koroit Hotel, a proudly Irish pub where the Guiness flows as smoothly as the conversation. Established in 1853 and taken over by the Bourke family in 1920, the renowned pub has long been a landmark attraction in the southwest Victorian town, hosting dances and community gathos for generations. Live music is a linchpin of the community-minded hotel, where there is B&B accommodation onsite. mickeybourkes.com.au

You will see a lot of visual reminders that you’re pedalling through the heart of Australian prosecco country in the King Valley. There are vineyards planted with the varietal that ripple across the foothills of the King Valley. First opened for business in 1886, the Mountain View Hotel carries layers of local history, including a legendary tale about Ned Kelly riding his horse down one of its corridors. Today, the pub owned by the Pizzini family is a top spot for a well-earned pause between cellar doors. mvhotel.com.au/about

The Victoria brings fire and finesse to the pub format. Under chef Brendan Anderson (ex-Stokehouse Pasta & Bar), the kitchen at The Victoria spotlights producers from the state’s northeast, with much of the menu cooked over charcoal. Expect wood-fired pizzas, premium steaks and seasonal plates that champion simplicity and provenance. The Vic leans into its locale: surrounded by vineyards, bolstered by regional ingredients. What’s better than a pub lunch? A pub with rooms to stay the night. victoriahotelrutherglen.com.au

Wind your way through the voluptuous curves and swells of The Grampians and you will find great pubs like The Bunyip Hotel that punctuate your way. The Bunyip Hotel has been pouring pints since the 1840s and feels like the embodiment of the local community. It’s a gathering place for good food, great beers and a welcoming front bar that belongs as much to locals as it does to visitors exploring western Victoria. After hiking the Grampians, it’s the perfect place for contemplation. bunyiphotelcavendish.com

The soles of your shoes should be suitably scuffed by the time you reach Port Fairy. The Caledonian, otherwise known as ‘the Stump’, is one of Victoria’s oldest continuously licensed pubs. It runs along the cusp of the Great Ocean Road coastline and is one of the most popular waterholes in the state’s southwest. Inside, it’s all beanies and beards, as per the dress code in Port Fairy, one of the best beach towns in Victoria for eating and drinking. The Stump Rump is sensaysh. thestumpportfairy.com.au