Then there’s the charming Dunkeld in the Grampians National Park. Another of the best regional towns for eating and drinking in Victoria thanks to a bounty of options. Start at the Dunkeld Old Bakery, operating in the same location since 1887 and considered one of the best in the district. Or take to the Royal Mail Hotel for its duo of diners; there’s casual bistro Parker St Project or the degustation from the award-winning Wickens.

Aside from its architecture (with more than 30 buildings listed with the National Trust), Beechworth is a food haven. It’s breweries and pubs which seem to dominate, like former 1850s couch house hosting Bridge Road Brewers, and the heritage (and family owned) Last St. As for where to eat while in town, there’s the Japanese-inspired Provenance, rustic French-style Ox and Hound Bistro. Or enjoy local goods at home from the innovative Project Forty Nine, where shelves are lined with wine, cheese, specialty tins and more.

Sure, Ballarat is actually officially a city (and the largest of Australia’s inland), but with enough cafes and restaurants to warrant a mention in this list of best towns to eat and drink in regional Victoria. The Ballarat dining scene is blossoming with fine diners in particular; try Babae at the equally suave Hotel Vera or a seasonally-focused tasting menu at Underbar. It’s not all fancy fare of course, with bars abundant. Grab a tipple at brewpub Aunty Jack’s or Hop Temple.

Another destination that officially falls into the camp of city, but makes this list regardless is Bendigo, a place famed for its collection of museums and historic landmarks. But there’s plenty of eating and drinking to be done here too. Good coffee isn’t hard to find; try Percy and Percy, or Out of Order. There are specialty cocktails galore at speakeasy Ms Batterhams. Carnivores will be delighted by the steak-focused Woodhouse, and then there’s the sophisticated Terrae, housed in the 12-suite strong Hotel Ernest Bendigo.

Back in wine country is the heritage town of Heathcote, nuzzled among the Victorian Goldfields. Immerse yourself among its local creations at the resident wineries like Three Dams Estate, Sanguine Estate and Heathcote Winery. Not to mention contemporary (and completely off-grid) cellar door Silver Spoon Estate. As for restaurants, there’s the adored and finely furnished Chauncy which has attracted plenty of acclaim with its French-style dining. But due to its popularity, booking ahead is highly recommended.

At the base of Victoria’s High Country lies Bright. You’ll need to fuel all the outdoors activities at your disposal here; start with a coffee and sweet treat at The Riverdeck Kitchen on the Ovens River. No doubt you’ll have worked up an appetite after meandering the famed Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, but luckily Bright caters to all cravings. Elevated pub grub dominates the menu at Basils Bar & Eatery, or grab a specialty drink at the Reed and Co Distillery, complete with Japanese izakaya restaurant Koji Bird.

Former gold rush town Castlemaine is already much-loved by the Melbournites flocking there in their droves. An unsurprising notion give the eclectic gathering of venues that call this regional Victorian town home. Cafes are in no short supply; grab a great coffee at Blackbird Cafe and Das Kaffeehaus, paired with a flakey pastry from Sprout. Or visit one of the cosy watering holes in residence; Boomtown Winery Co-Op, Bridge Hotel, and Bar Midland.

A resident of the King Valley Wine region, Milawa is rich in drinking opportunities; pay a visit to stand-out vineyards Sam Miranda Wines, and the iconic Brown Brothers while in town. But there’s a few specialty food stores that also beg to be explored; Milawa Mustards, and Milawa Cheese Company among them. Not to mention Milawa is home to the self-guided cycling tour Pedal to Produce Trail. After a day’s ride, check in to luxury boutique hotel Lancemore Milawa.

Arguably the most recognised of the regional towns for eating and drinking in Victoria is Daylesford. Alla Wolf-Tasker has led the charge here with her farm-to-table eatery Lake House, with its adjoining accommodation option Dairy Flat Farm. There’s more to explore around here of course; the iconic Daylesford Hotel does a mean pub lunch, Cliffy’s Emporium is best enjoyed for coffee and brunch, and there’s the casual (and seriously quaint) Wombat Hill House in the midst of the Botanic Gardens.

While it may reside on the edge the lauded Daylesford, Trentham is absolutely also worth a trip. It’s here that you’ll find Victoria’s highest single drop waterfall, Trentham Falls, alongside a series of stand-out places to eat and drink. The Trentham General, housed in a former bank, makes for a popular breakfast option. And then there’s the historic Cosmopolitan Hotel, a bistro, beer garden, cellar, and accommodation in one space.

As a Mornington Peninsula resident, Red Hill is just as eye-catching as its surrounding towns. This is a region rich in eateries and vineyards – keep an eye out for the idyllic Polperro and Montalto. When it comes to venues, fine diner Osteria Tedesca is a must-visit. Then there’s the mulit-faceted Epicurean, a favourite for events, or modern Asian haven Many Little which pays homage to Sri Lankan cuisine.