If you’re looking for the heart of Victoria, where the shimmering rivers wind their way through vibrant regional centres, where you can wine and dine on spectacular local produce, and where you can lay your head to rest under a broad star-filled sky, the Goulburn Valley is the place.

At the centre of the Goulburn Valley are its thriving townships and villages. Shepparton is a bustling regional centre with plenty of history and culture. The town is becoming famed for its quirky and colourful herd of more than 90 life-sized fibreglass cows that are scattered throughout the town itself and its surrounds. Shepparton’s food scene is also making its mark. This area is known as Australia’s food bowl, and for good reason – there are award-winning olive groves, wineries, bakeries and cheese makers. This region has everything you could possibly need for a mini-break from the city.

With its red-brick walls lined with local gourmet preserves, condiments, pastas and olive oil, it’s easy to get distracted and forget why you’ve come to the Fryers Street Food Store. But this cafe and pizzeria is a local institution for a good reason. The wood-fired pizzas served on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays are legendary – depending on the season, the beautifully thin bases may hold grilled peach, Shaw River buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto and fresh rocket, or slow-roasted lamb, onion jam and yoghurt. If you’ve saved room for dessert (and you should), the raspberry and rhubarb teacake or bitter chocolate fudge cake are standouts. 53 Fryers Street, Shepparton

If you’ve ever wanted to visit Mexico without, um, actually leaving Australia, here’s your chance. Cactus Country, with its 10,000 varieties of cacti and succulents, is only a few hours north of Melbourne in quaint Strathmerton. While cacti aren’t native to Australia, they grow here happily, and it’s worth wandering through the four hectares to discover the eight different areas, each of which showcases prickly plants from all over the world. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head back to the cafe where you can nibble on some delicious cactus cake or lick a cactus ice cream, sans the spikes. 4986 Murray Valley Highway, Strathmerton

The Goulburn Valley has a rich cultural history and there are several ways you can get closer to the area’s Aboriginal past. As the first Aboriginal cultural centre outside of a capital city, Bangerang Cultural Centre in Shepparton is a must-visit. Go on a guided tour to see life-sized dioramas, artefacts and artwork that highlight the local traditions and culture of the region’s Indigenous people. A few minutes down the road in Mooroopna is the Aboriginal Historical Walk. The self-guided 3.5km tour takes you past sites of traditional importance, including the Goulburn River where local Aboriginal people fished for crayfish, yellow belly and cod.

It would be hard to find fresher cheese than that at Lochelian Farmhouse – the cheesery is co-located on the farm, which is home to around 200 Friesian and Jersey cows. The cows’ creamy milk is made into award-winning soft cheeses using traditional French methods, from the Wunghnu Soft (a classic camembert) to the rich triple-cream (winner of a 2015 delicious. Produce Award) to the signature Kaarimba Soft, which is a soft but flavourful brie. This is truly a farm-to-plate experience where you can meet the farmer, the cheese maker and even the cows. Central Mundoona Rd, Wunghnu

You would be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful vineyard than Mitchelton. With views over the glistening Goulburn River and surrounded by towering red gums, the black and white winery is striking among its bush surrounds. You can sample any of the spectacular reds, whites or sparkling wines by the roaring fire, then settle down for an indulgent lunch made with fresh Goulburn Valley produce at the in-house restaurant, Muse. If you’re after a take-home treat, be sure to head next door to The Ministry of Chocolate, where (sweet) dreams do come true. 470 Mitchellstown Road, Nagambie

Nestled in the rugged foothills of the Central Highlands is Lake Eildon National Park. The pristine lake has more than 500km of shoreline and can store six times as much water as Sydney Harbour. Whether it’s the crackling campfires under a canopy of bright stars, the bush walks or the abundance of wildlife, Lake Eildon is a magical spot. The lake is the only waterway in Victoria where houseboats are allowed, and there’s something enchanting about these vessels gliding along against the backdrop of a spectacular sunset, to drop anchor for the night. Goulburn Valley Hwy, Eildon

Fancy pretending you’re the lord or lady of the manor? Then heritage-listed, luxury accommodation Thornebridge is just the place. You can recline on Victorian antique chairs and pretend you are a traveller from the 1870s, all the while enjoying modern comforts. Once you’ve settled in, wander the beautiful Victorian gardens, ensuring that you stop to marvel at the enormous heritage-listed plane tree. At the boundary of the property is the Goulburn River, winding its way through the grounds towards the next quiet bend in this beguiling region. 10 High Road, Murchison East