Places to See
About Beechworth
Beechworth is the historic heart of Victoria’s High Country and the perfect base from which to explore, adventure, taste and indulge in the best of the High Country and the Australian Alps.
Located in the foothills of the Victorian Alps and surrounded by lush valleys and spectacular scenery, Beechworth is one of Victoria’s best-preserved gold rush towns, with more than 30 buildings listed by the National Trust.
Festivals & Events
Beechworth is a town of celebrations and is famous for its many festivals. Here is a calendar of events to assist when planning your trip.
Remember to book early if you are visiting us on a festival weekend.
8 Days in Beechworth
Explore our '8 Days in Beechworth' visitors intinerary. Get out and about and get to know Beechworth's iconic food, wine and culture and visit some of our regions most renowned locations.
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Day 1
Historic & Cultural Precinct
Afternoon
Historic & Cultural Precinct
The Beechworth Historic and Cultural Precinct is a collection of nationally significant buildings telling the story of how Australia grew and prospered.
- Town Hall & Gardens
- Beechworth Historic Courthouse
- Telegraph Station
- Sub Treasury
- Gold Wardens Office
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Day 2
Stanley to Yackandandah
Morning
Visit Stanley
Head out of Beechworth along the Forest Drive to the hamlet of Stanley. Like Beechworth, this area was once a bustling goldmining town with many hotels, shops and artisans.
Today you can sample the delicious local apples, nuts and berries when in season, and take in the spectacular views from Mt. Stanley of the Victorian Alps and surrounding forest.
Afternoon
Visit Yackandandah
Yackandandah is one of Australia’s prettiest villages. Nestled in the foothills of Stanley State Forest, we’re surrounded by lush, green vegetation and magnificent wildlife. We’re rich in heritage history and in natural resources (granite, gold, clay & sparkling spring water).
Yackandandah is home to many talented artists and artisans from around the world and so is brimming with arts, crafts and antiques that will delight and surprise. Yackandandah has earned an impressive reputation for its spectacular, not to be missed, annual festivals and events.
It all begins with the descent from the surrounding tree covered hills of the Stanley State Forest, past the avenue of English trees, across the historic stone bridge with its sparking creek…here you’ll find the township of Yackandandah.
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Day 3
A Day of History...
Morning
The Old Beechworth Gaol
If you thought Beechworth was just about an untouched gold rush streetscape, fabulous local produce and boutique shops and accommodation, then think again! The Old Beechworth Gaol reveals Beechworth’s less well known history, one that’s rich with tales of great escapes, betrayal and even romance – all within the walls of the gaol. The site has been used as a place of incarceration since 1855, continuing until the closure of HM Beechworth Prison in 2004.
The Gaol is now open to the public revealing a time capsule allowing the buildings to tell their story.
Guided turs run daily from 11.00am - 1.00pm.
Afternoon
Asylum Ghost Tours
Beechworth Asylum Ghost Tours guided walking tours of the former Mayday Hills Lunatic Asylum give you the opportunity to discover what life was like within the institution walls in the 1860s.
The Asylum is in the picturesque gardens and grounds of Mayday Hills.
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Day 4
Beechworth Cellar Doors
Full Day
Explore Local Wineries
Stretching from the flat plains around the Murray River to the steep, timbered foothills of the Victorian Alps, North-East Victoria is a spectacularly beautiful area. The north-east’s five wine regions – Rutherglen, Beechworth, Alpine Valleys, King Valley and Glenrowan – all reflect their distinct climatic, topographic and historic differences in the quality and complexity of wines and the superb, artisan-style brews they produce. These range from luscious muscat, vibrant Italian varieties, and austere and restrained sparkling to the rich ales of its many craft breweries.
In the north lies Rutherglen, with a rich history of fortified winemaking and a great diversity of table wines. To the south is Glenrowan, ripe for rediscovery, which has been producing traditional wines of heroic proportions since the 1870s. To the east is the pristine mountain environment of the Alpine Valleys, King Valley and Beechworth – gateways to Victoria’s ski fields, which offer some of the state’s most innovative winemaking, diverse vineyards and elegant wines.
Recommended
Cellar Doors
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Indigo Vineyard
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Pennyweight
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Haldon Estate Wines
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Day 5
Out & About
Morning
Woolshed Falls
Woolshed Falls is only a 10 minute drive from Beechworth and features striking views of the area, picturesque walks and in the summer, it’s a popular place to cool off. Just watch out for slippery rocks!
Lake Sambell
Lake Sambell is located within the township of Beechworth. It was the site of the Rocky Mountain Mining Company open cut sluice operation during the mid 1800s and the early 1900s.
In the 1920s the area was created into a recreational lake and reserve for the citizens of Beechworth. Today it is used for swimming, fishing, walking, cycling and other forms of recreational use. The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail has been extended so that it passes through the reserve. Extensive work has been undertaken to provide walking trails throughout the reserve. Enhancing the swimming area is the man-made Sandy Beach next to the adventure playground. There are two electric barbecues, picnic tables and seating.
Afternoon
Shopping in Beechworth
Close your eyes and think shopping, because this is retail heaven. These days Beechworth is renowned equally for its fantastic shopping opportunities as for its historic attractions. Here you can take a leisurely stroll under the shady verandahs and discover some of the best boutique shopping outside of Melbourne.
The eclectic mix of sophisticated and contemporary stores offers a fantastic array of products, from beautiful jewellery to quality home and garden wares, a great range of fashion, shoes and accessories, luxurious soaps and moisturisers, exquisite linen, ceramics, books, gifts, and gourmet food!
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Day 6
On Your Bike
Full Day
Murray to Mountain Rail Trail
The Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail is the perfect way to discover the diverse countryside of the North East Victoria, from natural bushland to open farmland, hidden valleys and some of the most beautiful mountain ranges in Australia. Not to mention all of the endless wine, food and activities you will find along the way.
Over 100 kilometres of sealed off road trails provides you with the perfect link between the already popular tourist villages of Wangaratta, Beechworth, Rutherglen and Bright. More recently the off road sealed trail network has been extended Wangaratta to Milawa and Bright to Wandiligong.
Bike Hire
The Bike Hire Company is a bike hire delivery service that cater for the cyclist who wishes to cycle the bike and rail trails and back roads of the High Country region in North East Victoria.
They deliver free to Beechworth, Bright, Everton, Milawa, Myrtleford, Oxley and Wangaratta.
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Day 7
Milawa Gourmet Wine Region
Full day
Gourmet Food & Wine
Nestled in the farming and wine-producing King Valley region, Milawa once serviced gold miners en route to the goldfields of Beechworth and the Ovens Valley. Today, the King Valley – incorporating the renowned Milawa Gourmet Region – is full of opportunities for food and wine buffs to sample an array of local produce in historic and spectacular natural scenery. Local produce available includes cheeses, mustards, nuts, berries, trout, honey, wine and olives.
The King Valley is also proving itself as a premium grape-growing district with many boutique wineries now complementing the established Brown Brothers. Pay a visit to the cellar doors, where you’ll often find the winemakers themselves in attendance to answer your questions.
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Day 8
Explore Rutherglen
Full Day
Rutherglen
Wines to fortify, invigorate, enjoy, warm and best of all leave you with a memorable taste experience. Sixteen wonderful wineries, each with their own history and expertise, you can taste by the glass and take home by the bottle, ensuring that you’ll always remember your visit to the Rutherglen region. Don’t just taste the wines – immerse yourself in the heritage as you visit the wineries from historic castles, to rustic rooms that house the gold of this region. Savour the full flavours of the area, be it fine dining, casual bistro or picnic hamper, and at the end of the day, enjoy the warm hospitality of an historic pub stay, cabin beside the river, motel or bed and breakfast.
