1. Hogget Kitchen
Set on a 130-acre vineyard looking towards the Strzelecki Ranges, the hatted Hogget Kitchen is the product of three passionate foodie families coming together to celebrate everything Gippsland has to offer. Chef Trevor Perkins takes charge of the daily rotating menu, sourcing every ingredient locally and making a full nose-to-tail use of it, while sommeliers William Downie and Patrick Sullivan turn the wine list into a who’s who of Gippsland viticulture.
2. Blue Tree Honey Farm
Indulge with a sweet treat at Blue Tree Honey Farm and see what all the buzz is about. This bucolic farm in southern Gippsland is a hive of activity thanks to free honey tastings, live bee observations, and a gift store where you can pick up the perfect little something to take home. Budding beekeepers can also buy supplies to start their own hives at home.
3. Sodafish
It’s just 20 metres from the kitchen to the jetty where Sodafish’s co-owner and chef, Nick Mahlook, buys his fish straight from the fishing fleets. Mahlook, who has worked at some of Melbourne’s most celebrated restaurants, returned to his hometown in 2020 to start this special floating restaurant with his sister. This is as fresh as you can get when it comes to enjoying quality seafood.
4. Loch Brewery and Distillery
Pass the cute lawn settings and head up the stairs into a 100-year-old red brick bank building to find Loch Brewery and Distillery. While the distillery offers English-style beers and gins featuring Australian botanicals, founders Craig Johnson and Melinda Davies have poured their passion into their first love: whisky.
5. Bassine Specialty Cheeses
Parmesan, feta and gouda, oh my! Dairy devotees should hoof it to Bassine Specialty Cheeses, where you can sample dozens of fresh, marinated and spiced cheeses. Milk from the dairy farm also goes into producing cheesecakes, milkshakes and gourmet toasties, which are all available at the onsite café.