Mercedes-Benz GLE in Victoria’s High Country

Exploring Victoria’s High Country

From pristine peaks and vibrant villages to award-winning wines and produce, the long and winding roads of Victoria’s alpine region have something to satisfy all the senses.

 

28 April 2022

One of the many great things about Melbourne is its proximity to a diverse range of regional gems to explore. Take Victoria’s High Country, just three hours’ drive north-east of the capital. This is truly a destination for all seasons and all tastes – from the action-packed winter snowfields and exhilarating hikes to its rich history, delicious local produce and fine wines. A three-day trip is the perfect way to sample all the high notes, and what better vehicle to take the journey in its stride than the Mercedes-Benz GLE.

 

Day 1: Melbourne to Milawa and King Valley
 

Start the way you mean to continue, with a stress-free morning’s freeway drive of about three hours. Head north out of the city and put the GLE into cruise control once you hit the Hume Freeway, then relax and enjoy the journey to Milawa via Benalla.
 

Allow a leisurely couple of hours to follow the North East Victoria Silo Art Trail, a breathtaking collection of public art on a grand scale. The trail links the small towns of Goorambat, Devenish, Tungamah and St James and features towering artworks created by street artists including Adnate, Jimmy Dvate, Guido van Helten, Cam Scale and Benalla local Tim Bowtell.
 

Along the trail, the Winton Wetlands offers some gentle off-road action along a well-graded dirt road. The road, flanked by the silvery ghosts of spindly, desiccated trees, is a breeze for the GLE, which purrs through this almost dystopian landscape to an otherworldly soundtrack of cawing crows and ravens.

On the road checklist

For more information, visit travelvictoria.com.au and visitvictoria.com

 

 

Milawa Providore
Milawa, Vic
milawaprovidore.com.au

 

Milawa Cheese Co.
Milawa, Vic
Open daily 9am-5pm (excluding Christmas Day)
milawacheese.com.au
Founded in 1988 by David and Anne Brown, whose first cheese was the now-renowned Milawa Blue. Today, it produces a range of cow’s and goat’s milk cheeses, from the classic David Brown Select Cheddar, to Ceridwen, a superb French-style soft mould style, which has been rolled in grapevine ash.

 

Milawa Mustards
Milawa, Vic
Launched in 1982, it produces a seasonal, small-batch range of flavoured mustards, along with chutneys, condiments and salad dressings.
milawamustards.com.au

 

The Olive Shop
Milawa, Vic
theoliveshop.com.au
A trove of locally grown and crafted produce, ranging from top-quality olives, oils and tapenades to a great range of picnic-friendly ingredients, including cheeses, King Valley wines and more.

 

Milawa Gourmet Ride
tourdevines.com.au

 

Brown Brothers
Milawa, Vic
brownbrothers.com.au
Open daily 9am-5pm; restaurant, Friday-Monday 9am-4pm
Since planting 10 acres of vineyards in Milawa in 1889, the Brown family has led the way in cool-climate winemaking. It now cultivates more than 30 different grape varieties in vineyards across both Victoria and Tasmania. Check out the ‘Kindergarten’, a ‘micro-winery’, where the family continues to push the envelope with new varietals.

 

Elevation 652@Mt Bellevue
Myrrhee, Vic
elevation652.com.au

 

Mount Buffalo National Park
parks.vic.gov.au

 

Ringer Reef Winery
Porepunkah, Vic
ringerreef.com.au

 

Bright Brewery
Bright, Vic
brightbrewery.com.au

 

Murray to Mountains Rail Trail
ridehighcountry.com.au

 

Reed & Co Distillery
Bright, Vic
reedandcodistillery.com

 

Sorting Shed
Porepunkah, Vic
kilnhouse.com.au

 

Gapsted Wines
Gapsted, Vic
gapstedwines.com.au

 

Chrismont Wines
Cheshunt, Vic
chrismont.com.au

 

Billson’s Brewery
Beechworth, Vic
billsons.com.au

 

Discover the GLE SUV and book a test drive today.

By Sally Feldman