7 Offbeat Victoria Towns To Visit In 2025
Tired of towns that all feel the same and tourist traps? Go to Victoria’s backroads instead. From the Central Highlands to Gippsland, the traditional Goldfields are places made by farmers, miners, painters, and the sort who didn’t read the blueprints. These are not places that have been curated. They are lived in, a little quirky, and definitely welcoming. One has been a film set for legendary movies. Others converted old cold storage buildings to art galleries or wineries to theaters. These people are aware of how different they are and won’t try to change that. If your travel list for 2025 needs a bit of character, then these seven small Victorian towns are worth the diversion.
Clunes
Clunes doesn’t just look like a film set; it is one. The town has been the location for movies such as Ned Kelly starring Heath Ledger and Mad Max with Mel Gibson, thanks to its extensive main street and immaculately preserved 19th-century facades. If that combo does not tempt you to visit, you are probably un-bribable.
The town comes alive in May at the Clunes Booktown Festival, where thousands flock for pop-up bookshops, author talks, and literary curios. Visit the Lee Medlyn Home of Bottles, packed with over 6,000 antique bottles. Wrap up with a tasting at Mount Beckworth Wines, known for small-batch vintages and rustic charm, then stroll through Queen’s Park, where ancient oaks, picnic tables, and a war memorial complete the day.
Birregurra
It only takes one weekend in Birregurra to understand why it’s anything but average. The star is Brae, a world-class restaurant with an on-site organic farm and a Michelin Green Star. Its seasonal tasting menu showcases everything grown on-site, creating an experience that’s both earthy and elevated.
Take the Birregurra Heritage Walk past St. Saviour’s Church (1871) and the timber-clad Mechanics Institute. Drop by the Birregurra Arts Group Studios for community-led craft sessions. Then head to the peaceful Birregurra Parklands, a quiet retreat built and maintained by locals.
Daylesford
Not every town can pull off tarot readings, magnesium spas, and drag festivals, but Daylesford wears its eccentric streak with pride. Soak in the mineral waters at the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa in nearby Hepburn Springs, a retreat since the 1890s. Visit the hilltop Convent Gallery, where stained glass meets strong coffee and bold art.
Wander through the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, cultivated in a dormant volcano crater. And in March, don’t miss ChillOut Festival, the largest regional LGBTQ+ pride celebration in Australia, where the streets fill with color, music, and flair.
Castlemaine
Castlemaine isn’t the kind of place you plan for. It’s the kind of place you just enjoy. Start at Castlemaine Art Museum, where early landscapes sit beside bold contemporary pieces. Catch a show at the Theatre Royal, the longest-running theatre in Australia. Then explore The Mill Castlemaine, a former wool mill turned foodie haven, where vintage goods, cheeses, chocolate, and art share the space.
Time your visit with The Village Festival, Australia’s longest-running touring arts festival. When it rolls into town, expect fire sculptures, puppet parades, live music, food trucks, and all kinds of theatrical mischief.
Koroit
Koroit celebrates its Irish heritage loudly and joyfully. Each April, the Koroit Irish Festival fills the streets with music, dance, pipe bands, and joke competitions in a weekend of green-laced mayhem.
Wander the Koroit Botanic Gardens, designed by William Guilfoyle, with winding paths and rare trees. Visit Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, nestled in a dormant volcano, where emus and koalas roam free. Cap the day at the Church of the Infant Jesus, the town’s historic Gothic heart, with its striking architecture and long-standing place in the community.
Walhalla
This town left the gold rush behind, but kept the legends. Tucked into the Gippsland hills, Walhalla is a former boomtown rich in stories and scenery. Take the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine tour to see where miners once struck deep into the earth. Ride the Walhalla Goldfields Railway as it zigzags over creeks and ridges.
Climb to the hillside Walhalla Cemetery, where headstones perch on steep slopes above the town. Visit in winter for the Walhalla Vinter Ljusfest, when firelight, lanterns, and ghost stories brighten the frosty dark.
Meeniyan
A telescope, a winter fest, and a whole lot of personality make this town hard to forget. Visit the Meeniyan Art Gallery, where volunteers showcase dynamic local works in three exhibition rooms. Outside town, Outer Space presents experimental art and performances in a quirky rural setting.
In July, the Meeniyan Winter Festival brings music, night markets, and glowing fire sculptures to the chilly streets. For a quiet moment, walk the Great Southern Rail Trail, which meanders past farmland and bushland just beyond the town center.
Offbeat, On Point
Victoria’s most eccentric small towns don’t demand attention. They quietly carry on, hosting puppet shows in paddocks, holding jazz concerts near abandoned goldmines, or brewing beer with garlic. There’s little gloss, but plenty of grit, color, and heart. These towns aren’t destinations for polished travel photos. They’re for real conversations, real characters, and real surprises. If your idea of a trip means driving without a schedule and discovering something strange, friendly, and unforgettable, just point your wheels off the main road. You’ll know you’ve arrived when things stop making sense and start feeling fun.
