Victoria - Melbourne West - regional dining with V/Line
Dining experiences without the car
Media release
Castlemaine
Victoria has a deeply entrenched food-loving culture and a culture of eating out. Right across the spectrum, Victorian dining offers great quality and great value, from casual cafes and restaurants through to fine dining.
Ideal for a day trip or weekend away, V/Line offers convenient and affordable transport to excellent wining and dining in places such as Bendigo, Castlemaine, Woodend, Kyneton and Geelong.
Many regional Victorian towns have excellent dining options within a 10-minute walk of the train station and a growing number of people now making the trip part of the day’s experience.
There is no need for a convoy of cars and obligatory designated drivers – V/Line offers foodies the chance to relax and observe the beautiful Victorian countryside on the trip up and – after a belly full of food – a snooze on the way back!
Train travel is also a popular way for families to take the kids on a great day out – where the journey is just as much fun as the destination. V/Line’s Family Traveller tickets (two adults and up to four children) are excellent value, with two children travelling for free per fare paying adult.
Here is just a taste of what’s on offer…
Day Trips
BENDIGO
Wine Bank on View is a wine bar and retail outlet operating from a heritage listed former bank building in central Bendigo.
By day, Wine Bank on View’s award winning coffee and café-style menu are enjoyed along with wines by the glass and homemade cakes, whilst a variety of spaces are used for group meetings and functions. By night, Wine Bank becomes a thriving social hub to relax and enjoy a glass of wine with friends, a range of dinner and food options or a degustation menu prepared by its team of experienced chefs.
45 View Street
Bendigo VIC 3550
Ph: (03) 5444 4655
Price range: Small meals and tapas start from $4.50 - $7.00. The main meals and platters range from $12.00 - $30.00.
Nestled in the old Royal Bank (circa 1908) overlooking the Alexandra Fountain and Rosalind Park is the Whirrakee Restaurant, producing some of regional Victoria’s finest cuisine. Local fresh produce is used in the menu to create contemporary cuisine with a French influence.
The menu is complemented with an extensive range of local and imported wine and knowledgeable staff to ensure the dining experience is relaxing and memorable. The Whirrakee also caters for large groups, business functions, parties and weddings in its private upstairs function room.
17 View Street
Bendigo VIC 3550
Ph: (03) 5441 5557
Price range: There is a two-course lunch menu for $30 or the a la carte menu ranges from $13 -$16. For dinner, the entrée menu ranges from $16 - $21 and mains are from $31 - $40.
Getting there with V/Line
Getting to Bendigo from Melbourne takes approximately one hour and 20 minutes. Take the family and get a V/Line Family Traveller return ticket from Melbourne to Bendigo station starts from $63.20 during off-peak times (valid for two adults and up to 4 children). An adult full fare ticket is $31.60 return to Melbourne during off-peak times. An off-peak concession ticket is only $22.40 return from Melbourne. A V/Line Family Traveller ticket is $20 (this includes two adults and up to four children). Whirrakee Restaurant and Wine Bank on View are approximately a 10 minute walk from the station.
Accommodation enquires:
WOODEND
Holgate Brewhouse offers a warm, friendly environment where visitors can relax with an awardwinning Holgate beer or try superb wine from the many local Macedon Ranges wineries.
Guests can dine on a great value pub meal at the bar, or sample some of the local produce featured in its popular restaurant menu. The historic hotel offers visitors a variety of dining spaces including the main restaurant, main bar, parlour-bar, cosy lounge or outside courtyard. Log fires keep visitors toasty even in the depths of a Woodend winter!
79 High Street
Woodend VIC 3442
Ph: (03) 5427 2510
Price range: Casual bar meals range from $9 - $25. There is a separate a la carte menu in the dining room: appetizers start at $7, entrees range from $15 - $18, mains range from $25 - $28 and desserts start from $9.
Getting there with V/Line
Woodend is about 60 minutes from Melbourne on the Bendigo line. A single adult, full fare ticket is only $12.80 return and a concession ticket only $9.20 return during off-peak times. A V/Line Family Traveller ticket from Melbourne costs only $25.60 return during off-peak times (valid for two adults and up to four children). Holgate Brewhouse is a five minute walk from Woodend Station.
Accommodation enquires:
BALLARAT
Located in the historic Camp Street arts precinct in central Ballarat, the Phoenix Brewery offers a dining experience unique to the City of Ballarat. Owner/operator Andrew Flockart operates a versatile space which incorporates formal dining, private functions and a fresh metro bar style.
An extensive wine list by both bottle and glass accompanies the menu of modern Australian cuisine. With a pronounced European influence, the Phoenix Brewery also offers Ballarat an introduction to the Spanish concept of tapas. Join them in their new Cellar Tapas Bal downstairs, Monday to Saturday from 4pm.
Pheonix Brewery is open Monday to Saturday from 4pm. Lunch is by appointment.
10 Camp Street
Ballarat VIC 3350
Ph: (03) 5333 2686
Price range: The tapas menu ranges from $9.00 - $15.00. Main meals are also available, priced from $24.00 - $28.00.
Getting there with V/Line
The journey to Ballarat is about one hour and 20 minutes from Melbourne. An adult full fare ticket is only $20.80 return from Melbourne and a concession ticket is $14.80 return during off-peak times. Take advantage of the V/Line Family Traveller, a return ticket from Melbourne is only $41.60 (valid for two adults and up to four children). Phoenix Brewery is a 10 minute walk from Ballarat Station.
Accommodation enquires:
GEELONG
A favourite for locals, this country family pub has it all – history and ambience, an open fire, excellent award-winning food and a formidable location, right next door to one of Australia’s best known sporting venues.
This lovely, old, two-storied tavern that sits diagonally opposite Kardinia Park and Skilled Stadium, home of Geelong’s AFL team, has won many plaudits over the years, including the olden Plate and Australian Hotel Associations award for Best Bistro.
It is renowned for its laidback country ambience, well price menu consisting of regional wines and food, and friendly locals.
2 Noble Street
Newtown VIC 3220
Ph: (03) 5223 1244
Price range: Entrees are approximately $14 and main meals are approximately $28.
Getting there with V/Line
The trip to Geelong takes around one hour from Melbourne. Getting there is easy with V/Line, with a return economy full fare ticket from Melbourne to Geelong only $12.80 (concession ticket $9.20 return) on weekends. If you are taking the family, purchase a V/Line Family Traveller for $25.60 (two adults and up to four kids, valid weekends). Sawyers Arms Tavern is a 15 minute walk from South Geelong Station.
Accommodation enquiries
CASTLEMAINE
Dining at The Empyre can be as simple as coffee and cake in the Carriageway, or as grand as enjoying a private function in the Gwynedd Room.
The restaurant and private dining room can cater for intimate dinners for two through to small conferences, weddings or private celebrations.
Dinner is served Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from 6pm. The evening menu is a fine dining affair serving some of the regions best modern cuisine. The Empyre Hotel’s philosophy is to create a balanced menu where all the dishes create interest and offer the customer a wide choice of culinary tastes and delights.
68 Mostyn Street
Castlemaine VIC 3450
Ph: (03) 5472 5166
Price range: The café serves breakfast and lunch. Breakfast starts at $6.50 - $16.00, the lighter lunch dishes start at $12.50 - $17.50 and mains range from $17.00 - $27.00. The Empyre Hotel Restaurant serves dinner with entrees ranging from $16.00 - $19.00 and main meals ranging from $30.00 -$33.00. Desserts start from $13.00 - $17.00.
Getting there with V/Line
A V/Line Family Traveller ticket is great value at $46.40 return to Melbourne during off-peak times(valid for two adults and up to four children). An adult full fare ticket is $23.20 return and a concession ticket is $16.40 return during off-peak times. It takes approximately one and a half hours to travel to Castlemaine from Melbourne and the Empyre Boutique Hotel is a 20 minute walk from the Station.
Accommodation Enquires:
KYNETON
A fresh addition to the thriving food scene in Kyneton, The Albion Kyneton is conveniently located a short walk from the V/Line station. Owners Anthony and Marissa Lehay have resurrected the old and very popular Club Hotel that was built in 1861 and have turned it into a contemporary restaurant and bar.
The Albion offers a fine selection of local wines and beers on tap and the menu consists of modern Italian dishes that utilise the fresh local produce. Children are well catered for with a special menu for their discerning palettes.
41 Mollison Street
Kyneton VIC 3444
Ph: (03) 5422 2066
Price range: The a la carte lunch menu ranges from $6 - $19.50. There is a separate menu for dinner: entrees start at $10 - $28, main meals range from $19.00 - $25.50, and desserts are approximately $10.50.
The Royal George was originally built in the late 1850's when Kyneton was a major focus of food and hospitality on the way to the Bendigo diggings.
Today, under the new direction of owner’s Neil Henson and Jim Lekakis, the Royal George Hotel is a must-visit destination for the finest food and wine in the region.
Neil and Jim have been busy sourcing a fantastic selection of wines and recruiting world-class chefs Chris Wade and Andrew Wort who has worked with the likes of Gordon Ramsey and Curtis Stone.
One of a very few restaurants in regional Victoria to be awarded a chefs hat (in 2008 & 2009) and a score of 15.5 out of 100, this is one restaurant definitely worth venturing out to in 2010.
24 Piper Street
Kyneton VIC 3444
Ph: (03) 5422 1390
Price range: The fine dining main meals fall around $35.00 and the bistro menu ranges from around $20 - $25.
Getting there with V/Line
Kyneton is approximately 75 minutes from Melbourne. A return off-peak full fare ticket is $16.80. The Royal George is a 15-minute walk from Castlemaine Station and The Albion is a 10-minute walk.
Accommodation enquiries:
Overnight/Weekend Trips
ECHUCA
Oscar W's Wharfside is an award-winning restaurant that was established in 1997, with the intention of providing a unique dining experience, focusing on regional, seasonal and contemporary cuisine.
The intention was to showcase the best food, wine and service in a unique location overlooking Echuca's Murray River, and the paddle steamers of the historic Echuca port.
Oscar W's Wharfside is a multi purpose hospitality venue, offering, dinner, bar, coffee, cake and functions. They are open from 11am until late, seven days a week, and have an all day menu to suit all tastes.
101 Murray Esplanade
Echuca VIC 3564
Ph: (03) 5482 5133.
Price range: There are two menus available at Oscar W’s - the Deckbar menu has tapas ranging from $5.00 - $9.00 and the lunch and dinner menu ranges from $10.50 - $23.50. The Redgum Grill menu has entrées ranging from $12.50 - $19.50 and main meals range from $29.50 up to $58.50 for the Wagyu Porter House steak.
Scripted into the rich history of Echuca is this monument to the flour milling industry. Once a thriving flour mill, this historic building from 1881 sets the scene for an unforgettable dining experience. Inside its aged brick walls, guests are treated to a contemporary menu, an eclectic wine list and the ambience of past glory days.
2 Nish Street
Echuca VIC 3564
Ph: (03) 5482 5599
Price range: The tapas menu prices fall around $8.50. The restaurants entrees start at $12.00 - $20.00 and the main meals range from $25 - $38.
Getting there with V/Line
Echuca is approximately a three hour and 20 minute journey from Melbourne. A V/Line Family Traveller is great value and gets your family (two adults and up to four children) from Melbourne to Echuca and back for only $81.60 during off-peak times (including weekends). A single adult,full fare ticket starts from $40.80 return during off-peak times. Concession tickets are only $20.40 off-peak return (Monday to Friday) or $24.80 off-peak return on weekends. Oscar W’s Wharfside is approximately a 25-minute walk from Echuca Station and Ceres Restaurant is a 10-minute walk.
Accommodation enquiries:
For more information about daily timetables to regional Victoria or how to purchase tickets
V/Line Media
Regions
- Ballarat (VIC)
- Bendigo (VIC)
- Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula (VIC)
- Goldfields (VIC)
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