6 Best Sights in Murray River Region, Victoria

Established by Reginald Langdon Buller in 1921, this Rutherglen winery produces delicious fortified wines and gutsy, full-bodied reds, the flagship being its Shiraz. As the old Shiraz vines are not irrigated, the annual yields are low, but the fruit produced has intense flavor, which winemaker Dave Whyte crafts into wines of great depth and elegance. Tastings and sales are at the cellar door, free, or pay A$15 for tastings of four of its Muscat or Topaque, from 4, 10, 25, and 50 years old!  Treat yourself to a grazing platter and Rare Muscat straight from the barrel (A$35) or the Three Chain Road gins, distilled here (A$25). The winery is also home to its on-site restaurant, Pavilion, overlooking the vineyards.

In business since 1864, this winery has a splendid, turreted castle that was built in the 1880s with capacious storage areas for its product. The old bottling hall and cellar have been revamped as a cheese tasting room, and a corrugated iron former Chinese dormitory is the property's third heritage-listed building, which you can visit to see in its original state—bunks and all—on guided tours of the winery. Tours are conducted at 11 am on weekends; book in advance (A$50, includes wine and cheese tasting). The winery produces Muscat and Muscadelle from 60-year-old vines, and a range of crisp whites and full-bodied reds. The on-site Indigo Food Company providore sells regional cheeses and condiments ideal for a lavish picnic hamper. The menu at the Terrace restaurant—considered the best in the region—changes seasonally; desserts are excellent, especially when combined with a formidable northeast fortified wine. The cellar door and cheese room are open daily; the restaurant is open for lunch from Wednesday to Sunday. The winery hosts a huge A Day on the Green music festival each February (www.adayonthegreen.com.au).

Wines have been made here by five generations of the Campbell family, dating back to 1870. Brothers Colin and Malcolm Campbell, the winemaker and viticulturist respectively, have been at the helm for the past 40 years, and Colin's daughter Julie joins him as winemaker. Famed for its award-winning Bobbie Burns Shiraz and Merchant Prince Rare Rutherglen Muscat, the property covers a picturesque 160 acres. You can wander freely through the winery on a self-guided tour and taste wines at the cellar door, including rare and aged vintages. Vintage Reserve wines are available only at the cellar door. Private tastings and guided tours can be booked. The winery does not have a restaurant but sells baskets of local gourmet goodies. The winery also takes part in the annual Tastes of Rutherglen wine festival, when food and music are on the agenda.

Established in the 1850s, this is one of Australia's heavyweight producers of fortified wines. Stephen Chambers's Muscats are legendary, with blending stocks that go back more than a century. Stephen, a sixth-generation winemaker, runs a very relaxed winery, which is genuinely rustic, being just a few corrugated iron sheds in an off-the-beaten-track road. The cellar door is renowned for great value and plenty of tastings; you can take home reasonably priced red and white wine and a full range of fortified wines—from the clean-skin variety (no-label stock) to big two-liter flagons. There's no restaurant, just a cellar door, which also sells homemade jams and condiments.

A perfect day trip from Bright, the park is full of fascinating granite formations, waterfalls, and animal and plant life. There are many more miles of walking tracks than you're likely to cover. The 2½-km (1½-mile) Gorge Walk is particularly scenic. Lake Cantani has swimming and a camping area in summer, while in winter, the snow-covered park becomes a playground for skiers and tobogganers.

Since its first vines were planted in 1895, this winery has made exceptional fortified wines such as Topaque and Muscat, and varietal wines, including Shiraz and Durif. It also has one of the few Australian plantings of Gamay, the classic French grape used to make Beaujolais, and produces a large range of vegan wines.  Cheese platters (A$30) are available anytime. Winemaker Jen Pfeiffer also makes a cheeky wine cocktail called Pfeiffer Seriously Pink, which makes a great aperitif.