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Vanilla slice to desert racing: 8 must-see Mildura events

Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
Sun-drenched Mildura is set to host a spirited array of events for guaranteed good times.

Nestled on the banks of the Murray River, the rural town of Mildura punches well above its weight for cultural events throughout the year. And it’s the perfect escape for those who like to find award-winning food and wine, ancient outback landscapes and a relaxed river lifestyle all in one place.

Whether you’re an oenophile on the hunt for your next favourite bottle of wine or a motor enthusiast looking for high-octane action, these events are equal parts unique and unforgettable, and offer the best ways to experience the Mildura region.

1. Mildura Fringe Festival

Mildura Fringe Festival mildura events
Enjoy a stellar line-up of arts and entertainment.

Mildura Fringe Festival is gearing up for another huge year of feel-good fun in 2026. From 29 October – 15 November, attendees will find a stellar line-up of arts and entertainment acts, spanning burlesque, comedy, theatre, live music and circus shows. Standouts include the Shake It! burlesque act, hosted by Minnie Andrews, and the first annual Mildura Pride Day. You’ll also find beer gardens, multiple bars and family-friendly venues to get the party started, as well as a tasty curation of food trucks.

2. Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show

Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show mildura events
Taste a selection of the over 800 wines entered into the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show.

Oenophiles and occasional imbibers alike are almost guaranteed to find their next favourite drop at the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show. More than 800 wines from nearly 70 regions across Australia are entered into the competition, which has celebrated lesser-known innovative wines and emerging grape varieties for more than 20 years. There are a host of events from 4–7 November, from the Show Tasting – where you can sample as many entries as you like – to a delicious three-course dinner with matching wines curated by renowned Italian-Australian chef and festival co-founder Stefano de Pieri.

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3. Cullulleraine Music Festival

Cullulleraine Music Festival mildura events
Listen to local, national and international artists. (Credit: David Sickerdick)

Adored for its ‘salt of the earth’ reputation that fosters welcoming regional vibes, the Cullulleraine Music Festival is a community-driven, not-for-profit music festival that hits all the right notes. Taking place from 9–11 April 2027, the lineup showcases a diverse range of local, national and international artists, including Harry Manx, Cat & Clint and Deep South Brass 8.  Festivalgoers can get down to folk, blues and roots music, and can join immersive experiences such as drumming circles and Celtic jam sessions – all in front of golden sunset views across Lake Cullulleraine.

4. Balloons Over Mildura

Balloons Over Mildura events
Watch the skies light up with colourful hot air balloons.

Mildura is set for a glow-up when this illuminating winter event comes to town. Around June to July each year, the Balloons Over Mildura takes over the skies. Be sure to catch the festival’s popular Night Glow event, where illuminated balloons light up the evening sky in a choreographed display. Order some fairy floss and a kebab and lay down a picnic rug to admire the colourful designs as they soar above. Little ones are also well looked after with children’s games.

5. The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph

The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph mildura
Taste the best vanilla slice in Australia.

The title of ‘best vanilla slice in Australia’ is fiercely contested. With its velvety custard sandwiched between flaky pastry, the iconic Aussie treat – affectionately known as a “snot block" – is a beloved bakery staple for good reason. Since 1998, bakers from all across the country have converged on Commercial Street in Merbein every year to compete in the Great Vanilla Slice Triumph. On 15 August, taste the creamy dessert at numerous stalls, then watch the winner be crowned by six professional baking judges. You’ll also find live music, children’s activities, market finds and vintage cars. May the sweetest treat win!

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​6. Hattah Desert Race

Hattah Desert Race
Feel the excitement of Hattah Desert Race, whether you ride or not.

Whether you’re a motorhead or new to the world of racing, experiencing the thrill of off-road motorcycling at Australia’s largest desert race is worth writing home about. In July, the Hattah Desert Race sees nearly 900 junior and senior motorcyclists dash across 300 kilometres of red dirt and sand. Established in 1998, the high-speed enduro race is widely considered the most demanding motorsport race in the country, promising spectators an electrifying weekend up close to the action.

7. Goanna Run

goanna run mildura fashion show
See the best dressed at Goanna Run’s fashion show.

Every year, rev heads from around Australia bring their unique vehicles together for the Goanna Run, a buzzing hot rod and custom car festival. Held from 23–25 October and hosted by the Desert City Rodders, the weekend is a celebration of hot rods, rock ‘n’ roll and food trucks. Marvel at the hundreds of classic and vintage vehicles at Langtree Mall for The Show ‘n’ Shine event, and get some serious fashion inspiration from the ’50s-style fashion show. The events take place next to the picturesque Murray River, so a paddlesteamer cruise is also worth adding to the itinerary.

8. Mildura Easter Powersports Weekend

Mildura Easter Powersports Weekend
Become a rev head at Mildura Easter Powersports Weekend.

Go full throttle over the Easter long weekend with the ultimate horsepower party. The Mildura Power Sports Weekend is a multiday racing series held at Timmis Speedway, Sunset Strip and the Murray River, guaranteeing plenty of action and adrenaline. Fuel your obsession for all things motorsports with ski racing, arena motocross, speedway and drag racing events, and up your motor knowledge with organised fan meet-and-greets and talks. The weekend also features live music and family-friendly entertainment.

Start planning your eventful trip to Mildura at mildura.com.

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Rachael Thompson
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and Hotel Addict. She's responsible for the foundational content on AustralianTraveller.com, helping to manage and grow the brand’s destination guides. With a background in design and travel media, Rachael is dedicated to curating content that is as much informational as it is beautiful. She began her career at Belle magazine, before taking up editorial roles at Homes to Love and Bed Threads. When she's not writing, editing or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list is Lord Howe Island.
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Good food, beautiful nature & history: your guide to a long weekend in West Gippsland

(Credit: Rob Blackburn)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    From rainforest walks and scenic drives to historic gold-rush towns and standout regional dining experiences, you can find it all in West Gippsland.

    Hover over West Gippsland on Google Earth and you’ll see vast tracts of land spread out like green velveteen around the Toorongo Falls Reserve. It’s a landscape that feels almost impossibly lush for a region sitting little more than an hour from Melbourne.

    Track southeast in late autumn and early winter and you’ll see pockets of the Mt Baw Baw Plateau dusted in snow. In addition to the forests of mountain ash veined with creeks and rivers, there are pastures and farmland cross-stitched together to form pretty patchworks.

    But West Gippsland isn’t defined by scenery alone: in addition to its awe-inspiring nature, a Venn diagram of the region includes gold-rush history and great culinary experiences.  Spend a long weekend here and it quickly becomes clear how often these three overlap.

    Getting there

    Messmates Dining west gippsland
    Spend the weekend eating and exploring in West Gippsland. (Credit: Messmates Dining)

    Getting to West Gippsland involves as easy drive – it’s just over an hour out of Melbourne along the Monash Freeway.

    Not driving? Catch the train from Melbourne on the Gippsland line, terminating at either Traralgon or Bairnsdale, and hop off at Warragul or Drouin.

    Visit historic villages

    Walhalla historic township
    Wander into Australia’s Gold Rush history at Walhalla. (Credit: Rob Blackburn)

    The West Gippsland region is on the Traditional Lands of the Kulin and Kurnai nations, specifically linked to the Bunurong, Gunaikurnai and Wurundjeri Peoples, whose connection to Country stretches back thousands of years.

    European settlement occurred in the 19th century as timber cutters, farmers and gold seekers pushed into the region’s dense forests. Small towns grew around sawmills and railway lines, and many of those gold rush settlements, timber towns and railway villages still shape the character of the region today.

    The most evocative of these is Walhalla Historic Township, a remarkably preserved gold-rush township tucked deep in the mountains. In the late 1800s, it was one of Victoria’s richest goldfields. Today visitors can step inside that history at the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine, where underground tours reveal the scale of the mining operation that once powered the town’s prosperity. Nearby, the Walhalla Goldfields Railway retraces part of the original narrow-gauge line through the valley, offering a slow journey past forest and river scenery.

    Further west, Noojee is a classic mountain village. It’s surrounded by dense forest and waterfalls and has become a natural base for exploring the Baw Baw region. Just outside town, Noojee Trestle Bridge stands as one of West Gippsland’s most striking relics of the rail era. The towering wooden structure is the tallest surviving trestle bridge in Victoria and today forms the centrepiece of an easy scenic walk with wide views across the valley.

    Alpine Trout Farm west gippsland
    Catch your own lunch at Alpine Trout Farm. (Credit: Nicky Cawood)

    At Alpine Trout Farm near Noojee, visitors can fish for trout in mountain-fed ponds before enjoying the catch prepared fresh onsite. It’s a simple experience that reflects the area’s long connection to the surrounding waterways.

    Back in Warragul, the region’s main service town, the story shifts from heritage to modern regional life. With galleries, restaurants and sweeping views across the rolling farmland of Gippsland, the town has become a lively hub linking the district’s past with its evolving food and cultural scene. Drive through the town and you’ll find heritage buildings, old pubs and weatherboard cottages that hint at the area’s early days as a frontier landscape.

    In other towns the past survives in quieter ways – a historic hall here, a century-old bakery there.

    Walks, waterfalls and wild places

    Toorongo Falls in west gippsland
    Stroll Toorongo Falls Reserve. (Credit: Nicky Cawood)

    Even simple roadside stops can feel cinematic in West Gippsland. The region also delivers plenty of opportunities to lace up your walking shoes.

    One of the region’s most rewarding nature escapes lies just outside Noojee at Toorongo Falls Reserve. A network of walking tracks winds through the cool-temperate rainforest where towering mountain ash trees filter the light and the air smells of rich, damp earth. The 2.2-kilometre trail to the viewing platform overlooking Toorongo Falls is short, but spectacular, as the water cascades down over moss-covered rock faces into a cool, green gully in Little Toorongo River.

    Further north, the Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort offers year-round adventures. In winter, the mountain attracts skiers and snowboarders. The warmer months are just as compelling, with scenic drives to see alpine wildflowers, mountain bike trails and panoramic hiking routes that open across the plateau.

    Cyclists and walkers looking for a more relaxed pace can follow the Rokeby Neerim Rail Trail, which traces a former railway line through farmland and small Gippsland villages. The mostly flat trail passes rolling paddocks, creeks and historic bridges, making it an easy way to drop it down a gear when exploring the countryside.

    Taste the best eats of West Gippsland

    Hogget Kitchen west gippsland
    Taste the best of the region at Hogget Kitchen.

    For many travellers, the real drawcards of West Gippsland are the food and wine. The region sits in the heart of Victoria’s fertile dairy country, and that agricultural backdrop has helped shape a dining scene where seasonal produce and local provenance take centre stage.

    Hogget Kitchen has helped put Warragul firmly on the radar for serious regional dining in West Gippsland. Here, head chef and owner Trevor Perkins runs the kitchen alongside well-known winemakers William (Bill) Downie and Pat Sullivan. Hogget Kitchen lives up to its promise of exceptional destination dining; what lands on the table depends largely on what nearby farms have harvested that week as well as a wine list from Wild Dog Winery and other Gippsland producers.

    Warragul is also where you’ll find Messmates Dining where the kitchen team is led by Michelin-trained chefs. The Euro-leaning bistro and wine bar brings a polished edge to the local dining scene using produce sourced from across West Gippsland.

    For something more casual, the century-old Noojee Hotel is the kind of hub that every traveller dreams of finding after a long drive. Expect generous pub classics served on the sunny deck in summer or beside the crackle of a log fire in winter.  Nearby, rustic Toolshed Bar, Bistro & Cabins is the place to go for a wood-fired pizza topped with smoked local trout paired with Gippsland wine, making it a rewarding stop for lunch or an overnight stay.

    Time your visit with the Truffle Festival

    Food lovers visiting in winter should consider timing their trip to coincide with Noojee Truffle Festival, running from 10 July to 2 August 2026. The inaugural event celebrates the region’s emerging truffle industry with tastings, special menus and events built around one of winter’s most prized ingredients.

    Start planning your long weekend in West Gippsland at visitgippsland.com.au.