We Spent 4 Days Road Tripping Victoria’s Little-Known Goulburn Region

Did you know Victoria has another adventure playground, just an hour north of Melbourne? Introducing the Goulburn region, your new hub for exploration and weekends spent outside. We sent Neisha and her partner on a road trip to the Goulburn region, to see what’s up.

We Are Explorers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place, who have occupied and cared for these lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

My partner Alex and I recently road tripped through Central Victoria to dig up what the Goulburn region has to offer Explorers.

We started our four-day adventure in the beautiful little pocket of Reedy Creek and wrapped things up in Pyalong – with plenty of spontaneous detours and snack stops along the way. This road trip was such an eye-opener and a reminder that you don’t always have to drive hours to find something new. Everyone deserves a weekend away in the Goulburn region.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Day One: Melbourne to Tallarook

Route: Reedy Creek > Seymour > Tallarook
Drive time: Around 2 hours
Distance: 150km

Our road trip began at Murchison Gap located on the ridgeline of Reedy and Strath Creek, a lookout with 360º views of rolling hills and valleys, (also labelled ‘The Valley of a Thousand Hills’) and a killer sunrise location. We arrived before the sun did and it was absolutely worth it. The entire landscape lit up and the valleys went on forever. It was the perfect start to the trip and an incredible first impression of the Goulburn region. I recommend an early alarm, it’s worth it.

A golden sunrise at Murchison Gap

Coffee & Views in Every Town

After an early rise, multiple coffees were in order. The beautiful thing about this region is you can travel down the road to find cute and comfy cafes and general stores in just about every town. They’re often found in historic buildings or old barns turned country-style cafes, where shelves are bulging with local Goulburn region goodies, and of course, excellent coffee pumps out of their machines – just what the doctor ordered after our pre-dawn alarm.

Next up was Horans Track, a stunning dirt drive that we didn’t need a 4WD for, which led us towards Tallarook. We thought it’d be a quick detour, but we ended up pulling over for views that genuinely stopped us in our tracks the whole way. Never ending valleys, eagles overhead, cows doing their thing – it was storybook stuff and a really beautiful drive.

Meandering along the back roads on our way to Tallarook

4WDing in Tallarook State Forest

We followed Horans Track until it eventually wound into Tallarook State Forest, where we couldn’t resist testing out a few of the 4WD tracks that wind deep into the quiet bush. It’s pretty remote out here and tracks aren’t always as accessible as they appear online, so make sure you’ve got your recovery gear handy and know what you’re doing!

Even if you’re in a 2WD and can’t hit the heftier tracks, Tallarook is well worth a visit. You can take the dirt roads of the forest at your own pace. The air feels fresh, and with the light filtering through the gums, it was a really pretty drive onto our next destination.

Dirt roads in Tallarook State Forest

Goulburn River Walk & Picnic in Seymour

From Tallarook State Forest, the road winds straight into Seymour, a laid-back country town right on the banks of the Goulburn River. We hit the Goulburn River Trail early on, an easy 3.4km walk lined with wildflowers and calm river views. It was super quiet, apart from occasional cyclists and chatter of birds. It’s one of those walks you can do with a coffee in hand, and it doubles as a beaut riverside picnic spot once the weather warms up.

Afterwards, we wandered through town checking out Seymour’s heritage buildings before grabbing a lite bite from the local deli.

Tiny Home Stay in Tallarook

As the afternoon light started to fade, we made our way to our accommodation – a tiny home in Tallarook, perched on a hill with sweeping views over the rolling countryside. We were greeted by the cutest donkey before settling in for the night. We lit the fire, cooked pasta, and tucked up early, ready for another big day tomorrow.

All alone in Tallarook

Day Two: Tallarook to Strathbogie

Route: Tallarook > Seven Creeks Wildlife Reserve > Strathbogie
Drive time: Around 2 hours
Distance: 123km

Seven Creeks Wildlife Reserve

Day two kicked off with an early visit to the Seven Creeks Wildlife Reserve, where we explored Gooram Falls and Polly McQuinns, just ten minutes apart and both absolute stunners. Found in the Strathbogie Ranges, these two gorgeous swimming spots feature endless cascades for splashing, as well as deeper rock pools for sinking into. With fireplaces, picnic tables, and plenty of shady spots, they’re made for long summer afternoons. I’ll definitely be back with my bathers when the weather heats up.

Read more: Staying Safe Around Swimming Holes and Waterfalls

After chasing waterfalls all morning, we drove through Euroa, taking in more views. Boulders, rolling hills, valleys dotted with cattle, it’s a seriously beautiful drive. We grabbed a coffee in town, then made our way to camp on a hill just out of Strathbogie. Surrounded by valleys and visited by Blue wrens and Willy wagtails, it’s hands down one of the best camp spots I’ve found so far.

Pretty pleased with our Euroa campsite!

We kicked back for a while, soaked in the view from the rooftop, then pointed the car towards Mount Wombat for sunset.

Sunset at Mount Wombat

Distance: 5.5 km return (steep!) hike or 10-minute drive

For those wanting to stretch their legs, the walk to the summit is 5.5km return, but as it turns out, you can drive to the top up a steep dirt road. As we were running out of daylight that’s what we did – zero effort, maximum payoff. The summit dishes out 360º views across the entire tableland, and watching the sun drop behind the hills was pretty special. Just take it slow on the way back down, there are plenty of wallabies and a few deer too.

Day 3: Strathbogie to Murchison

Route: Strathbogie > Violet Town > Shepparton > Dookie > Murchison
Drive time: Around 2.5 hours
Distance: 190km

The day started with an early morning climb to the cascades at our campsite and a hike back down for well-deserved bacon, eggs, and coffee.

Bike Ride Shepparton Parklands

We packed up camp and headed towards Shepparton via Violet Town for a bike ride to explore the Goulburn and Broken River Parklands. We were surprised by how much there was to see – picnic spots, bike tracks, kayaking areas, wildflowers, botanic gardens, and Aussie landscapes teeming with native animals.

Plenty of life to find in the Shepparton Parklands

The area’s undergone huge regeneration and is super community-focused. Our guide, Ali from RiverConnect in Shepparton, showed us around the area with such care and knowledge. She pointed out hidden animal habitats, different species of trees and wildflowers, the best kayak spots, and the top bike paths to explore.

Hike Mount Major

Aiming to reach Mount Major for sunset, we hit the road again. The drive to Dookie was canola field central! Bright yellow stretching as far as we could see. At one point, a farmer stopped traffic to move sheep across the road on a quad bike, reminding me how rural it can be so close to the city.

Canola fields surrounded us and wildflowers scattered along the track. It’s about a two-hour return walk up the mountain, with big open views over Dookie and the farmland below. A really scenic hike, I think I loved the walk up just as much as reaching the summit.

Plenty of colour on the climb up Mount Major

Camp that night was just out of Murchison, a quiet heritage country town with beautiful historic buildings, and a cool story about a meteorite! After another big day, we lit a fire and crashed in the rooftop tent. Morning was met with kangaroos, magpies, and brekkie on the fire.

Day 4: Murchison to Pyalong

Route: Murchison> Nagambie Lakes > Tooborac > Pyalong
Drive time: Around 1.5 hours
Distance: 120km

Kayak Lake Nagambie

Two people hire fees: (includes paddle and life jacket)
1 hour – $40
2 hours – $80

Day four was big. Being our last day, we thought why not see how much more of this region we can fit in? First up, from the water in a kayak on Lake Nagambie. Meeting with the team from Go Adventure Nagambie, we left our boots in the sand and paddled down the river in kayaks. The leisurely pace on the water was a really enjoyable way to see the area.

Bitta time on the Goulburn River, always a treat

Tooborac Pies & Tahbilk Winery

We worked up a pretty decent hunger on the river, so started making our way to Tooborac for a chunky pie, via a quick detour at Tahbilk Winery. It’s Victoria’s oldest vineyard, with wetlands, orchards, and a historic cellar door to explore, only ten minutes’ drive from our kayak launch. Perfection!

We pulled up at Tooborac Pies for a ‘Tooby’ Pie. With a beer garden out the back and ale on tap, it was an essential stop after a big morning. The pies were so good we grabbed another for the road!

Pyalong Country Views

Our last spot to explore was Pyalong. A lesser-known, insanely beautiful part of Victoria, where valleys and lush green hills stretch through the countryside, and are dotted with cows living their best life. We pulled up at High Camp Road Lookout where I photographed the view for quite some time. This view looked like it was straight out of a fairytale. Even though it was windy and overcast, it was stunning.

Our last campsite of the trip was in Nulla Vale, an area just out of Pyalong. We settled in with the same gorgeous landscape and boulders that’d followed us the whole trip. We lit a fire and enjoyed one last night in this beautiful countryside.

Make the Goulburn Region Your Next Weekend Drive

Four days wasn’t enough to see everything, but that’s part of the fun. From cascades and golden canola fields to heritage towns, country cafés, and beautiful hillsides, the Goulburn region is full of surprises. And being just an hour outside of Melbourne, it’s the perfect easy escape. Pack your car, leave time for detours, and take your own road trip. Whether it’s for a weekend or longer, this lesser-known corner of Victoria rewards anyone willing to explore it for themselves.

Quick Tips for the Goulburn Region

• Sunrise at Murchison Gap – totally worth the early wake-up
• Chunky pies and warm hospitality can be found in all country towns!
• Don’t skip the dirt roads – Tallarook State Forest dirt roads are fun even in a 2WD
• Hikes like Mount Major and Mount Wombat reward you with epic views for sunrise and sunset
• Keep your camera close – rolling hills, canola fields, and wildlife are everywhere
• Leave room for detours – some of the best stops aren’t on the map
• Go for the views – Central Victoria has some of the most beautiful drives