Dining

Whether you're after a relaxed cafe lunch or a luxurious dinner, you'll find what you're looking for in the Goldfields. With a combination of fresh regional produce, flavoursome cuisine and some of the finest wine in the state there are dining experiences that will make you want to return again and again.

Sunday best
Dress for dinner and head out to one of the region's many restaurants. The Phoenix Brewery in Ballarat – which is not a brewery at all but a converted newspaper building – offers great contemporary fare. In Bendigo you can't go past venues such as The Bridge or Whirrakee, and the Emeu Inn in Heathcote is an institution in the region.

The village life
The local villages also provide tastebud tempters. Try Saffs in Castlemaine or Dig Cafe in Newstead. Order coffee and cake or something more substantial then sit outdoors and take in the streetscape and relaxed village atmosphere.

Over the vine
For a different type of outdoor dining experience enjoy a meal overlooking the vines at a local winery restaurant such as Shelmerdine, Balgownie Estate or Bress Wine Cider and Produce.