Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Wangaratta, Australia

The rural city of Wangaratta is positioned at the base of the Australian Alps, at the convergence of the King and Ovens Rivers.

Following the King Valley into the Alps, visitors will find vineyards cultivated with Italian varietals such as Pinot Grigio and Sangiovese.

Meanwhile, the Ovens Valley, a historic 19th-century railway route, is now a scenic rail trail showcasing magnificent mountain views, together with gourmet farms, distilleries, cellar doors, and craft breweries.

Just minutes from Wangaratta lies Glenrowan, the site where Ned Kelly famously donned protective plating for his final confrontation in 1880. In the town, a vibrant arts and culture district thrives alongside restaurants celebrating the region’s high-quality produce and tranquil parks shaded by mature trees.

1. Murray to Mountains Rail Trail

Wangaratta serves as the starting point for a 95-kilometre cycling and walking trail that ascends to the town of Bright nestled in the Australian Alps.

This trail follows the path of the Bright Railway Line, completed in 1890 and tracing the Ovens Valley for most of its length.

Today, the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail offers an impressive outdoor experience, combining breathtaking mountain vistas and idyllic valleys, with numerous opportunities for detours to vineyards and gourmet food producers.

As a rail trail, the gradients are predominantly mild despite the surrounding mountainous landscape, and the pathway is sealed for almost the entire route, minimizing encounters with vehicular traffic.

At Everton station, visitors can also access a branch leading to the historic town of Beechworth, renowned for its heritage architecture.

2. Merriwa Park

A point of pride for Wangaratta, Merriwa Park is situated by the central business district, located on the original course of the King River.

The river was redirected in the 1950s through a levee, creating a lagoon within the park that attracts ducks and a variety of waterfowl.

Throughout Merriwa Park stand towering river red gums; some were planted at the park’s inception in 1905, while others have been growing for centuries, fostering a diverse array of wildlife including gliders, possums, and owls.

Facilities include an extensive lawn tennis complex, children’s playgrounds, shaded picnic areas, and barbecues.

The King River now flows through the adjacent Kaluna Park, which serves as a critical riparian reserve, nourished by natural flooding that supports spectacular avian life.

3. Warby-Ovens National Park

Situated to the west of Wangaratta, the steep granite peaks represent a transition in the northern Victorian landscape where the uplands yield to the Riverina plains.

Established in 2010, Warby-Ovens National Park protects the eponymous ranges and their significant stands of red river gums.

Visitors can reach this destination in just a few minutes to explore giant boulders and undertake the hike to Salisbury Falls, which is especially spectacular following heavy winter rainfall.

A notable peak within the range is Mount Glenrowan, utilized as a lookout point by Ned Kelly and his accomplices.

4. King Valley Wine Region

In the north-eastern part of Victoria lies a wine-growing region that commences just outside Wangaratta and extends eastward along the scenic King River valley to Alpine National Park.

Vineyards have been in cultivation since the 19th century; however, the wine industry flourished in the post-war years alongside Italian immigration, as growers recognized the compatibility of European varietals with the local terroir.

Italian grape varieties such as Sangiovese, Barbera, Pinot Grigio, and Nebbiolo thrive in the King Valley.

Dal Zotto Wines and Pizzini Wines are two esteemed wineries located in Whitfield, and during your tasting journey, do not overlook Milawa, which is renowned for its artisanal food products, particularly olives, mustards, and cheeses.

5. Ned Kelly Museum & Homestead

The figure of outlaw and gang leader Ned Kelly (1854-1880) occupies a significant place in Australian history, continuing to inspire intrigue more than 140 years after his execution at the Old Melbourne Gaol.

His notorious last stand—a violent confrontation with law enforcement in which he and his gang utilized makeshift armor—took place just 15 minutes from Wangaratta in Glenrowan.

The Ned Kelly Museum is a distinctive and informative venue depicting colonial life in the 1870s and illuminating the darker aspects of the gold rush era.

The interpretive path guides you through a replica of Kelly’s homestead, while the museum showcases a reproduction of his armor (the original is exhibited at the State Library of Victoria) alongside artifacts such as his death mask.

6. Glenrowan Heritage Siege Precinct

A leisurely stroll around Glenrowan reveals numerous sites linked to the events of June 1880, where the Kelly gang faced off with Melbourne troopers.

Kelly’s strategy focused on the railway and an unsuccessful attempt to derail a police train. You can visit the original station master’s residence, the railway platform, and the location of Kelly’s eventual capture.

It is intriguing to consider that many of the mature trees surrounding Glenrowan were present during Kelly’s era, notably the “Kelly Copse,” where he is believed to have tethered his horse.

Moreover, the siege site is noteworthy for the multitude of ammunition fired during the conflict, with bullets occasionally surfacing from the earth.

7. The Big Ned Kelly Statue

In a nation filled with iconic “Big Things”—large novelty statues with local significance—it is fitting that Glenrowan has its own monumental Ned Kelly.

This statue is, in fact, the town’s third representation of Kelly, a fact likely influenced by his controversial status as a folk figure.

The first Big Ned Kelly Statue was removed and discarded in the river.

The current statue, depicting Kelly in his armor with a firearm, was created by a Sydney-based artist in 1992 and transported in a single piece by truck.

Constructed from fiberglass, the statue measures six meters in height and weighs 1.5 tons.

8. Northern Beaches

Located on the Ovens River in the serene northern outskirts of Wangaratta, a reserve spanning over 10 hectares offers an ideal retreat.

This locale features sandy beaches along the west bank, including Kingfisher Beach and Platypus Beach, where visitors can enjoy the river’s refreshing waters.

True to their names, wildlife abounds around the Northern Beaches, including long-necked turtles, possums, echidnas, as well as avian species like grey shrike-thrushes and eastern yellow robins.

The riverside is adorned with dense native flora, featuring river red gums, river tea trees, river bottlebrush, and silver wattles, among others.

9. Wangaratta Art Gallery

The city features a compact yet dynamic arts and culture precinct adjacent to the downtown area, anchored by the contemporary Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre and the regional gallery, established in a striking heritage structure in 1987—originally a Presbyterian church completed in 1899.

Since the 2000s, the gallery has built a distinguished collection emphasizing textile art, woodwork, small sculptures, regionally relevant pieces, and works created by prominent state and national artists.

The collection is not permanently displayed; rather, selections are showcased periodically alongside traveling exhibitions.

The gallery also hosts the Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award, Australia’s only prize of this nature.

10. Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre

Exhibiting a bold architectural design, the modern Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre debuted alongside the gallery in 2009. The auditorium commands attention, seating 520 individuals, with raked seating that can be rearranged for private events and conventions.

It serves as a venue for a wide array of live performances, encompassing plays, musicals, classical concerts, dance shows, children’s entertainment, live comedy, and much more.

The facility provides free Wi-Fi, and its in-house café, Intermezzo, operates daily for lunch and breakfast, as well as during evenings when performances are scheduled.

11. Wangaratta Visitor Information Centre

A visit to the Wangaratta visitor information center on Murphy Street is the most effective way to familiarize yourself with the city and the King Valley Region.

This historic former library building is visually appealing, featuring a pair of pediments supported by Ionic pilasters, framing a second-floor gallery.

In addition to providing access to brochures and flyers, the center includes engaging interpretive displays and frequently hosts temporary exhibitions related to the area.

Furthermore, a vast selection of gift options is available, ranging from handcrafted fashion items to artisanal olive oil, and the friendly staff are eager to provide advice to enhance your visit.

12. King George V Gardens

Located centrally within the CBD, this tranquil park provides a shaded retreat amidst lush greenery.

The history of this area dates back to the mid-1850s when it served as stables for the local police force.

The park’s majestic plane trees were planted in the 1860s to offer shade for the adjacent market and stockyard operations.

It was not until 1938 that this area was formally designated as a park, and today you can enjoy picnic tables and a playground for children.

In 2019, the gardens underwent renovations, adding a community stage, new shelters, additional seating, and enhanced landscaping.

13. Hurdle Creek Still

Founded in Milawa in 2016, this small-batch gin distillery produces all of its products onsite, utilizing a triple-distilled base spirit crafted from local grains through traditional mashing methods.

The juniper berries, along with a selection of native botanicals such as hops, pink peppercorns, aniseed, and citrus, are vapor-infused to create delicate and nuanced flavors.

Visitors can stop by for a gin tasting ($7 for 6 samples), which is complimentary with any purchase.

Featured selections from the distillery range include classic Yardarm gin, aniseed gin, cherry gin, grain jenever, as well as other spirits like Yuzu, Pastis, and Dark Cacao (chocolate liqueur).

14. Eldorado Dredge Holes

East of Wangaratta, along Reedy Creek, lies a monumental remnant from the gold mining era.

Most mining activities in Eldorado involved open pit methods, but the alluvial gold from the creek was extracted using an enormous floating bucket dredge weighing 2,140 tons, which drew the third-most power from Victoria’s State Electricity Grid after Melbourne and Geelong.

This dredge operated from 1936 to 1954, during which it extracted more than 70,000 tons of gold and just under 1,400 tons of tin concentrate.

Today, this massive piece of machinery rests by the riverbank, conveniently located off the Eldorado-Byawatha road.

15. Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues

Each spring, Wangaratta plays host to one of Victoria’s premier events, entering its fourth decade of celebration.

The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues is a three-day festival, typically occurring in late October or early November, featuring performances at various venues around the city.

With over 90 performances and events packed into the long weekend, attendees can enjoy sets by international artists, masterclasses, and youth jazz workshops.

Notable past performers include Freddy Cole, Christian Scott, Jen Shyu, Dutch Tilders, and many more.

The festival also encompasses the National Jazz Awards, a multidisciplinary prize for artists aged 35 and under.