Best things to do in Mansfield

Steavenson Falls, among the tallest waterfalls in Victoria, features five cascades with a total descent of over 122 meters (400 ft). The waterfall is located inside a nature reserve, established in 1959 to protect this area of great ecological importance. You can hike a number of trails, many of which are floodlit late into the night. Dense forest covers the entire reserve with a mixture of eucalyptus trees, most notably including the gray gum, messmate, and narrow-leafed peppermint. Lyrebirds, arguably Australia’s best-known native birds, can often be seen searching for insects and worms all around the reserve. You can easily spot them by looking for prominent scratch marks, which they leave in the leaves and twigs on the ground.

Situated in a broad, flat flood plain--King Valley--the complex of Brown Brothers Winery encompasses a series of low-rise, yellow buildings surrounded by lush pastoral land. Established in 1885, the vineyard produces a wide variety of wines, most of which can be sampled at the facility’s cellar door. If you want to explore the immediate surrounds, you can even borrow a bike for free at the vineyard.

Chrismont Cellar Door, Restaurant and Larder

King Valley, Victoria

Located in the upper reaches of the King Valley, Chrismont’s Cellar Door, Restaurant and Larder is an award-winning culinary centerpiece where visitors can experience wine tastings and casual dining with a modern touch.

Since the first Chrismont vine was planted in 1980, owners Arnie and Jo have become known for producing diverse interpretations of Mediterranean and classic European varietals from their cool-climate vineyards in both Cheshunt and Whitfield.

Like grapes and wine hospitality is also in their blood, which inspired the 2015 opening of a state-of-the-art food and wine centerpiece that embodies the dishes of Jo’s Sicilian and Arnie’s northern Italian backgrounds with their contemporary line-up of Chrismont, La Zona and Riserva wines.

Winner of the coveted National Building Design of the Year Award 2016, the Chrismont Cellar Door, Restaurant and Larder boasts contemporary interior and sleek, sophisticated architecture that offers spectacular views of the King Valley and an inviting space for visitors to indulge in and relax over a casual visit or special occasion, such as weddings or group celebrations.

Chrismont also features elegant guesthouse accommodation set amongst the vines, making it an idyllic place to restore, relax and rejuvenate.

Open seven-day-a-week for all day wine tasting and dining.

Chrismont Cellar Door, Restaurant and Larder

251 Upper King River Rd, Cheshunt, Victoria.

Cellar door open 10am-5pm

Restaurant open from 12noon

Ph 03 5729 8220

www.chrismont.com.au

The Walhalla Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine is located in the north end of the original living historic Gold mining town of Walhalla. This Gold Mine commenced operation in 1865 by the original Hercules Gold Mining Company, working their way to Cohen's reef. When the company did not find enough payable gold, the mine was sold to The Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mining Company No Liability in 1871. Over the Walhalla Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine's 50 year history, it produced 440,312 troy ounces of gold or 13,695 kilograms. Being the top producing gold mine for six of those years. During that time the population was over 4,800 people. There are now less than 25 permanent residents living in Walhalla and the nearby surrounding area. Tours operate on total fire ban days, but not if declared code red fire alert day. The Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine is wheelchair and stroller friendly and toilets are available. Visitors are required to wear suitable footwear when going underground. Tours are every day at 1:30pm. On school holidays, tours run at 12:00pm, 1:30pm and 3:00pm. Please arrive 15 minutes before the tour starts.

Only open on the 4th Saturday of the month, please check website for more details.

The Mount Buffalo National Park is a national park in the alpine region of Victoria, Australia. The 31,000-hectare (77,000-acre) national park is located approximately 350 kilometres (220 mi) northeast of Melbourne in the Australian Alps. Within the national park is Mount Buffalo, a moderately high mountain plateau, with an elevation of 1,723 metres (5,653 ft) above sea level.

On 4 November 1898 an area of 1,166 hectares (2,880 acres) was reserved around the plateau and Eurobin Falls as Mount Buffalo National Park, making it one of the oldest national parks in Australia. In 1908 a road was opened to the plateau and the park was expanded to 10,406 hectares (25,710 acres); and in 1980 to its current size to take in most of the surrounding foothill country.
On 7 November 2008, the park was added to the Australian National Heritage List as one of eleven areas constituting the Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves.