Activities and pastimes

Do

There are heaps of active things you can do when you visit us. Either use us as a base or make us a stay along the route - it's up to you! Here's a list of things that others have done and might be of interest to you.

  • Flashpack (this is cycle touring without the sleeping bag and mattress - but with the credit card and a B&B in mind!) this Gippsland mountain bike tour by Curve Cycling.
  • Take a cooking class with the locals at Jacican's Cooking School, located at Mirboo North in the old dairy.
  • Ride the GrandRidge Rail Trail - this follows the original line of the former Morwell to Mirboo North railway line (the last train of which made an emotional departure from the town in 1974.) It's a delightful walk or cycle. If you want to do it one way, talk to us about our pick up service to bring you back from Boolarra or Mirboo North when you book.
  • Horse ride the Strzelecki Rail Trail by booking a package with an email to Kerry at Beaumonts on Hilltop, located in Mirboo North. Check out her Facebook page with ride summaries here.
  • In the heat of summer, relax at the brand new Mirboo North Pool. Re-furbished and re-opened in summer 2021, it has been in operation in one form or another since around 1880!
  • Check out the Mirboo North ARTspace. Showcasing a variety of artworks and handmade artisan goods from across the district from over 40 artists and makers, Mirboo North ARTSpace is situated in the Butter Factory on Grand Ridge Road (head to the Grandridge Brewery and you won't go far wrong!)
  • Baromi Park in the town centre is the old railway yards. It is now a lovely park, with mature trees and a skate bowl, giant slide, adventure playground equipment.
  • The Lyrebird Forest Walk, about 4 km north of the town on the Strzelecki Highway is a very pleasant way to enjoy the forests that surround Mirboo North.
  • Speaking of walking, use the excellent AllTrails website to find our local attractions too - the app has pretty much everything you need to find and complete walks in our area - here's the link already configured as a "Mirboo North" search! You just need a free account and a smartphone - be warned, starting this can prove to be addictive!
  • In summer, book a unique experience and take the family to sea around Wilsons Promontory with Wanderer Adventures' Promontory Cruises. We have done this tour and can thoroughly recommend it as a way to see the Prom in a whole new perspective!

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Go

Gippsland is a touring paradise. And staying at Strathmore Farm B&B, you are right in the centre of our region. Only an hour or 90 minutes to the snow, the ocean, the Gippsland Lakes, the Prom and a host more locations. Head out and visit these places while you are here:

  • We have to start with Wilsons Promontory - which is right up there amongst the best places in Australia to visit. So popular, you have to enter a lottery to get a camping spot! Many of our guests stay with us and head down for a day of exploring, then to come back to the "wilds of Mirboo North" for a relaxing evening in the cottage. In summer, check the link above for any fire restrictions or closures. You will find a delightful collection of Australian fauna all over the place down there - from the car park and camping ground at Tidal River to the old airstrip that is a favourite viewing area at the "Wilsons Prom Airport". Take extra vigilance at dusk as the animals are used to having right of way. And please watch your speed. Your homework is to read this excellent blog by Kate who describes your options in fantastic detail.
  • Tarra Bulga National Park has the suspension bridge, delightful walks and the excellent cafe where you can sample some great local food. Winter visits might even see you frolicking in some snow!
  • Morwell National Park is a very underrated place to visit and very pretty. There are number of walking tracks - check them out here.
  • Mount Worth State Park is well worth visiting and have a walk around. The amazing thing about this place is that in 1935 or thereabouts, the entire area was completely cleared through logging. There was not a tree anywhere. What you walk through today is regrowth - which is amazing - and uplifting - that this kind of recovery is possible. Plenty of history of our pioneering past here, amongst the tree ferns. Head over to the Moonlight Creek picnic area and enjoy the BBQ and tables - and the coolth on a hot summer's day!
  • Drive the Grand Ridge Road using these notes and photos from a Peugeot enthusiast! You can also review this route map of the same area by a motorcycle enthusiast.
  • Take a drive to Yarram and check out the town's murals, painted by the well-known artist Heasco.

Dine

We have some excellent eating establishments close by - and, it seems, more opening up every week!

  • If you are coming down to us via the South Gippsland Highway, you will have to go through Korumburra, so have a break and get a cuppa at the excellent Tiny Teapot Cafe there.
  • Staying with the cuppa-en-route theme, if you are coming from Melbourne via the M1 freeway, you will be well refreshed after stopping at Yarragon's Gippsland Food and Wine, where they sell all manner of delicious foodie and drinks things - and then you can check out the craft beers at the Yarragon Ale House, just up the street, before you get back on the highway.
  • If you are tootling around Foster, though, you absolutely must head to Gurneys Cidery, sitting in its 77 acres of pastured paddocks, overlooking what must be one of the best views in all Victoria, a complete vista of Corner Inlet from the Prom around to Port Albert. The Gurnett family brews their very own cider in the Somerset tradition and showcases local meats, cheese and preserves (including our own Fruits of Strathmore), together with delicious local apple cake and plunger coffee. Guarantee you can't get out in under two hours. It's worse on a fine day, the view alone will just relax you that little bit more!
  • In Mirboo North, try the local coffee shops Lamezleighs and Jimmy Jambs, both on the main street (Ridgway).
  • If you want a quick and local dinner, then head to the Mirboo North Golf Club on a Friday night for their weekly dinner which is a fundraiser. Fully stocked bar, excellent value for money - and if you are not there by 6 pm, forget it, as it will be full!
  • Take-aways are a good option if you come back to the cottage exhausted from your adventures and just want to let someone else do the cooking. In Mirboo North, the following establishments are open most of the week (Mondays closed, generally speaking) and all are in the main street:
  • Cafe Escargot is a local restaurant just out of town, specialising in high teas and evening meals. And yes, snails are a specialty of the house.
  • Fish Creek will be on your route sometime, if you are exploring, and you are spoilt for choice since you can dine in full retro style at the Fish Creek Hotel - or enjoy the country ambience at the local cafes - try Long John Pickles, opposite the Fish Creek Hotel - or up in the village proper, there is Gibson's Licensed Cafe and Larder and Little Oberon.

    • Photo courtesy of Curve Cycling. All rights reserved

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