Eat

Otway Harvest TrailCape Otway, Victoria, Australia

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There's plenty growing and going on in the Otways.

I mean sure, Victoria's south-west has a diverse area of waterfalls, beaches, a rocky coastline and rainforests, plus mountain biking and surfing and plenty of swimming spots. But there's a lot too eat too.

With plenty of farms and wineries, there's no shortage of local produce for the thriving food scene to source from.

We've compiled five of the best local food and drink experiences that will leave you either very full, or very tipsy (or both):

1. GO BERRY PICKING

The onset of summer means the onset of the berry season. Stop in at Pennyroyal Raspberry Farm and Cidery to pick a few ripe berries, and take them home with you. There's raspberries blueberries, strawberries, currants, jostaberries, gooseberries and more, not all of which we're familiar with. Treat yo self with an award-winning cider or berry gin afterward. You've earnt it.

2. FINE DINE

O.K so Brae isn't much of a secret. The Birregurra restaraunt is regularly ranked among the very, very (repeat: very) best in the entire world. There are also six luxury guest suites you can stay in, while local Otways produce features very heavily in the menu. If you haven't been, you've just gotta go.

3. GRAB A VINO

The Otways is littered with wineries. Blake's Estate is less than a half-marathon away from the famous seaside town of Lorne, specialising in a Pinot Noir. Other worthy stop-ins include Brown Magpie, Dinny Goonan, Gosling Creek, Yeowarra Hill or Otway Estate. Spring is a great time to be at a winery but lets be honest, it's always a good time to be at a winery.

4. GRAB A FROFFIE

They say all tracks in the Cape Otways National Park lead back to Forrest Brewing Company. Cartographically speaking we're not sure how true that it is, but the great range of ales these independents produce is much easier to verify. Hard to find outside of Forrest, this microbrewery in a micro town is a great place to stop after a day of mountain-biking.

5. INDULGE IN CHOCOLATE

Just up the road from the brewery in the punching-above-it's-weight town of Forrest is Platypi Chocolate. Set in an idyllic location, all chocolates are hand made on-site, which is pretty cool. An indulgence.