A teeny detour from the South Gippsland Highway is rewarded; this place is a gem.
The small village, set amongst the verdant hills of the Strzelecki Ranges, is the picture-perfect town of Loch, almost like something out of a fairytale. The 20th century buildings make for a stunning streetscape, as you wander the cafes and boutique stores. The town is nothing if not charming.
Around Town
Connect with your inner fossicker and discover the unusual and delightful. It’s as if this town was made for exploring with its antique stores, providore, boutique clothing store and galleries.
The Loch Village Lions Market (second Sunday of each month) has over 70 stalls with local produce, crafts and bric-a-brac. The biggest event on the annual calendar is the Loch Food & Wine Festival showcasing the best of the fabulous local produce, held in June.
Take a wander around the Loch Memorial Reserve to the Loch Suspension Bridge, gracefully crossing Allsop Creek in a leafy gully.
We are not kidding around when we say the town is set among lush, emerald hills. The hills seem to roll on endlessly, as if the earth has goosebumps, making vistas around town simply stunning. Check out the Cape Horn Lookout on the Loch-Wonthaggi Road for one of the best view-points.
Eat
Follow the dreamy aromas of freshly baked cakes, pies and tarts to Olive at Loch. Across the road, Loch Village Foodstore offers light and airy interiors and plenty of garden seating for brunch dates, while The Loch Grocer is bursting with beautiful local goodies and a welcoming café vibe.
Later in the day, mosey over to the Loch & Key for an afternoon tipple by the fireplace, and linger for dinner in their cosy dining room. Or check out Loch Wine Bar for a selection of Gippsland’s finest beer, wine, cheese and produce in a relaxed setting.
WHERE TO STOCK UP
• The Loch Grocer is a full local pantry of fruit & veg, meat, bread, dairy and vino.
• The Burra Pantry and Larder stock local and artisanal meats, cheeses, eggs, bread and more!
• Delight in cheesy goodness direct from Prom Country Cheese (Moyarra).
Drink
Your first port of call in Loch is the Gippsland Wine Company. These guys make premium wines from their local vineyards. The cellar door is warm and inviting, and you can enjoy wine by the glass (or bottle) with a picnic in the scenic grounds which overlook Loch Valley.
When wine won’t do, whet your whistle at Loch Brewery & Distillery. Traditional craft ales are served by hand pumps, and you can try gin, vodka and single malt whisky.
Just down the road, you’ll find Korumburra’s Burra Brewing Co. Try a sample paddle of the craft beers, and be sure to get a wood-fired pizza in your belly.
Head toward Leongatha and you’ll find djinta djinta Winery, where an onsite restaurant overlooks the beautiful grounds and generous platters complement their delicious wines.
Nestled among the hills-that-know-nobounds near Grantville, is Bass River Winery where you can taste the premium single estate wines at the cellar door. They even make limoncello, grappa and a dessert-style Iced Riesling. Just down the road is The Gurdies Winery where the picnic tables offer a fantastic vantage point toward the shimmering waters of Western Port.
