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[title]Each year, Wotif pulls together the best local intel and word-of-mouth recommendations to craft a list of the best road trip gems in every state. Sadly, Victoria didn't nab any top spots this year, but some of our favourites still cracked the top ten – we've rounded them up here to provide inspo for your next adventure.
It's an unofficial rule that baked goods taste better in the countryside – hence why a pit stop at a country bakery is all but compulsory on any road trip. Due to the reverence of the humble Aussie bakery, Wotif has not one, but two categories for baked goods this year: Best Neenish Tart and Best Pie. They've searched far and wide for the winning bite, and the results are finally in.
Yarragon Country Bakery in Traralgon officially claims victory as Victoria's best purveyor of the neenish tart – a nostalgic bakery item made with jam and cream ensconced in a buttery pastry. If you've got a sweet tooth, keep this charming bakery on your radar. If something savoury is more your speed, you'll want to keep an eye out for Gumtree Pies located in Yackandandah. This beloved country-town pie shop has taken the title for Best Pie, thanks to its gourmet, hand-made selection.
It wouldn't be an Aussie summer without ice cream. Timboon Fine Ice Cream has been crowned Victoria's best, and it's little wonder why. Churned with milk direct from the neighbour’s farm, Timboon's ice cream range is a cut above the rest with fresh ingredients and innovative flavours (like Whiskey Cream or Orange and Cardamom).
It should come as no surprise that the winner for the best hotel view is located on Melbourne's South Wharf. The Pan Pacific Hotel's sweeping panoramas of Melbourne's city skyline were breathtaking enough to earn it the top spot in the state. The winner of the best island, Phillip Island, lies not too far away. A popular Melburnian excursion, the isle is a wildlife lover's paradise, with hordes of sunbaking seals scattered about the rocks and a colony of penguins that waddle ashore each evening.
Lastly, the title of the state's best festival goes to Port Fairy Folk Festival. With a great music line-up set against the backdrop of Port Fairy (which is just as magical as it sounds), it's hard to imagine a more idyllic escape.