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[title]Twin cities Albury Wodonga straddle either side of the Murray River. Wodonga is the smaller of the two cities, but what you'll soon come to learn is that this delightful inland city is home to some cool restaurants and bars you'll want to check out the next time you're out that way. Wodonga's traditional name is Wudanga which refers to bulrushes in the local Waywurru language.
We’re showcasing road trips across this glorious state alongside Visit Victoria’s ‘Stay close, go further’ campaign. These road trip guides are meant to help you rediscover all the natural beauty, one-of-a-kind towns and covetable dining experiences Melbourne and Victoria have to offer. Below, we’ve laid out an itinerary perfect for a day trip drive-through or for a longer trip that requires you to pack the boot a little more. Here’s what to do the next time you find yourself in Wodonga.
Pick your trip:
It’s quite easy just to pop past Wodonga for a quick pitstop if you’re fanging it down the Hume, but there’s a myriad of reasons why you should stay longer than a toilet stop. For one, if you just pass through you might not know that Wodonga is actually home to the world’s biggest rolling pin (yes, it’s been awarded by Guinness Book of Records) located above Henri’s Wodonga Bakery. Not only that but there’s excellent food and drink options and activities that show off this historic town and its stellar location on the border.
Eat and drink
Breakfast and lunch spot Andiamo Street Kitchen runs out of a converted shipping container out in Junction Place. The venue is popular with locals for its no-nonsense approach to street food – punchy and fun flavours with food that tastes and looks amazing. Try the piadina, a hand-rolled flatbread that co-owner Andrea has brought over from his native Italy along with cheesy arancini. There’s also a smashed avo bowl, breakfast burrito and Thai pork salad on the menu, alongside freshly baked sourdough bread to purchase. Step around the back to the shipping container behind Andiamo for tasty ice cream scoops and coffee from Topolino.
A stalwart of Wodonga’s food scene, La Maison Café is housed within the 160-year-old Customs House that once sat beside the mighty Murray River. These days, the restaurant is thrumming with activity on an average night, with people dining inside its wood-covered walled interior or stretching out to the fairy light-adorned back courtyard. On the menu is a selection of mezza bites like halloumi cigara and house-made dukkah with warm bread, as well as slightly larger tapas like charred octopus with curry mango aioli and wild venison sourced from local hunters, Discovered Wildfoods. Mains like a Japanese-inspired salmon and a prawn and scallop linguine will fill you up, but don’t miss out on dessert – the vanilla bean panna cotta is delightful.
See and do
They say one in twenty Aussies have links to the Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre, a camp set up for receiving mostly European migrants following World War II. Around 300,000 people passed through and lived at the camp between 1947 and 1971, which offered migrants training and had intentions to offer employment to all as well. These days, you can visit the Bonegilla Migrant Experience which offers tours of the remaining buildings. Visitors can browse records, see where and how migrants would live at the property, and learn more about Australia’s rich migration history. The property is huge, and it’s fascinating to read stories and hear vocal recordings from some of the people who lived on the site. A seasonal exhibition is on at the moment called Nonne: Images Through Generations showcasing a series of old and new photographs of Italian-Australian nonne and their families.
Sometimes you just need to see a place from a different vantage point. Head up to new heights by heading to the viewpoint at Huon Hill in Bandiana. Climb up the dirt road about 263 metres above sea level and take a lookout over the Albury Wodonga region. From up there, you can take in views of Lake Hume (home to an impressive dam) as well as the Kiewa Valley, the Alpine region (try to spot Mt Feathertop, Victoria’s second-tallest mountain) and the Murray and Kiewa rivers.
Some might not know of Wodonga’s long history with the Australian Armed Forces. It’s currently home to an Army logistic base and training centre for technical apprentices, located on the site of two barracks first opened in 1942. In one of those barracks, the Gaza Ridge Barracks in Bandiana, you’ll find the Army Museum. From its humble facade, you might not realise that the former WWII-era timber-framed warehouse actually holds the largest military collection in the country. Inside you can explore exhibits showcasing items from a number of Army Corps, including medical and nursing corps, with preserved helmets, uniforms, weapons and more all on display. Probably the most impressive part of the museum is the collection from the Royal Australian Corps of Transport which, yes, even includes a tank used in overseas combat.
Stay a while
Expand your trip by staying overnight in Wodonga and digging deeper into this lovely regional city. There’s plenty to do – even more if you’re visiting over a weekend. Check out some more suggestions for Wodonga and surrounds below.
Eat and drink
Miss Amelie is the fine diner of the area, offering a bit of European charm to country Victoria. It’s located in what was the historic Wodonga railway station, though it’s gotten a pretty flashy renovation over the years. Chef and owner David Kapay spent time working in London at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant and Gordon Ramsay’s Maze restaurant. Kapay brings some of that classic cooking fare with him to Wodonga with items like beef tartare, seared scallops and lamb scotch on the menu. This is the perfect place to splash a little bit of cash and treat yourself if you’re in the area.
Across the old train tracks from Miss Amelie is the Goods Shed, which, as you might have guessed from the name, was once the railway’s goods shed, where stock was unloaded from the train to be transported around town. Nowadays, the Goods Shed is a beer lover’s dream. All beers on the menu come from independently owned local breweries, from Bridge Road Brewery to Bodriggy and Holgate. The staff are particularly knowledgeable and are great at recommending brews depending on what you like. The food menu is equally as exciting with heaps of vegan options (we recommend the Messy Hippy pizza) as well as burgers, pizzas and shared plates.
See and do
So it’s a quick hop over the border to NSW (shhh we won’t tell anyone!) but the Yindyamarra Sculpture Trail is a beautiful stopover if you’re visiting the area. Situated on the banks of the Murray River, you can walk or ride your bike through bushland that’s punctuated by sculptures made by local Aboriginal artists. Wander through the eucalypt and learn more about the local Wiradjuri, Waveroo and Dhudhuroa people.
If you’re one who loves to be on two wheels, we implore you to check out downhill mountain bike track Hunchback MTB Park. There’s a fair bit of track to explore and it’s likely you’ll pick up a bit of speed on some of these rough black runs. Even if you’re not a mountain biker, the area is beautiful to explore on two feet – especially early in the morning when the sun pokes its head over the surrounding hills.
Around on a Saturday morning? The Albury Wodonga Farmers Market is a must-visit, too. Get fresh produce from local growers like Rad Growers, bread and pastries from Milawa Bread, the freshest of berries from Beechworth Berries and support a dozen more farmers, makers and creators.
Stay
Perfectly situated near all the inner-city action, Quest Wodonga is a great spot to base yourself on your Wodonga adventure. There are several serviced apartments available to book over four levels, with your choice of either one, two or three-bedroom suites. Each comes with a kitchenette and laundry facilities if you’re planning on staying a while. The hotel also has an outdoor pool, gym, on-site parking and is located close to dining options like the Cube Wodonga.