Holiday houses in Dargo

One of the most remote spots in all of Victoria, some four hours east of Melbourne, the tiny town of Dargo is a former mining community whose chief amenities are a pub, general store, playground, and a performance venue that welcomes some of the biggest country music stars in Australia.

After gold was found in the area in the 1860s, visitors used to come here hoping to strike it big — you can still try your hand at gold panning and fossicking today. But the reason most people visit Dargo (population 150) is to spend time in Gippsland’s untouched wilderness, where century-old walnut trees roll from the Dargo High Plains down to the rapids of the Wonnangatta River. Dargo is also known as one of the entry points for exploring the Alpine National Park, with its mountains and lakes, swimming holes, fishing spots, and trails.

Summer is a popular time to book your Dargo accommodation, when the weather is warm enough for hiking, fishing, swimming, and enjoying the wilds of Gippsland. If you visit in the winter, you can enjoy tobogganing and snowshoeing, and also hit the ski slopes about an hour away. For beginners, the gentle slopes here are a great place to learn to ski. If you come in September, the Women’s Ski Week is an annual highlight that draws visitors from all over Australia. The town of Dargo hosts a Walnut Festival each year during Easter and has its own Winter Festival, celebrating local artisans with exhibits, camp oven cooking, and musical performances over the two-day event.

Dargo Heritage Museum

Dedicated to the area’s gold mining past, Dargo Heritage Museum is housed in a converted barn and has the same kind of homespun charm as the town itself. From the outside, the museum still looks like a cattle shed, but inside you can peruse local antiques and artifacts, which will transport you back to a time when the area was awash with prospectors. You’ll also gain insight into the lives of the mountain cattlemen who have grazed their herds here for decades.

Fishing Dargo River

Gippsland is famous for its fishing. Those keen to catch are mainly focused on river trout found in the Wonnangatta, Wongungarra, Crooked River, and Black Snake creeks. The nearby Dargo River can also be a good fishing spot when water levels are low.

Four-wheel driving

The area surrounding Dargo is very popular for four-wheel driving. Make your own tracks, or sign up for one of the special tours that go up into the Victorian High Country. You can tag along in your own vehicle or rent one specifically for the tour, which will take you to some of the area’s highest vantage points.