Holiday houses in Warracknabeal

Life-sized sheep sculptures, vast fields of barley and canola, a museum dedicated to farming machinery, enormous grain silos — arriving in Warracknabeal you probably won’t be surprised to learn that this is agricultural country, and the heart of Victoria’s wheatbelt. But there’s more to this part of the world than tractors and wool. Northwest of Melbourne in the Wimmera Mallee region of the state, the town has country swagger to spare, its streets dotted with historic buildings and cooled by the pretty Yarriambiack Creek, lined with river gums that attract all manner of birds.

If you’re after hikes that get your heart racing, you’re in luck — the Grampians National Park is within easy reach to the south, its native forest webbed with trails as well as tiny towns where you’ll find providores and cellar doors pouring world-leading sparkling wines, among other varietals. Neighbouring Little Desert National Park also dazzles, the reserve and its wetlands home to rare birds and wildlife, and the night sky — free from commercial light pollution — providing endless opportunities for stargazing.

Vast areas of Victoria sizzle through summer, with temperatures in the Wimmera Mallee region regularly breaking records. Given Warracknabeal’s setting inland, the best way to cool down is by splashing about in one of the many nearby lakes — provided there is water in them. If you’re visiting after heavy rains, chances are you’ll have ideal conditions to swim, water-ski, and kayak.

The cooler seasons make sightseeing much more pleasant, particularly if you’re planning on exploring adjoining national parks — visit in July and August to see canola fields in spectacular yellow bloom, and in spring for wildflowers blanketing the Grampians.

Silo Art Trail

Self-proclaimed as Australia’s largest outdoor gallery, the Silo Art Trail spans more than 200 kilometres (125 miles) of countryside around Warracknabeal. Here, the region’s grain silos have been transformed with eye-popping murals by some of Australia’s (and the world’s) most respected graffiti artists. While the aesthetic changes, the goal is the same: to reveal the fascinating faces and features of this vibrant agricultural community in full colour.

Cool off in Lake Hindmarsh

When it has water in it, Lake Hindmarsh is the largest freshwater lake in Victoria. But due to weirs feeding the lake along the Wimmera River, this generally only happens after heavy rains. At these times, it’s a mecca for watersports — boating, fishing, swimming — and teeming with wildlife. At other times, 4WD fanatics make the most of the dry lakebed curves. Just to the south, Pink Lake deserves its name, coloured in lipstick hues thanks to algae in the salt crust.

Hike around Grampians National Park

An hour’s drive south, Grampians National Park beckons with some of Victoria’s most memorable hikes — whether to waterfalls, along dramatic clifftop ridges, scaling mountain peaks, or through immense gorges. This part of the state is part of the Gariwerd Aboriginal cultural landscape, and Indigenous rock art dating back tens of thousands of years has been discovered in caves on sheer sandstone cliffs.