Australian Gourmet Traveller - (08)August 2020 (1)

M

anyregionalAustraliantownsrelyontourism

toflourish,andduetorecentbushfiresand

Coronavirusrestrictions,placessuchasthe

Riverinaregioninsouth-westernNewSouth

Waleshaveexperienceda dramaticdeclineinvisitors.Butafter

a challengingstarttotheyear,theRiverinais risingfromthe

ashesbetterthanever.Itsaward-winningwineries,breweries,

orchards,providoresandfarmers’marketsarebackopenfor

businessandwelcomingvisitorswithopen(sanitised)arms.

SpanningfromDeniliquintoTumbarumba,andintersected

bythemajesticMurrumbidgeeandSnowyRivers,theRiverina

presentsanarrayoffoodtrails,naturalwondersandcharming

townswaitingtobeexplored.GourmetTravellervisitedtheregion

earlierintheyearand,withsomeguidancefromlocals,wehave

rounded up the best things to see and do there right now.

Clockwisefromleft:

CourabyraWines;

winefromTumblong

Hills;NimboFork

Lodge.Opposite:

The Snowy River.

Aftera challengingstarttotheyear,

NSW’sRiverinaisreadyonceagainfor

visitors, writesKARLIE VERKERK.

Revisiting

the Riverina

Takea scenicdrive

Withsomuchgroundtocover,a roadtripis theperfectwayto

experienceeverythingtheRiverinahastooffer.StartinGriffith

andheadsouthtoNerranderaandWaggaWagga,thenmake

yourwaythroughthealpinewildernessoftheSnowyMountains

toTumutandTumbarumba.Alongtheway,samplehandmade

cheeseinCoolamon,orvisitthelicoriceandchocolatefactory

inJunee.Thejourneyis a 3.5-hourdrive without stops.

Meettheregion’swinemakers

TheRiverinais thelargestwine-producingregioninNSW,

soit’sguaranteedthere’sa droptosuiteverypalate.Standout

cellardoorsclosetoGriffithincludeCalabriaFamilyWines,

McWilliam’sandYarranWines.Whilesouth,inTumbarumba,

you’llfindJohansenWinesand Courabyra Wines.

Booka serenestaycation

Fromeco-hutstocottages,therearea widerangeofplaces

toenjoya relaxingweekend.LocatedbetweenGundagaiand

Tumut,andsituatednexttothetranquilNimboCreek,is the

distinguishedNimboForkLodge.Theboutiqueaccommodation

featuresa mainlodge– completewitha cosyloungebarand

fine-diningrestaurant– fivedeluxesuites,plussixluxury

creek-sidecottageswhereyoucanbesoothedbythesounds

of trickling water. It’s the perfect place to practice self care.●

CL

OSE

TOHO

ME

NS
W EDITION

106 GOURMET TRAVELLER

PHOTOGRAPHY GUY WILLIMENT FOR DESTINATION NSW.