If lifestyle is important to you, then North East Victoria is the place to be. With wineries, gourmet food trails and an established arts calendar, the North East region provides a great variety of things to see and do.

History is very much alive with National Trust buildings dotted throughout the region, housing art galleries, antique shops and museums. These include the Army Museum at Bandiana with an array of historic military vehicles and uniforms and Block 19 at Bonegilla commemorating the post-war migrant reception centre, which saw some 300,000 new Australians, enter the country. Beechworth, Yackandandah, Glenrowan and Harrietville also have many historical ties to the gold rush and Ned Kelly era. Gateway Village in Wodonga has recently been transformed into a dedicated arts precinct, and is home to a diverse array of arts, and cultural offerings including the nationally recognised HotHouse Theatre Company and Albury-Wodonga Jazz.

There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy live theatre and there is an abundance of events held around the region each year. The new performing arts centre at Wangaratta, completed in 2009, is a dynamic, multi-purpose venue ideal for the presentation of professional theatre performances, amateur productions, major events and conferencing. The venue features a superb 530-seat theatre, café and bar, box office, an exhibition space and banquet room. The HotHouse Theatre at Gateway Island in Wodonga hosts many theatre productions and as a smaller venue, it creates a cosy and friendly atmosphere.

The region is also very active and enjoys its sports such as football, netball, golf, tennis, basketball, skiing and many outdoor activities. The Murray River, Lake Hume and Lake Buffalo provide opportunities for watersports. Activities such as snow skiing and snowboarding at Falls Creek and Mount Hotham are available during winter. Bushwalking, cycling, rock climbing, canoeing, whitewater rafting, fishing, four-wheel driving and nature spotting make the North East a great place to explore all-year round.

Both Wodonga and Wangaratta have sports and leisure centres with indoor heated pools and gymnasiums, while Wodonga is home to Australia’s largest regional tennis complex. Golf courses, resorts and day spas are available in the region for a more relaxing and slower-paced experience.

For cyclists, the famous Murray To Mountains Rail Trail offers approximately 100kms of sealed surface passing through spectacular scenery and some of Australia’s finest wineries and gourmet eateries. Further north, the High Country Rail Trail around Lake Hume and the Murray River is the only cycle trail in Australia that follows a major inland waterway.

There is also plenty of good shopping on offer in the North East region. The area is already well-serviced by many of Australia’s largest department, grocery, furniture, electrical, clothing and hardware chain stores, as well as a number of small boutique outlets full of their own character and charm. Some of the larger chains include Bunnings, Coles, K-mart, Target, Big W, Harvey Norman, The Warehouse, Super Cheap Auto, Telstra Shop,  Safeway and many others. Two of Australia’s best-known food brands, Beechworth Honey and the Beechworth Bakery, are located in the region. Wangaratta also takes its coffee seriously and is home to many gourmet coffee shops and cafes. Most retail precincts are located within the town centre including shop-lined main streets. Wodonga, however, has three shopping centres including the Birallee Shopping Centre, Centro Wodonga and the Wodonga Homemakers Centre. 

There are plenty of markets people can get along to around the region as well including the Hume Murray Farmers’ Market in Wodonga.