A traveller’s guide to Victoria’s ‘top tourism towns’
The Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) chose Echuca-Moama, Portarlington, and Portsea as the winners in its 2026 Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards.
Portarlington and Portsea reside on opposing shores of Port Phillip Bay, while Echuca-Moama is a border town located on the Murray River in the state’s north.
Victoria excels at maintaining inviting country towns and its compact north-south dimensions make it ideal for road tripping; seldom is an epic drive required to reach a destination.
The Victorian Top Tourism Town award winners exemplify what makes a town-hopping road trip south of the border so rewarding. Here’s a guide to all three, including why they won.
Echuca-Moama – Top Tourism Town (population over 5000)
Its historical significance as a Victorian-era river port has kept Echuca a tourist hotspot for generations. While acknowledging the appeal of its heritage paddle steamers and the tranquillity of life on the Murray River, the VTIC judges also noted, “An abundance of outdoor activities to enjoy within the natural beauty, a thriving contemporary culture of food and drink, music and art supported by an exciting calendar of events.”
They’re not wrong. Located just 2.5 hours from Melbourne – or better yet, a three-hour drive along the wonderful Murray Valley Highway from Albury – Echuca exudes modern country charm. To experience it is to recommend it, and it’s one of those rare destinations that lives up to expectations.
On Echuca’s High Street, contemporary businesses occupy buildings that in some cases date back to the middle of the 19th century. There are so many places to explore, so many inviting pubs and restaurants, so much effortless character, that it’s hard to know where to begin.
Old favourites include Sharps Magic Movie House & Penny Arcade (where adults and kids alike can party like it’s 1910 with strength testers, a fortune teller, and even a mechanical ancestor of today’s skill testers), the Echuca Chocolate Company, Beechworth Bakery and St Anne’s Winery (try the amazing port!).
The restaurant scene in Echuca has always been more cosmopolitan than one expects in a regional town and in recent years it has come alive with eateries such as Bar Lee at Echuca Distillery, Opa Echuca and The Bear Souvlaki and Spud Bar.
Portarlington – Top Small Tourism Town (population between 1500 and 5000)
Posted on the tip of the Bellarine Peninsula and less than two hours from Melbourne, Portarlington has long been established as a peaceful village offering the usual seaside attractions such as boating, fishing, swimming.
But it’s the town’s development that drew the VTIC judges’ attention in 2026. In bestowing the award, they noted, “A hatted chef has elevated the food scene, opening two restaurants by the water; a grand hotel is gleaming after a multi-million-dollar restoration; award-winning wineries are a stone’s throw away, and Australia's only boutique mussel tour cruises from Portarlington pier.”
The hatted chef alluded to is Peter Roddy, who runs the waterside Pier St Café (where you can taste his gastronomic creations featuring local mussels) and the Arlo Wine Bar, which specialises in seafood and pasta matched to an extensive list of wines.
Founded in 1888, the Portarlington Grand Hotel was treated to an extensive renovation in 2022 and is now back to its best, with an interior design judges called “a work of art” and exquisite rooms, some of which overlook the water.
Portsea – Top Tiny Tourism Town (population under 1500)
The Mornington Peninsula is one of Victoria’s most popular holiday destinations and the village of Portsea sits right near the tip, butting up against the rugged Point Nepean National Park.
The VTIC judges gave Portsea the gong ahead of some stiff competition, including historic Glenrowan (of Ned Kelly fame) and Port Campbell on the Great Ocean Road. They cited its invigorating combination of physical activities (swimming, snorkelling, paddleboarding and hiking in the national park) and the village’s “lively, social atmosphere” generated by cafés, pubs and boutique shops.
A walk on Portsea’s enormous pier is a fantastic way to start the morning and many travellers follow it up with a visit to Le Capucin for breakfast and a coffee. Nighttime options include the historic Portsea Hotel (which first opened in 1876!) and Pompette Portsea, which offers French-inspired bistro food and a wine list to match.
