Where to eat along the Hume Highway between Sydney and Melbourne
Some drivers believe in the one-stop strategy on the long drive between Sydney and Melbourne, but then there are the 'stop-and-smell-the-roses' types.So if you want to eat well along the Hume be prepared to leave the freeway, allow a few hours and really enjoy some cracking country food and hospitality. And no Maccas, we promise.
The Sir George, Jugiong
The gorgeous gardens behind The Sir George (about four hours from Sydney) make a tempting alternative to more hours in the driver’s seat. This pub dates back to 1845 and has been restored superbly with incredible accommodation also available. The same goes for the menu, pub staples like chicken parma, bangers and mash and fish’n’chips are all done well but there are gastro-pub choices as well. For drivers, the smaller dishes such as kingfish ‘crudo’ make sense, and the crunchy lamb croquettes are heavenly.
Nimbo Fork Lodge, Killimicat (near Gundagai)
Spoiler alert: if you take the 25km-odd detour from the Hume for lunch at Nimbo Fork, chances are you’ll want to also stay the night … or two. The food is much better than worthwhile. Andy Allen’s Three Blue Ducks does the menu so expect local and ethically sourced dishes (whole stuffed Nimbo trout or Gundagai lamb rump anyone?). But the location of the lodge on pasture beside the Tumut River, with your own country cottage means lunch can be long and you might need dinner as well…
Niagra Café, Gundagai
To say the Niagra Café is a Gundagai institution is an understatement. It’s been around since 1902, has an Art Deco vibe and counts Prime Ministers John Curtain and Ben Chifley among past drop-in customers. It’s the classic Aussie-Greek milk bar and café with a range of quick and delicious bites from egg-and-bacon sangers for brekky and big burgers or fish’n’chips at lunchtime. More exotic dishes might pop up such as a terrine and truffle plate or grilled barramundi but it’s all authentic and a great reviver on a long road trip.
Hapi Dumpling Bar, Albury
The Hume cuts straight through Albury so if you’re hanging for a bite three hours out of Melbourne it’s an easy stop. Zero-in on Hapi Dumpling and you won’t be sad. Breezily decorated with a retro-vintage semi-industrial vibe, just tick-off items on the Asian-inspired menu and “eating pleasure will follow,” as our culinary spy raved. Try soft-shell crab bao, pork pot-stickers with red dragon sauce or a simple miso soup then journey onwards with a happy tummy.
Fowles Winery, Avenel
This Strathbogie Ranges winery is famous for its Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch label but happily, you’ll only need a knife and fork to enjoy Fowles Winery’s succulent offerings. Just off the freeway north of Seymour, with plenty of outdoor seating and an airy pavilion, Fowles’ restaurant makes the most of regional offerings and produce grown on the farm itself. So whether it’s a bowl of olives from a nearby hillside, harissa-spiced lamb shoulder or roo fillet washed down with a glass of Are You Game? Shiraz there’s heaps of tasty tucker to enjoy.
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