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Wangaratta
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The small city of
WANGARATTA
, at the junction of the Ovens and King rivers, 16km from Glenrowan, is a convenient overnight stop between Sydney and Melbourne, but there are few reasons to linger unless you're here for the famous four-day
Wangaratta Festival of Jazz
(tel 03/5722 1666,
www.wangarattajazz.org.au
). Beginning on the Friday prior to the Melbourne Cup (usually the last weekend in Oct), this is one of the premier jazz events in the country, attracting national stars and international legends. Much of the city's accommmodation is booked out two years in advance, so reserve ahead if you're planning to attend. The highway on either side of "Wang" is lined with motels, and the staff at
Wangaratta Tourist Information
, on the corner of Handley Street and Tone Road (daily 9am-5pm; tel 03/5721 5711 or free call 1800 801 065,
www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au
), can book local tours and accommodation and give out stacks of leaflets about the area. The
Wangaratta Arts Centre
on Ovens Street is a fine old red-brick building containing a gallery (daily noon-5pm; free; tel 03/5722 0865) which has a changing programme of exhibitions and hosts occasional music recitals on Sunday afternoon.
There is a vast range of accommodation . Good choices include the Wangaratta Central Motel , 11 Ely St, next to Merriwa Park (tel 03/5721 2188; $50-70); the Billabong Motel , 12 Chisholm St (tel 03/5721 2353; $35-50), with good-value singles; and the modern Hermitage Motor Inn , corner of Mackay and Cusack streets (tel 03/5721 7444, fax 5722 1812; $70-90), which has a pool. In terms of food , Scribbler's Cafe , at 66 Reid St, serves good cakes and lunchtime fodder, while Coffee.com , at 74 Ovens St, has similar fare and internet access. Dinner is predominantly an Italian affair: the renowned Cafe Martini at the Bull's Head Hotel , 87 Murphy St, has great but pricey wood-fired pizza, while D'Amico's at the corner of Vincent and Greta roads has overcooked alternatives. For something a little more special, the bistro at the Vine Hotel on Detour Road serves excellent local food and wine in a congenial setting (tel 03/5721 2605).
V/Line operates a daily
bus service
from Wangaratta to Bright via Beechworth, and a bus service three times a week to Rutherglen and once to Yarrawonga. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Australia,
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