Victoria has no shortage of great country pubs, and the 2026 AHA Victoria State Awards for Excellence have given caravan travellers a fresh list of road trip stops to add to the map.
For caravanners and campers, the most useful wins are the ones that help you plan a better trip: a proper counter meal after a day on the road, a town worth staying in, a bush pub with character, and a parma that might be worth building a weekend around.
For caravanners and campers, the most useful winners are not the big city venues. They are the regional hotels, bush pubs, family dining spots, casual dining winners, parma stops and community pubs that can turn a weekend away into a proper road trip.
And yes, before we go any further: it’s pronounced parma – not parmi.
Victoria’s 2026 Pub Winners Worth Adding to the Caravan Map
The major regional win went to Macedon Village Hotel, named Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional. The Bush Pub of the Year title went to Victoria Hotel, Dimboola, while Dargo Hotel picked up the regional Heart of the Community award.
For travellers chasing a good country meal, there are several more stops worth noting.
The Victoria Rutherglen won Best Pub Restaurant – Regional
Western Hotel, Ballarat and Five Flags Hotel, Campbells Creek shared Best Casual Dining – Regional
The Parma of the Year award was shared by three country pubs:
The Creekside Hotel in Warracknabeal, Lindenow Farmers Home Hotel, and Newborough Hotel.
Macedon Village Hotel
Winner: Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional
Macedon is one of the easiest pub-trip options for Melbourne-based caravanners. It is close enough for a short weekend away, but still gives you that proper regional feel with cool-climate scenery, small towns and the Macedon Ranges nearby.
For caravan travellers, the simple base is Macedon Caravan Park, which lists grassy sites, a camping ground, laundry facilities, barbecues, and room for large motorhomes and caravan clubs.
That makes Macedon Village Hotel a strong anchor for a relaxed food-and-travel weekend. Set up the van, explore the region during the day, then head into town for a pub meal.
Good for: Melbourne short breaks, couples, food-focused weekends, easy regional touring.
Dargo Hotel
Winner: Heart of the Community – Regional
Dargo Hotel is the one that absolutely belongs in a caravanning version of this story.
Unlike many of the other winners, Dargo Hotel does offer camping directly behind the pub. The hotel says it has a large paddock behind the pub, with travellers registering at the bar on arrival. At the time of writing, camping is listed at $15 per adult per night, dogs are welcome on leads, fires are permitted in your own fire pit or drum.
That makes Dargo one of the strongest stops. It is not just a pub meal. It is a destination.
The Dargo positions itself as the Gateway to the Victorian High Country, and it suits travellers who are heading for mountain roads, 4WD tracks, bush camping, fishing, touring and proper High Country scenery.
There is also another caravan-friendly option in town, with Dargo River Inn listing 20 powered sites, cabins and accommodation for larger groups.
Good for: High Country touring, 4WD travellers, bush campers, pub campers, travellers who want the pub to be part of the destination.
Victoria Hotel, Dimboola
Winner: Bush Pub of the Year
If there is one winner that naturally suits caravanners, it is Victoria Hotel, Dimboola.
The pub’s own accommodation page points travellers to Dimboola Free Camp, located at the showgrounds about 500 metres from the hotel. That makes this one of the easiest pub-and-camp combinations on the list.
Dimboola works beautifully as part of a western Victoria touring route. It can be tied into the Wimmera, the Little Desert region, Horsham surrounds, silo art touring and longer road trips towards South Australia.
This is the kind of stop caravanners love: pull in, set up nearby, stretch the legs, support the local pub and enjoy a proper bush-town atmosphere.
Good for: Bush pub lovers, free camp travellers, western Victoria touring, Wimmera road trips.
The Creekside Hotel, Warracknabeal
Winner: Parma of the Year. Tied 3 Ways
Warracknabeal gives travellers a classic Wimmera stop with an award-winning parma now added to the map.
For caravanners, Warracknabeal Caravan Park is the obvious base. It is located on Yarriambiack Creek and offers powered sites, unpowered sites, cabins, barbecue facilities, a walking track. Visit Wimmera Mallee also notes the park is about a 15-minute walk from the main street shops in Scott Street, which makes it practical for travellers who prefer to park the rig and walk into town.
This is a great pub stop to fold into a Wimmera or Silo Art Trail-style itinerary. Stay the night, slow down, and use the parma as the excuse to explore a town you may have otherwise driven through.
Good for: Parma hunters, Wimmera touring, Silo Art Trail detours, creekside caravan stays.
Lindenow Farmers Home Hotel
Winner: Parma of the Year – Tied 3 Ways
Lindenow gives East Gippsland travellers another pub stop to add to the list, especially now that Lindenow Farmers Home Hotel has shared the Parma of the Year title.
There does not appear to be obvious camping at the pub itself, so caravanners are better off treating this as a food stop from a nearby base. NRMA Bairnsdale Riverside Holiday Park is one strong option in the broader area, set on the banks of the Mitchell River with powered and unpowered caravan and camping sites.
This works well for travellers already exploring Bairnsdale, Paynesville, Lakes Entrance, the Gippsland Lakes or East Gippsland touring routes. Make Lindenow the lunch or dinner stop rather than the overnight base.
Good for: East Gippsland trips, Bairnsdale-based stays, Gippsland Lakes touring, parma road trips.
Newborough Hotel
Winner: Parma of the Year – Tied 3 Ways
The Newborough Hotel gives Gippsland travellers another award-winning parma stop, this time in the Latrobe Valley.
This makes Newborough an easy addition to a central Gippsland route. It is not necessarily a destination on its own for every traveller, but it fits well if you are already heading through Moe, Morwell, Traralgon, Walhalla, Erica or the wider Latrobe Valley.
Good for: Central Gippsland touring, Latrobe Valley stays, parma road trips, travellers heading towards Walhalla or Baw Baw country.
Alpine Hotel, Warburton
Winner: Best Casual Dining – Metropolitan
Warburton may sit in the metropolitan awards grouping, but for travellers it feels like a proper Yarra Valley escape.
Alpine Hotel, Warburton won Best Casual Dining – Metropolitan, making it a strong stop for caravanners who want a weekend around rivers, forest, walking trails, cycling, cafés and country-style pub dining.
For camping and caravan travellers, Warburton Holiday Park offers cabins, villas, powered sites and accessible options, with some sites by the river. G’day Parks also notes the park has accessible, pet-friendly and riverside options, and is a stroll from local shops.
This is a great short-break option for families, couples or anyone wanting a greener weekend without committing to a long drive.
Good for: Yarra Valley weekends, family camping, river stays, short breaks from Melbourne.
The Victoria, Rutherglen
Winner: Best Pub Restaurant – Regional
Rutherglen is already a strong caravan destination, so The Victoria, Rutherglen winning Best Pub Restaurant – Regional makes this one easy to include.
For travellers towing into town, BIG4 Rutherglen Holiday Park offers cabins plus powered and unpowered caravan and camping sites. The park also says it is within walking distance of the town centre, wineries and cafés.
This is one of the easiest award-winning pub stops to turn into a complete weekend. Base yourself in town, explore the wineries, visit the pub for a proper meal, and leave the van parked.
Good for: Food and wine weekends, couples, north-east Victoria touring, relaxed town-based stays.
Western Hotel, Ballarat
Winner: Best Casual Dining – Regional (Tied)
Ballarat is already one of Victoria’s most caravan-friendly short-stay destinations, with plenty to do across history, food, gardens, lakeside walks and family attractions.
The Western Hotel, Ballarat sharing the regional casual dining spotlight gives travellers another reason to put Ballarat on the weekend list. This one works best as part of a broader Ballarat stay rather than a pub-only detour.
Base yourself at one of Ballarat’s caravan parks, explore during the day, then use the pub as the dinner plan.
Good for: Goldfields weekends, family trips, Melbourne short breaks, history-focused touring.
Five Flags Hotel, Campbells Creek
Winner: Best Casual Dining – Regional (Tied)
Campbells Creek sits just outside Castlemaine, which makes Five Flags Hotel a useful stop for travellers exploring the central Victorian goldfields.
A practical nearby base is BIG4 Castlemaine Gardens Holiday Park, which offers cabins, powered sites and unpowered sites, including pet-friendly options.
This is a good one for travellers who like smaller towns, markets, old buildings, food producers, antiques, art trails and goldfields history. Stay around Castlemaine, then make the short trip to Campbells Creek for the pub meal.
Good for: Castlemaine weekends, goldfields touring, pet-friendly caravan stays, food-and-history trips.
Suggested Caravan Pub Trails
The Easy Weekend: Macedon Ranges
Base yourself at Macedon Caravan Park and use Macedon Village Hotel as the pub anchor. This is the simplest option for Melbourne-based travellers who want a short drive, a regional feel and an easy weekend away.
The Bush Pub Run: Dimboola
Head west and make Victoria Hotel, Dimboola the centrepiece. With Dimboola Free Camp about 500 metres from the pub, this is the strongest pub-and-camp pairing on the list.
The High Country Pub Camp: Dargo
For travellers who want the pub to be part of the destination, Dargo Hotel is the standout. Camping is available behind the pub, and the town is a classic gateway to Victorian High Country touring.
The Parma Lunch & Dinner: Lindenow and Newborough
This one is more of challenge. Start with The Newborough Hotel for lunch, then plan a Gippsland tour along 90 mile beach to Lindenow Farmers Home Hotel for dinner.
Before You Tow In
Before planning your whole day around a pub meal, check opening hours, booking requirements and parking access. Smaller country towns are usually welcoming to travellers, but not every pub has room nearby for a vehicle and caravan combination.
The best approach is simple: set up at the caravan park or camp first, then head to the pub without the rig. It makes the night easier, safer and more enjoyable.
Final Word
Victoria’s 2026 pub winners are more than a hospitality awards list. For caravan travellers, they are a ready-made road trip guide.
Macedon gives you the regional hotel winner. Dimboola gives you the bush pub and nearby free camp. Warracknabeal, Lindenow and Newborough give you the parma trail. Add in Rutherglen, Ballarat and Castlemaine/Campbells Creek, and you have the makings of several excellent Victorian caravan weekends.
Sometimes the best reason to take the van away is simple: a good road, a good town, somewhere to park the caravan, and a great country pub at the end of the day.
