Raining? Perfect. It’s time to get cosy.
This itinerary is your permission slip to enjoy a slow-paced day of art, books, food, whisky and theatre. It’s a tough life, but someone’s gotta do it. Got kids with you? Read our rainy day itinerary with kids.
9:00am – BeanStation, Wodonga
Start with a strong coffee and warming breakfast in a historic rail building. Try the chilli prawn scramble for some spice, a hearty truffled mushroom medley with fried polenta or maybe Nutella-smothered ricotta hotcakes if grey skies make you peckish for sweet comforts.
10:00am – Hyphen – Wodonga Library Gallery
Your belly is full and it’s time to get lost in books, exhibitions and architecture. Rainy days slow the world down. Without the rush, you read more deeply, notice more in the art and take in the quiet details around you. There’s nowhere else you need to be – and Hyphen is warm, dry and free.
11:30am – Basq Urban Spa & Beauty or Wodonga Public Art Trail
Deepen your relaxation game at Basq Urban Spa. Think luxe facials and deep-tissue massages while the rain taps on the roof. It’s indulgent, sure – but you’re on holiday, and the weather made you do it. Or, if you’ve got an umbrella and restless legs, take a self-guided stroll through Wodonga’s Public Art Trail. The grey skies will give the art a cinematic feel.
1:00pm – Level One Wine Bar, Albury
Time for a moody lunch with local, seasonal flavour. Start with the grazing board with Murray River Smokehouse meats, the brie mousse with quince, and then go all in on the entrecôte ribeye. Vegos, the roasted cauliflower cheek with macadamia sumac yoghurt won’t disappoint. Add wine. Watch the rain. You’re exactly where you need to be.
2:30pm – Albury Escape Room
Step out of the rain and into another world. Put your detective skills to the test and choose from immersive challenges like The Heist or Baker Street Mystery, and work against the clock to solve puzzles and escape the room. It’s creative, collaborative and guaranteed to get your brain firing. Rain? What rain?
4:00pm – Two Fingers Whisky and Music Bar, Albury
Still raining? Fabulous. Sink into a leather booth at this broody bolthole, where the lighting is low and the whisky list is high-end. With hundreds of peaty, smoky, smooth or spicy drops to choose from, there’s a dram for every palate. Stick around for dinner, or pop back in later when the band starts and open fire is toasty and inviting.
5:30pm – Dinner at La Maison Restaurant, Wodonga
On the banks of the Murray, you’ll find Gateway Island, home to La Maison – a charming old house with twinkly lights. Order slow-braised beef brisket with veggies and chimichurri, Jindera Lamb with mint feta almond pesto or perhaps the house potato gnocchi for a vegetarian option. You’ve got the perfect pre-theatre experience.
7:30pm – HotHouse Theatre, Gateway Island
A one-minute walk to the HotHouse and you can end your day with some bold, local storytelling at one of Australia’s leading regional theatre companies. Housed in a charming old butter factory, HotHouse Theatre has an annual program that’s thoughtful, provocative and delightfully unexpected. Book ahead, get cosy, and let the show send you home inspired after this perfect rainy day.