Swan Reach: Cooking School, Distillery and Tambo River

Swan Reach lies on the Tambo River and brings together the river and a distinctive culinary side: Culinaire Cooking School focuses on practical cooking fundamentals, while East Gippsland Distillery ferments its own alcohol on site. There are also local opportunities for fishing, cycling and nature observation. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether cooking and good food, the water or exploring the wider area should be the main focus.

The Tambo River and the fishing competition

The waters of the Tambo River near Swan Reach offer opportunities for recreational fishing. There is also a specific technical detail to help you get your bearings: the Tambo River Bridge in Swan Reach has a clearance height of 6.6 metres. The Twin Rivers Bream Classic, held annually in July, includes Swan Reach along with Nicholson and Johnsonville. The multi-day fishing competition focuses on catching and releasing fish. If the competition is a key factor in your trip, check the current event dates in advance.

Cooking with a garden connection

Culinaire Cooking School teaches cooking fundamentals through hands-on practice rather than demonstration classes. This makes it a specific destination for travellers who are interested in cooking itself, not just finished dishes. An herb and kitchen garden was established to provide fresh produce for classes and workshops. The garden and teaching are therefore part of a shared culinary focus.

Course topics include grilling, cooking with seafood, herbs and spices, and international flavours. Check the current course offering before booking. The Culinaire Gift Shop also sells handmade preserves made from produce grown in its own garden. In this way, the garden is not only connected to classes and workshops, but also to the business’s products.

Distillery and regional food and drink profiles

East Gippsland Distillery is located in Swan Reach on the Tambo River and was formerly known as Logan’s Micro Distillery. It ferments its own alcohol on site rather than buying it in bulk. Lemons, figs and juniper are among the plants grown on the property. These details give the food and drink experience a tangible local dimension: both production methods and cultivation are part of the distillery’s profile.

The wider Twin Rivers area also brings its own wine and landscape experiences. Visitors can enjoy wine with a view at Nicholson River Winery. For a different kind of wine experience, there is Tambo Wines, which has a single vineyard and a cellar door. These two examples complement Swan Reach’s culinary focus with regional perspectives, without narrowing it to a single cuisine or product.

Cycling, trails and birdwatching

In the Twin Rivers region, visitors can cycle across a historic railway bridge on the East Gippsland Rail Trail. Trails also run along riverbanks and wetlands, as well as through other landscapes around Nicholson, Johnsonville and Swan Reach. This offers a range of nature experiences: pelicans, cormorants, birds of prey and woodland birds can be spotted in the area along riverbanks, in wetlands and on trails.

If a course or the Bream Classic is to determine your travel dates, check the current dates for each before finalising your plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Curdievale, Terang, Arthurs Creek, Mount Martha, Axedale, Aireys Inlet, Nyah, Winton North

For the main travel overview: Victoria.