Gold Rush Pub Promotes Green Tourism
It’s easy to mistake the Victoria Hotel in Rutherglen for a classic gold rush era pub, but there’s much more to it than meets the eye.
Owners Sarah Pilgrim and Sean Morris have brought the old pub into the 21st Century by offering environmentally friendly cycling packages for their guests.
Complete with welcome cocktail, breakfast, bike hire and servicing (for those nasty flat tires), The Vic offers a great option for families, casual riders and avid cyclists to experience the stunning wine region.
With the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail right on their doorstep, Sarah and Sean go riding with their three daughters almost every week.
“We started cycling as a family and then realised that there are some great wineries and little spots along the river to stop at,” Sarah said.
The trail passes by picnic spots on the Murray River and an assortment of wineries and cafés where cyclists can stop for a bite or a tipple of locally-made treats.
The final leg of the trail between Rutherglen and Wahgunyah was completed last year with the help of a Victorian Government grant. It has provided a great resource in the region for locals and tourists to get active.
“The Rail Trail redevelopment is really important to the community. We’re constantly worried about our health and so it’s great that the trail is right on our doorstep. People can go and use it anytime and it’s safe and free,” Sarah said.
Sarah and Sean moved to Rutherglen five years ago after 15 years travelling through Europe, Africa and the Middle East with Sean’s job. When asked why they chose Rutherglen, the answer was simple.
“This is the kind of community we were looking for to raise our children,” Sarah said.
After purchasing The Vic the pair decided they wanted to stand out from the crowd, so they created their now popular cycling packages.
“Bicycle tourism is a growing market so we latched onto it with both hands. It’s appropriate to our hotel too – kind of quirky but not too rough and ready,” Sarah said.
“It’s that feel good factor. People go for a ride and then they feel they’ve earned a glass of wine.”
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