Drouin Streetscape family walking past bird mural

Discover Drouin

The bustling town of Drouin is chock full of retail outlets, green open spaces, reserves and has a strong cafe culture.

Drouin is a commercial centre for the West Gippsland region, bordering the nearby town of Warragul. Clustered around the main thoroughfare, the Princes Highway, the town is in the midst of the rich agricultural land and bucolic countryside for which West Gippsland is famed. There is a strong cafe culture and plenty of eateries offering hearty breakfasts, tapa menus and decadent cake selections.

Brandy Creek Estate ladies having lunch at Drouin winery infront of glass windows

Drouin Civic Park family admiring lake and flowers

Brandy Creek Winery birds eye of food and wine

Drouin Market person looking through handmade crafts

Drouin Ficifolia avenue trees flanking road

Drouin's parks & reserves

Get the legs pumping and cycle the 8km Two Towns Cycling Trail connecting Drouin and Warragul. The wide, flat and easy-to-ride shared pathway is perfect for children and learner riders.

Take an amble around the sweeping lawns and manicured gardens of Civic Park or Alex Goudie Park, complete with rotunda and man-made lake full of carefree ducks.

If you're visiting in summer, wander down Ficofolia Avenue beneath a canopy of the vibrant red and pink. In February, look out for the Ficofolia festival, celebrating the beauty of the red flowering gum.

The welcoming town caters well to travellers, and is known for its many giant trees, many of which have a girth greater than 6 metres. For more information on Drouin's tree scene, keep an eye out for the locally produced book Drouin Tree Walks, available from local outlets.

Hear the trickling of a playful creek as you walk around the lightly forested Robin Hood Reserve. Interpretation signs are studded along the track and shed light on its Aboriginal significance.

Drouin Civic Park family on bridge watching creek

Art & culture in Drouin

Pop by Commercial Place to see the stunning technicolour mural featuring local birds and flowers by street artist Dan Wenn. This graffiti-style urban art is an inspirational message to save Drouin's trees, where rainbow lorikeets and crimson rosellas shelter in the hollows.

Art is the lifeblood of Drouin, home to many creative souls who produce wondrous works from linocuts, oil paintings, jewellery, cards and glasswork. You can arrange studio visits by appointment to see linocut etching and printing at Helen Timbury's studio (she also runs workshops) or see the most exquisite glass beads being made with Beady Wendy.

Twice annually (Apr and Nov), artists in the areas open their studio doors to visitors for Open Studios West Gippsland, for a chance to meet the makers, hear the stories behind the works and buy something special direct from the artist.

Each month the Drouin Craft and Produce Market (third Saturday of the month) brings Civic Park to life, turning the park into a bustling marketplace for these skillful folk to showcase their wares.

Open Studios West Gippsland artist Helen Timbury linocut printing in Drouin studio

Cafes & restaurants in Drouin

Cafe culture is strong in Drouin. The French Pear has your go-to lunch covered, while The Health Barn offers organic fairtrade coffee, raw slices, and a pantry of healthy staples. Le-Meilleur-Drouin flies under the radar, and those in the know are treated to authentic Vietnamese food with a modern twist. Middels Tapas Bar & Restaurant's hearty breakfasts and extensive tapas menu draw a crowd from far and wide.

Just a stone’s throw from Drouin's centre, you’ll find Brandy Creek Estate Brandy Creek Estate offering an exceptional cellar door experience with tastings of their premium cool climate wines. Enjoy a tapas or two, or take some time to unwind in the day spa.

At Ripplebrook Winery, in the undulating hills south of Drouin, enjoy wines from their organic vineyard accompanied by delicious woodfired pizza or an antipasto platter from Laura Rae's Restaurant under the trees.