Every bite tells a story | Cactus Country: A Mexican feast in Strathmerton

By Jan Phillips

Jun 6, 2024

Paul and Jan Phillips at the Cactus Country entrance. Photo by Contributed

Dive into the heart of the Goulburn Valley’s culinary scene with Jan and Paul Phillips. Every Friday, the pair will serve our readers with their knowledge of our communities’ restaurants, cafés and pubs — one plate at a time.

Cactus Country adventures with Paul and Jan Phillips. Photo by Contributed

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Visiting Cactus Country was both surprising and unsurprising. We had heard through the grapevine what a fun and unique place it was, but we did not really know what to expect, and it blew us away.

Jim and Julie Hall and their family have created an amazing collection and a wonderful attraction for the region. It’s just a quick 45-minute drive north from Shepparton, located on the outskirts of Strathmerton. The Murray River country is clearly ideal for these types of plant species.

This tourist attraction has won numerous awards over the years, including a gold medal winner at the Victorian Tourism Awards and a Traveler’s Choice Award from Tripadvisor. It is a fun and lively place, well worth a visit. They even filmed a MasterChef episode at Cactus Country.

The garden is spectacular and a must-see. The passion that has gone into the construction and development is evident, featuring succulents and cacti from all over the world.

Jim’s father was the original collector, and when he decided to sell his collection, Jim and Julie bought it, thus beginning their dream. They even have a cactus collection from another enthusiast who wished (after his death) for his collection to be kept together, a request that Jim and Julie honoured.

The nursery side of the business is also a sight to behold, and we couldn’t resist purchasing an unusual plant called an elephant’s foot, adding another beauty to our ever-growing collection of interesting plants.

A journey through the prickly paradise of a cactus land. Photo by Contributed

Our day was full of celebration, as it was a friend’s birthday and one of the reasons for our visit. The café is quirky with a strong Mexican theme — Margaritas all around and Mexican beer to start with. The spiced fries were so moreish, as were the corn ribs. In fact, the corn ribs were the highlight for us — spicy, sweet, juicy and delicious. Jalapeño poppers, nachos and tacos were also well received. Cactus cake and ice-cream were excellent to finish off.

After a fabulous Mexican-style lunch, we strolled around the 12 acres of the ever-expanding garden. It was a beautiful day with great friends, an interesting and unique venue and wonderful food.

Operating hours are Wednesday through Sunday, from 10am to 5pm, and closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Food pricing for Cactus Country, rated by Jan and Paul: $$

(Expensive $$$, moderate $$ good value $)