Kaniva

Just 18km from the South Australian border, the wool and wheat town of Kaniva thrives on titles. Depending on which section of the community is calling the shots, Kaniva is known both as 'Victoria's premier smaller town' or as 'the wildflower capital of the Little Desert'.

Little Desert is a misnomer for a reserve which gets enough rain to support a wide variety of native animals and more than 650 plant species. It is renowned for its springtime wildflower displays.

Flowers are also the focus of the town's Iris Farm while you can share a barbecue with the odd emu and kangaroo at the Fauna Park on the western edge of Kaniva.

The local museum's collection includes a horse trough donated by Annis and George Bills. Folklorists claim the trough is one of an estimated 70,000 the Bills gifted to various Aussie towns and villages.

If time forbids a visit to the Little Desert, you can catch up on some of the local wild flowers on the 3km, sign-posted bush walk which starts from the Billy Ho Reserve half a dozen kilometres south of the town.