Daylesford
Wine Country · Nature · Relaxed · Good for couples and solo travellers
Daylesford is where Melbourne goes to slow down. It sits in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, in the heart of Victoria's spa country, where people have been bathing in the mineral springs for well over a century. Spend a morning soaking at the historic bathhouse in neighbouring Hepburn Springs, then wander tree-lined streets of Victorian shopfronts, antique stores and galleries. Walk the edge of Lake Daylesford, or climb to the botanic gardens on Wombat Hill for views across town. The food is a big part of the trip, from cosy cafés to the celebrated Lake House, so book ahead. It's about 90 minutes from Melbourne, close enough for a weekend that feels much longer.
A weekend here might look like
- Morning: Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens - Hillside gardens planted on an extinct volcano above the town, with old conifers, oaks and shaded lawns to walk through. The Pioneer Memorial Tower at the top opened in 1938 and is 80 steps up for a view across the district.
- Lunch: Lake House, Daylesford - The dining room of the lakeside hotel the Wolf-Tasker family opened in 1979, serving seasonal Australian cooking with much of the produce grown on their own farm a few minutes down the road. Choose between a multi-course lunch and the tasting menu, and book well ahead for weekends.
- Afternoon: Lake Daylesford - A small lake a few minutes walk from the main street, ringed by a flat loop track of about 2 km that most people finish in half an hour. The path passes the boathouse and the mineral spring taps at Central Spring and Wombat Flat, where you can taste the sparkling groundwater the region is known for.
More to explore
- The Convent Daylesford - A former convent on the hill above Daylesford, now several floors of art gallery, museum rooms, a chapel and terraced gardens. Entry is about 10 dollars and stays valid for three days, and you should book if you want a table in the cafe.
- The Farmers Arms Daylesford - Daylesford's oldest pub, trading since 1857, with a beer garden and a menu of pub classics built around regional producers. It is worth booking for dinner.
- Cliffy's Emporium - A 1955 corner store turned cafe, with timber shelves of local preserves and mineral water still lining the walls. It does breakfast and lunch, and the dish it is known for is the hash brown with aged cheddar, bacon, free-range eggs and chipotle hollandaise.
- Wombat Hill House, Daylesford - The cafe inside Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, in an old house with lawn seating under the trees. No bookings are taken, and dogs are welcome in the garden.