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Daylesford is food, spa and tree change territory. It’s a small country town about 90 minutes north west of Melbourne that specialises in natural therapies and relaxation. It also has plenty of accommodation choices, and cafes serving good food. Best of all, nearby is a mindblowingly good chocolate shop. Oh yeah! OH YEAH!
Since the late 1980's, Daylesford has been attracting arty types and gays and lesbians who have revitalised the area turning it into a cuisine, accommodation, massage and spa hot spot.
It has quite a bit to offer, meaning it will be impossible to do everything in a day. So here are some suggestions.
DAYLESFORD VIA TRENTHAM
Drive via Trentham and stop off at the Red Beard bakery in Trentham for its interestingly named and tasty sourdough breads. Fancy a blonde, a brunette or a Carmen Miranda?
Just beyond Trentham on the road heading towards Daylesford is the Fernleigh Organic Farm at 1070 Trentham Rd, Bullarto. This place specialises in organic carrots, other vegies, and organic pork from ancient breeds. It’s open Thursdays to Mondays (03 5348 5566).
Continuing along the road in Musk is Istra Meats. It’s signposted on a small blue and white sign. The people here make and smoke their own pancetta, prosciutto and sausages from locally bred pigs. Their food is delicious.
The most popular thing to do in Daylesford is to get a massage, or visit a spa. But the area also has plenty of galleries, including the Convent Gallery, you can paddle a boat down at the Boathouse, do short bashwalks, and of course eat....
DAYLESFORD CAFES
Daylesford has plenty on offer: spa places, massage centres, bed and breakfasts, a convent that has been turned into an art gallery, café and bar; the Daylesford lake where you can go for a walk, have a picnic or bbq, go fishing or hire a boat to paddle; and the Botanical Gardens on Wombat Hill – which was built on top of an extinct volcano.
The main street of Daylesford is full of cafes and shops:
Frangos & Frangos - offers city-style dining
82 Vincent St, Daylesford
Ph: (03 5348 2363)
www.frangosandfrangos.com
The Convent Gallery - is a big drawcard with its art displays, café and bar.
Cnr Hill and Daly streets, Daylesford
Ph: (03 5348 3211)
www.theconvent.com.au
Farmers Arms Hotel
1 East St, Daylesford.
Lunch and dinner bookings are highly recommended
Ph: (03 5348 2091)
www.farmersarms.com
Harvest Café – organic food
29 Albert St, Daylesford
Ph: (03 5348 3994)
www.harvestcafe.net.au/index.html
Lake House Restaurant – fine dining
King St, Daylesford
Ph: (03 5348 3329)
www.lakehouse.com.au
LOCAL MARKETS
First Saturday of the month: Daylesford Farmers' Market
Second Saturday: Kyneton
Third Saturday: Woodend and Talbot Farmer's Markets
Fourth Saturday: Lancefield Macedon Ranges Art and Craft.
DAYLESFORD SPA COUNTRY RAILWAY
Daylesford to Bullart via Wombat State Forest
This is a diesel pulled one carriage train through the Wombat State Forest and past extinct volcanoes to Bullarto, the highest operating station in Victoria.
www.dscr.com.au
HEPBURN SPRINGS
A short drive away is Hepburn Springs and its famous Hepburn Spa. It offers a large variety of treatments, including a Gentleman’s Spa (that doesn’t mean lap dancing for all you horn bags out there). You can also do a short walk around the Hepbun Spa grounds and taste water from four mineral springs. Warning. It won’t be to everyone’s taste or sense of smell.
www.hepburnspa.com.au/
Eating:
Lucini’s Historic Pasta Café – at the Old Macaroni Factory, 64 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs (03 5348 4345)
Red Star Café – 115 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs (03 5348 2297) www.theredstar.com.au
The Chowder House gets a good wrap. 97 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs (03 5348 2221)
LAVENDULA FARM
The Lavandular lavender farm is nearby. It has a café and sells all sorts of lavender products. There is an entry fee to the lavender fields and a lavender harvesting festival every January.
www.lavandula.com.au/
CHOCAHOLICS
For chocaholics, check out The Chocolate Mill on the Daylesford to Castlemaine Rd otherwise known as the Midland Highway. The turnoff is opposite the Farmers Arms Hotel. The mill is run by a husband and wife team who hand make every single chocolate using Belgian couverture chocolate. No preservatives are added which means the chocolates must be eaten within 7 – 10 days, if you can hold out that long. You can also grab a hot chocolate or coffee here.
www.chocmill.com.au
KYNETON
Check out the Royal George Hotel in historic Piper St, Kyneton. It’s only a short drive from Daylesford. The same people who used to run the Farmers Arms Hotel in Daylesford have spread their wings and magic to Kyneton. It’s not open every day so it’s advisable to phone and check (03 5422 1390). www.royalgeorge.com.au
Kyneton also has some other great food places:
Slow Living in Piper St does mini hampers and sells local organic and biodynamic produce. Ph: (03) 5422 3818. Open Fri - Sun.
Life's Sweet at 59 Piper St sells delicious cup cakes. Ph: (03) 5422 6226. Open Thurs - Sun from 10am - 4pm
Ladle Foodstore at 30 Piper St sells regional specialty smallgoods adn cheeses. Open every day from 10am - 5pm
WINERIES
Curly Flat Winery - 263 Collivers Rd, Lancefeld. Ph: (03) 5429 1956
Award winning chardonnay and pinot noir.
Ellender Estate - 260 Green Gully Rd in Glenlyon is a winery. Ph: (03) 5348 7785.
Winery and cafe selling wood fired pizzas, regional platters and offers eating on the terrace where you may see kangaroos hopping on the property. Open Sat, Sun and public holidays from 11am - 5pm
Granite Hills Wines - 1481 Burke and Wills Track, Baynton, Kyneton. Ph: (03) 5423 7264
Does cool climate rieslings and peppery shiraz.
Hanging Rock Winery - 88 Jim Rd, Newham via Woodend. Ph: (03) 5427 0542
Known for its excellent sparkling, the Jim Jim sauvignib blanc and Heathcote shiraz.
HANGING ROCK
Mt Macedon - Hanging Rock Rd. Hanging Rock was the setting for one of Australia's best loved classic novels - "Picnic at Hanging Rock". Several of the main characters mysteriously disappeared at the location. A movie was made in the 1970s based on the book.
Hanging Rock is very popular as a picnic spot and is the setting for the New Year's Day races.
www.hangingrock.info/
MORE INFORMATION
For more information, go to:
www.daylesford.info/
www.daylesfordonline.com/eat.php
www.visitdaylesford.com.au
www.dayget.com.au
www.daylesfordmassageandspa.com.au
www.escapesdaylesford.com.au
GETTING THERE
You can reach Daylesford via the Western Hwy or the Calder Hwy.
If you drive on the Calder Hwy, take the Woodend exit and follow the signs.
If you go via the Western Hwy, take the Bunding/Daylesford exit
Google map
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