Daylesford & The Macedon Ranges Guides Attractions Events in Victoria

Clunes, one of the most original and intact gold towns in Australia, is nestled in a scenic valley 25 minutes north of Ballarat.

The discovery of gold in the area in 1851 signalled the beginning of the gold rush in Victoria, and in its heyday Clunes was the fifth largest town in the colony.

Today, Clunes is an attractive centre for artists, authors, historians and photographers. It's known for an intriguing range of accommodation, cafés, shops, galleries, wineries and old stores offering antiques and collectibles.

Take a walking tour and discover the charming architecture and history of the town. Among the many historical buildings are the 1860s Clunes Museum, the former London Chartered Bank (1871), the grand Town Hall and the former Post Office.

The Clunes Visitor Information Centre, housed in a school dating back to 1881, incorporates the Lee Medlyn Bottle Collection, a collection of more than 3,000 dolls, a display of local mining artefacts, an antique market and a working display of an 1860s soft drink factory.

Clunes has been used as a location for many films, television series and commercials. See if you can figure out where Ned Kelly (2002) and Mad Max were filmed.

Head out of town to Mt Beckworth State Park, a lovely spot year-round for bird watching, bushwalking and picnicking, and particularly beautiful in spring when the wildflowers are out.

Clunes is 148 kilometres north-west of Melbourne or about 90 minutes by car along the Western Freeway.

Creswick is a historic gold rush town set amid tall eucalyptus and pine forests just north of Ballarat in Victoria's Goldfields region.

Creswick's wide main street is dotted with historic buildings including the old Masonic Lodge, State Savings Bank (now an antique and gift shop), Creswick Library, Post Office and the Creswick Historical Museum.

Noted artist Norman Lindsay was born in Creswick. You can see a permanent exhibition of his paintings at the Creswick Historical Museum. The museum also displays paintings from the Lindsay family and historic artworks relating to Creswick's past.

Get outdoors and tour the Creswick Regional Park, which includes a 15-hectare koala park, trails through natural bushland, camp sites and picnic facilities. Follow the track around the shore of scenic St George Lake, home to waterbirds and the elusive platypus. Or, get yourself lost in the Tangled Maze, a garden maze grown from thousands of climbing plants.

Drop in a line at the Tuki Trout farm. You catch the fish and then it is cooked and served to you at this 1850s sheep station turned country retreat.

Take a short drive from Creswick to the mineral springs of Daylesford, the wineries of the Pyrenees, and the historic town of Clunes.

Creswick is 129 kilometres north-west of Melbourne or about 90 minutes by car on the Midland Highway.

Daylesford is a village in the heart of Victoria's spa country. A stone's throw from Melbourne, it has long been a premier spa and rejuvenation centre.

With a population of just 3000, Daylesford's numbers swell as visitors flock to discover its gourmet local produce, Victorian-era heritage, mineral springs and spas.

Early Swiss-Italian and other immigrants who settled in Daylesford during and after the region's gold rush greatly influenced the gardens and architecture, giving the town a European feel. Today, visitors come to sample the rejuvenating mineral waters, stay in luxury accommodation, explore craft and antique shops, go boating on the lake, or just relax with a glass of wine and enjoy the fine dining.

Daylesford supports a busy community of respected health and wellbeing practitioners who offer an array of natural therapy, holistic health and beauty treatments. Choose your therapy and indulge for an hour, a day or perhaps an entire weekend. Have the treatment come to you or relax in your chosen retreat.

Visit the award-winning Convent Gallery and pick up high quality local art and craft, take the Tipperary Walking Track and explore Hepburn Regional Park. Enjoy fine dining at the famous Lake House Restaurant or one of the other quality restaurants and cafés. Take the whole family and travel through the Wombat State Forest on the vintage railway that operates from Daylesford Station on Sundays.

Time your visit for the Regional Producers' Day in Daylesford each February, which showcases delicious local produce, or lose yourself in the larger-than-life pageant that is Chillout, the largest gay and lesbian event in regional Australia.

Daylesford is 108 kilometres north-west of Melbourne or about 90 minutes' drive on the Western Freeway or the Calder Freeway. V/Line operates regular, scheduled coach services to Daylesford.

Hepburn Springs is a historic village located in the middle of the largest concentration of mineral springs in Australia. The natural springs are full of health-giving minerals and every spring has a distinctive taste. The village enjoys a reputation as a very cosmopolitan community. Enjoy a coffee at one of the cafes and restaurants along Main Road or a beer at the local historic country pub. You can catch some great live music at the Palais or look for gifts, local produce and art and craft in one of the many unique shops and small galleries. Take the Historic Village Walk and discover the splendid architecture of many public buildings.
Hepburn Springs is becoming increasingly well-known for its resident masseurs and holistic therapists. Indulge in hydrotherapy, massage and beauty therapy at one of many day spas and wellness centres or book an in-house massage. The famous Hepburn Bathhouse is a mecca for the health-conscious and those who like to be pampered.
Walk through Hepburn Regional Park in spring and see colourful wildflowers and a wide range of animals and birds that inhabit the area. Serious hikers can take a longer walk, along the 16-kilometre Tipperary Track and explore natural wonders such as Sailors Falls, Mount Franklin, the Blowhole and the Hepburn Pool. You can always spend a relaxing afternoon exploring the Hepburn Springs Mineral Springs Reserve. Sample the mineral waters from the hand pumps and continuous-flow pipes or enjoy a picnic under the trees. You can bottle and drink the water free of charge.
Take in the glorious sights and smells of the historic Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm, with lavender fields in bloom from November through to February. Join in the community celebrations during the Lavender Harvest Festival in January. A round of golf on Hepburn Springs’ delightful 18-hole golf course is another great way to spend the day.
Hepburn Springs is just over one hour from Melbourne on the Western Freeway and Midland Highway, and three kilometres from Daylesford. V/Line has services from Melbourne via Woodend and Ballan.

Kyneton is a historic gold rush town located on the Campaspe River in Victoria's spa region. Visit the town to shop for antiques, taste local wines and drink from the health-giving waters of the Kyneton Mineral Springs.

Base yourself in Kyneton to explore the scenic countryside and discover treasures and historic reminders of the region's past. Explore the town's wide array of antique shops and galleries, as well as its National Trust recognised bluestone museum. Wander through the 19th century granite streets for more examples of preserved bluestone architecture, and head to the historic Piper Street precinct which presents a streetscape of historical significance.

Watch artists produce award-winning fine bone china figurines and porcelain and resin ceramics at Kyneton Fine China and Wattle Ceramics, or visit some of the stunning local private gardens, which are periodically open to the public through the Open Gardens Scheme.

The Kyneton Botanical Gardens were laid out in the late 1860s and early 1870s by Baron Ferdinand von Mueller. He provided a large number of trees and shrubs, most of which are still surviving. The Baron also laid out the Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Bendigo, Castlemaine and Malmsbury.

Kyneton’s racecourse is rated as one of the most picturesque in Victoria. The first record of horse racing held in Kyneton was in 1856. The Kyneton Cup, held on the first Wednesday in November, draws a large crowd. Other events include the Daffodil and Arts Festival in September and the Jazz, Blues and Heritage Festival in October.

Kyneton is 83 kilometres north of Melbourne or about one hour from Melbourne, off the Calder Highway. V/Line trains service Kyneton seven days a week.

Seymour is situated on the banks of the Goulburn River and has attractions ranging from military and railway sites, to parks, art galleries and wineries. Declared a town in 1863, Seymour is also a service centre for the nearby Puckapunyal army training grounds. In the 1940s Seymour's Royal Hotel, then called Moody's Hotel, came to prominence with its depiction in artist Russell Drysdale's painting The Cricketers.

The township of Woodend, north of Melbourne, has all the character and charm of country Victoria and offers locally produced arts and crafts.

Woodend has long been a popular rest stop for travellers. After the gold rush in the 1850s and 1860s, Woodend became a resort town with many guesthouses, large private gardens, a racecourse, golf club and hotels. Today visitors wander the antique stores, galleries, boutique gift shops or weekend markets. You can also explore the scenic bushland of Macedon Regional Park, visit local cellar doors and meet the winemakers, or play the cliff-top golf course with its panoramic views from the 10th hole.

Hanging Rock, located about seven kilometres east of Woodend, was reputedly a hideout for bushrangers like Mad Dog Morgan during the heady gold rush days. However, since the popularity of Peter Weir's film (1975) of Joan Lindsay's novel (1967) Picnic at Hanging Rock, mystery and intrigue have surrounded the rock.

The rock itself rises 105 metres from the plain and is a small steep-sided volcano. The lava has created unusual rock formations such as the Black Hole of Calcutta and the Cathedral. You can take a stroll or a challenging climb on the rock – scaling pinnacles and squeezing through crevices.

The Hanging Rock Picnic Races are held every Australia Day (January 26) and New Year's Day, a tradition lasting more than 80 years. In late February, enjoy a celebration of local food and wine at the annual Harvest Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Woodend is 67 kilometres north of Melbourne or just under an hour on the Calder Highway. V/Line trains service Woodend seven days a week.