Table of Contents
Daylesford and surrounds
- North:
- see also - Bendigo & surrounds distances from Daylesford: Castlemaine, Maldon, Bendigo
- South:
-
- East:
- see also - Eildon & surrounds
- West:
- see also - Ballarat
- see also:
- maps:
- websites:
- Daylesford online - download a cottage directory
- see also spa retreats
- cottages online:
- The Falls - waterfall, private lake & boat, fre, spa under the stars
- Willowbrook Cottages - family oriented
- Poolway - spa baths, wood fires, walk to Springs, Spa Resort
- Tuki Retreat - stone cottages, spa, OFP
Daylesford:
- historic, picturesque tourist centre in the heart of mineral spring region
- main lake is nice to walk around
- can swim and have hot showers or camp (commercial camp ground) at Jubilee Lake
- mineral springs
- short walks
- large antique store run be The Mill
- Wombat Hill gardens and lookout
- nearby spas at Hepburn Springs
North:
- Hepburn Springs:
- mineral water springs
- major spa resort
- see spa retreats
- Mt Franklin:
- extinct volcano with a free camp ground inside the caldera - see Mt Franklin reserve campground, near Daylesford
- see also - Bendigo & surrounds distances from Daylesford: Castlemaine, Maldon, Bendigo
South:
- Wombat State Forest:
- Blackwood:
- cottages:
- Woodbine Cottage - spa, wood fire
- Wombat Forest cottage Lerderderg State Park ph: 5368 6723
- O'Brien's Crossing:
- a nice fairly secluded spot for camping along the river (although not much water in Summer)
-
- visitors welcome 10am-1pm but must comply with clothing regulations
- can apply to sleep overnight
- Lerderderg State Park:
- bushwalking
- Lerderderg Gorge
- Bacchus Marsh:
- see Ballarat
East:
- Trentham:
- nice waterfall
-
- mineral springs
- historic township with nice bluestone buildings
- Black Hill
- rock climbing - see here
- Kyneton Quarry
- rock climbing - see here
- Bringalbit Country Retreat - 1895 stone house, accommodation, and also gardens open weekends 10am-4pm small fee
- Malmsbury:
- quaint town with a some old buildings, shops, a nice park and railway bridge
- Woodend:
- golf
- junction of roads to Bendigo, Daylesford, Hanging Rock and Melbourne
- cottages and B&B:
- Woodbury Cottage - traditional country accommodation
- Hanging Rock:
- easy 35min by car from Keilor on Calder Highway
- open 7 days a week 8am-6pm (closed Xmas Day) - see website
- 6 million yr old volcanic hill (mamelon) covered in massive rocks - lava has high soda content, forming unusual rock - solvsbergite (soda trachyte) which is also found on nearby Camel's Hump
- great for exploring & photography especially if not too hot eg. sunny or foggy winter's day - well worth it.
- fee per car entry fee (more on special event days); cafe; tennis courts, cricket ground, race course;
- 40min easy return walk to summit - night walks available by booking
- horse race carnivals especially on New Years Day & Australia Day
- Harvest Festival late February
- site of “Picnic at Hanging Rock” film based on schoolgirls who went missing on Valentine's Day, in the early 1900's adding to its mysterious atmosphere
- a couple of my photos of Hanging Rock:
- see also Wayne Coshall's infrared images of Hanging Rock using modified Canon dSLRs.
- want to know more about infrared photography? see here
- Mt Macedon:
- one of the 3 tallest mountains in central and western Victoria at 1013m
- trendy up-market residential area with beautiful gardens
- Camel's Hump & summit walks
- rock climbing - see here
- golf
- on several occasions each Winter, cold air masses bring light snow down to 600m for some snow play but no toboggan or skiing. On such occasions, the following day, the max temp on peak is usually 2degC whereas at the base is 7degC and in Melbourne 12degC.
- mountain resort accommodation:
- Craigielea - 3 secluded luxury mountain-top spa suites on an historic 32 acre property on Mt Hope
- Gisborne:
- outdoor markets on certain weekend days
- Sunbury:
- Emu Bottom Homestead - historic homestead; dinners for large groups in Aussie surroundings on a farm
- the birth place of The Ashes - Australia vs England test cricket.
- golf course
West:
- Yandoit:
- Jajarawong B&B (no longer a clothing-optional camping site)