Explore Daylesford

Mineral springs, long lunches and forest walks, about 90 minutes from Melbourne

Daylesford and Hepburn Springs sit at the heart of Australia’s largest concentration of mineral springs, surrounded by state forest, volcanic hills and some of regional Victoria’s best food and wine. Whether you’re here to soak, walk, shop or simply slow down, here are a few of our favourite ways to spend your stay.

Local favourites

The places our guests ask about most — click through for opening hours and bookings.

• Cliffy’s Emporium — a Daylesford institution on Raglan Street, with brunch, coffee and regional produce in a former general store.
• Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm — lavender fields, stone farmhouses and long lunches at Shepherds Flat, ten minutes north of town.
• Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa — historic mineral bathing in the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve.
• The Convent Daylesford — gallery, café and history on Wombat Hill, with art that changes every eight weeks.
• Lake House — Daylesford’s celebrated lakeside restaurant and spa.
• Farmers Arms Hotel — a much-loved country pub on East Street, with seasonal Mediterranean and modern Australian cooking.
• Sault — country dining overlooking lavender and a lake at Sailors Falls.
• Daylesford Sunday Market — over 100 stalls at the railway station every Sunday morning.
• Daylesford Spa Country Railway — Sunday heritage train rides through the forest to Bullarto.
• Mill Markets — one of Victoria’s largest indoor markets for antiques and vintage, open seven days.

Soak and unwind

Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa has welcomed bathers since 1895, drawing mineral water straight from the source in the leafy Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve. Established in 1865, the reserve is Australia’s oldest of its kind. Bring a bottle and taste the different springs along the creek, then follow the walking tracks into the gully.

The region is also home to a wide range of day spas, from Japanese-inspired bathhouses to intimate treatment rooms in town. Book ahead on weekends and in winter.

Lakes, gardens and walks

• Lake Daylesford — an easy loop around the water, with mineral springs at Central Springs Reserve and a café stop at the boathouse.
• Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens — historic gardens on the crown of an extinct volcano, with a lookout tower, views to Mount Franklin and the Wombat Hill House café.
• Jubilee Lake — picnics, a mineral spring and paddling on the water, a short drive from town.
• Tipperary Walking Track — a full-day bushwalk of around 16km linking Lake Daylesford to the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve, past old goldfields and springs along the way.
• Mount Franklin — a volcanic crater with a picnic ground inside and a short, steep walk to the summit.

Eat and drink

Daylesford helped spark regional Victoria’s food scene, and it still punches well above its weight. Expect hatted dining rooms, cosy country pubs, bakeries, wineries and cellar doors across the shire. Many of our homes come with generous kitchens and outdoor entertaining spaces, so stock up on local produce at the markets and make a long lunch of it.

Popular restaurants book out quickly on weekends and holidays — we recommend reserving before you arrive.

Markets, galleries and shopping

• Daylesford Sunday Market — local makers, fresh produce and antiques at the old railway station, every Sunday morning.
• The Convent Gallery — a beautifully restored 19th-century building beside the botanic gardens, with changing exhibitions, a café and sweeping views.
• Mill Markets — a vast indoor market of antiques, vintage and collectables, open seven days.
• Vincent Street — Daylesford’s main street, lined with bookshops, homewares, boutiques and cafés.

Beyond Daylesford

Some of the region’s best moments are a short drive away. Wander the lavender at Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm near Shepherds Flat, explore the cool-climate villages of Trentham and Lyonville on the edge of the Wombat State Forest, or head to Kyneton for its Piper Street cafés and dining.

Seasons and events

Every season brings something different: lavender in summer, golden avenues and harvest feasts in autumn, open fires and festivals like Words in Winter, and spring gardens and the Swiss Italian Festa in Hepburn Springs. For what’s on during your stay, visit Visit Hepburn Shire.

From our friends

Discover creative and wellness experiences with The Retreats Daylesford, and explore our local partners including The Farm Daylesford, Wombat Park Estate, Enki Apothecary and Lost Magazine. See all on our Partners page.

Find your base

With homes across Daylesford, Hepburn Springs, Trentham, Kyneton and the surrounding villages, there’s a Houses Daylesford property close to everything on this list. Our team is local and happy to share recommendations before and during your stay.