Rolling hills, charming villages and spa towns, a thriving arts scene and a boutique wine region make the Daylesford & The Macedon Ranges one of Victoria’s best kept secrets.

The best things to do in Daylesford & the Macedon Ranges includes visiting the region’s mineral springs, seeing Trentham Falls, hiking to the Hanging Rock Summit, visiting Macedon Ranges wineries and indulging in excellent food & wine at the region’s best cafes, pubs and bars.

Located in Central Victoria, Daylesford & Macedon Ranges is an easy day trip or weekend trip from Melbourne.

I’ve lived in Melbourne for nearly ten years and have visited Daylesford & the Macedon Ranges several times – there is always more to discover!

PS. It’s on the other side of the world, but if you love Daylesford & the Macedon Ranges, you’ll love Hudson and the Hudson Valley, which is the perfect side trip on a trip to New York City. Worlds apart, but with both areas are artist colonies, full of excellent farm-to-table dining and gorgeous antiques, these two regions are cut from the same cloth!

Where is Daylesford & The Macedon Ranges?

Daylesford is in the Macedon Ranges, a region of Central Victoria which is a 1hr 20 minute drive from Melbourne. The Macedon Ranges is wedged between Melbourne, Geelong and the Goldfields.

Daylesford is close enough to Melbourne that it makes a great day trip, but there’s so much to do in Daylesford & the Macedon Ranges that you could easily make a weekend of it.

The region takes its name from Mt Macedon, which is part of a dormant, 6 million year old volcano.

Find the best accommodation in Daylesford & Macedon Ranges

Hanging Rock Summit Walk

The Hanging Rock Summit Walk on Mt Macedon is one of my favourite short walks that you can do on a day trip from Melbourne. It’s a 1.8km, short but steep circuit trail, with so many beautiful viewpoints along the way.

Don’t rush it, so you can take your time scrambling around to all of the lovely viewpoints along the way and at the top. I love this hike!

Hanging Rock is famous for being the setting of the classic Australian novel,  Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay, which was adapted into a 1975 film of the same name.

Picnic at Hanging Rock is an eerie Australian classic set in 1900, about a group of school girls who vanish from Hanging Rock while on a Valentine’s Day picnic. The novel & the movie make Hanging Rock a popular spot, but it’s a beautiful hike in its own right. 

Get breakfast before your walk at Fox in the Chamber in Woodend. Drive to Hanging Rock Cark Park, parking is $10.

The Convent Gallery Daylesford 

Housed in a 19th century former convent, The Convent Daylesford is an award-winning art gallery that is one of Victoria’s loveliest cultural treasures. The four-storey former convent has been converted into an art gallery, which truly inhabits the historic space.

Exploring the labyrinthine convent creates a unique art gallery experience unlike any other gallery I’ve visited in the world. It’s soulful, full of character and such a strong sense of place. 

Owner and Director Tina Banitska has achieved her vision of creating a space to share beauty with everyone, while preserving the history and spirituality lingering in the walls.

Every room is a new surprise, from the expertly curated gallery rooms, to the bright yellow foyer to the chapel still contained in the heart of the convent, to the joyfully decorated restaurant to the tiny, single-room museum dedicated to the Presentation Sisters, who founded the convent.

At time of writing, entry is $10 and it is the best $10 you will spend all day!

Trentham Falls

Trentham Falls is one of the highest single drop waterfalls in Victoria, and honestly one of the most beautiful I’ve seen in the state. The waterfall plunges 32 metres over ancient basalt rock, in a lush natural setting, and is at its most spectacular a day after rain.

There’s a short, 70 metre walkway to the lookout, which is accessed from the carpark by a set of stairs. The falls are popular, but nowhere near as popular as you’d expect such an accessible waterfall to be.

Trentham Falls is located roughly halfway between Kyneton and Daylesford, and is an extremely rewarding stop during your time in the Macedon Ranges.

Daylesford

Daylesford is the most elegant town in the Macedon Ranges, and a regional hub. Daylesford is one of the most popular places to stay in the Macedon Ranges, with a range of luxury accommodation, spas and high end restaurants – all the makings of an indulgent weekend getaway.

Find hotels in Daylesford

Farmers Arms Hotel

The Farmers Arms Hotel in Daylesford is one of Victoria’s great country pubs. It’s a gorgeous, 165 year old pub, with a produce-driven menu that lives up to the pub’s name, and an impressive wine list. We had the best lunch here, I couldn’t recommend it more highly and would love to come back again! It is extremely popular, so make sure you book a table in advance. 

Amazing Mill Market

The Amazing Mill Market is an enormous antiques market in Daylesford, which has to be one of the biggest and best antiques markets in Australia. Dozens of vendors gather to create a mind-boggling emporium of antique furniture, decor, art and clothing, and you’d be hard pressed not to find what you’re looking for here.

You could spend over an hour here easily! I came home with a gorgeous, green glass vase from the 1930s that I’m absolutely obsessed with.

Hanging Rock Winery

Visiting Macedon Ranges wineries is one of the best things to do in Daylesford & The Macedon Ranges, and there are so many to choose from! Hanging Rock Winery is one of my favourite wineries in Victoria, with award-winning wines and an exceptionally beautiful setting, with views over the vineyards to Hanging Rock.

Hanging Rock Winery’s cellar door is open seven days, with no reservations required. Generously, they offer free wine tastings, and you can order cheese boards to enjoy on the lawn over a glass of wine.

Daylesford Cider 

Enjoying a cider tasting paddle on the lawn of Daylesford Cider is one of the best things to do in Daylesford & the Macedon Ranges, especially when the weather is nice! Daylesford Cider has an idyllic, English tavern-style cellar door, with an onsite restaurant and lawn, strung up with bunting to complete the English countryside feel.

From Friday through Sunday, the restaurant has woodfired pizzas, with share plates and charcuterie boards available on the other days.

Camel’s Hump on Mt Macedon

Camel’s Hump is the highest point in the Macedon Ranges at 1101 metres, offering panoramic views over the surrounding countryside. It’s a short but steep, 500 metre walk to the lookout, but the views are all the reward you need.

Kyneton

Kyneton is one of the Macedon Ranges’ most charming villages, with wide streets lined with historic buildings and filled with cosy cafes, bakeries and gourmet delis. Wander down charming Piper Street to get a feel for Kyneton, and stop in for coffee at Monsieur Pierre, for breakfast at Social Foundry or Homegrown on Piper, or to Sisko for hand crafted French chocolate.

Further Reading

Discover more of regional Victoria with these guides:

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