Want to support places that put sustainability at the heart of what they do? You’ll uncover ethical producers, regenerative farms, low-impact accommodation, restorative walks in nature and more throughout the region.

EAT & DRINK

Concerned about the food miles associated with what you eat? The region’s rich soils provide restaurants with ample fresh produce, with kitchen gardens a clever way for chefs to put hyperlocal fruit and veg on your plate.

In Hepburn Springs, The Surly Goat’s connections with local regenerative farmers means top-quality seasonal produce is featured on its everchanging menu. In Daylesford, Lake House serves vegetables and herbs grown nearby at Dairy Flat Farm. Set in a charming country homestead, Sault restaurant also has a thriving kitchen garden (children who dine at the restaurant are also gifted a packet of seeds to take home and plant themselves). Popular Japanese restaurant Kadota’s commitment to supporting local producers is reflected in its elevated fare focused on freshness and seasonality.

In Kyneton, most of the organic vegies served at Home Grown on Piper café are grown on the owner’s farm, while rustic meals at Trentham’s du Fermier feature produce cultivated at chef Annie Smithers’ farm, Babbington Park.

In Romsey, Mount Monument’s restaurant menu showcases local producers, with olives from Barfold and sourdough from Woodend accompanying the vineyard’s vegan-friendly wines. Mount Macedon’s Mt Towrong Vineyard crafts minimal intervention, small-batch wines without using pesticides and herbicides, while Zig Zag Road Wines in Drummond North has transitioned from conventional to regenerative farming to create their range of lo-fi drops beloved by locals.

The region’s distillers are also committed to reducing waste and crafting products with integrity. Hepburn Distillery’s sloe gin is made in small batches seasonally using foraged berries. Likewise, Mountain Distilling’s Tasting Room in New Gisborne serves gins made with locally foraged botanicals.

STAY

In Hepburn Springs, Green Retreat Passive House (bookable through Dayget) is a 9-star energy-rated passive house that feels secluded, despite being an easy walk to cafés and restaurants. With triple-glazed windows and smart climate control, this modern retreat is cosy all year round.

Keen to enjoy an off-grid stay surrounded by nature? Book a weekend break at Unyoked’s Ottessa tiny house. With a composting toilet and solar-powered lighting, this is the perfect place for a slow-paced, low-impact getaway.

In bucolic Blampied, Monterey Eco Stay is surrounded by acres of native forest, so you’ll wake up to birds calling at dawn. Constructed using salvaged timber, you won’t want to leave this solar-powered tiny home amongst the trees.

Powered by the sun and the wind, Gisborne Peak Winery Cottages put you in prime position to enjoy wine and wood-fired pizzas at the cellar door, which is just steps away.

PLAY

Nature is right on your doorstep with hundreds of walking tracks to choose from. Walk the Camel’s Hump trail at Macedon Regional Park, take on the Hanging Rock Summit Walk or wander the peaceful Wombat State Forest’s Domino Trail that links Trentham and Lyonville. A gentle walk suitable for most ages and abilities, a stroll around Lake Daylesford is the perfect start to the day.

If you’re an animal lover, book a farm tour of Edgar’s Mission to see rescued goats, sheep, pigs, donkeys and more living in harmony in Lancefield. On the tour you’ll get to learn about this not-for-profit’s incredible work and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to hand-feed the goats a Weet-Bix or two.

The Green Store in Trentham sells a range of products that help people to live a more sustainable lifestyle. From Australian-made wooden puzzles to litter-free lunch boxes, The Green Store has something for every room of your house.

A short drive from Daylesford, Maze House is a fun day trip for the whole family. Waste is minimised throughout the property, with maze prunings turned into mulch and kitchen scraps from the café composted or fed to chooks. Plastic waste has also been reduced, with glass bottles preferred and upcycled op-shop cups used instead of takeaway cups.

During the warmer months, make a beeline for the region’s family-run micro flower farms, like Fleurs de Lyonville and Spring Hill Peony Farm. Open on select days when the flowers are in bloom, attending a workshop, open day or farm tour is a great way to both support local growers and return home with an armful of fragrant cottage blooms.

EV CHARGING STATIONS

Charge your electric vehicles at charging stations in Woodend, Kyneton, Daylesford, Creswick, Harcourt or Castlemaine.

Hero image: Camels Hump.