That said, there is a magical window of time between 6pm and sunset, when it’s not time for bed (yours or your kids’), and you have a few hours to cram in some fun.

EVENING TIPPLE

I love beer almost as much as my dear friend Chuck…see his article here for the best pubs in our ‘hood. Having a cool drink at the end of the day is almost transcendental. My favourite spots include the balcony of the Daylesford Hotel, and the beer gardens in the many pubs nearby.

If your taste is more sophisticated, cocktails at Botanik, Miss M’s or Animus in Kyneton, and the legendary
Palais -Hepburn in Hepburn Springs are delightful.

STRETCH YOUR LEGS

The longer evenings also present perfect opportunities for adventure. I LOVE off-road bike riding so enjoy a ‘gravel’ ride on any of the country lanes in the region (you hardly see a car), or a good session on the mountain bike at La Larr Ba Gauwa MTB park in Harcourt, or the Goldfields Track, which runs from Ballarat to Bendigo. I think the best bits are between Creswick and Vaughan Springs.

I also love my wife and daughters, and we fit in as many evening ‘family walks’ as we can: Lake Daylesford and Jubilee Lake are perfect, as is the afore-mentioned Goldfields Track. Camels Hump and Lake Sanatorium in the Macedon Ranges are brilliant, and there are plenty of great walks around Creswick as well.

If you want to tone your arms, why not have a bit of a paddle? Another mate, Paul, writes about paddling spots on page 10, but for me, Jubilee Lake in Daylesford is the spot, as you can hire a canoe or paddleboat from the Jubilee Lake Holiday Park.

SUNSET DINING

You can stretch your legs a bit further on the pretty golf course at RACV Goldfields Resort in Creswick, then enjoy sublime views and great alfresco dining at the Three Founders restaurant. Bistro Terroir in Daylesford offers a cool Parisian vibe as you sit at tables on the footpath eating French cuisine and watch the world go by. Fook Shing in Kyneton offers sumptuous South-East Asian food and has a huge outdoor dining space. Warm weather + outdoor space + Asian food = magic.

My family also loves a sunset picnic. We often head to Tipperary Springs where there’s a mineral water pump, picnic tables and the most serene bush setting. Other faves include the Mineral Reserve in Hepburn Springs, and the Botanic Gardens in Kyneton. Grab some food from one of the many providores (or just an ice cream) and chill. Or plan ahead and book a Daylesford Picnic Box with a dedicated pick-up spot in town. These eco-friendly picnic packs are filled to the brim with tasty treats from local small-batch producers.

Finally, it is worth mentioning the Twilight Dinner in Maldon, held in January. It takes over this historic town and ALWAYS sells out. So don’t wait for the sun to set on this idea, check it out at maldonproject.com.

Hero image: Bistro Terroir, by inkdfoto