2 Days in Daylesford + Surrounds

DAY 1: DAYLESFORD

Breakfast Start your foodie journey at Cliffy’s Emporium. At this Daylesford institution, the hearty (and delicious) menu heroes local produce, a favourite being their Shakshuka featuring Honest Egg Co. eggs.

Morning tea Head up to Bad Habits Café at The Convent. Indulge in a sweet treat such as the Convent scones or raspberry cheesecake in the light filled atrium before exploring the adjoining art gallery.

Lunch Pick up an eco-friendly picnic box from Daylesford Gourmet, packed full of savoury and sweet picnic favourites. Or pack your own picnic hamper with goodies from Blake Family Grocers. Set up a picnic beside Lake Daylesford or Jubilee Lake.

Afternoon Join the knowledgeable team from Daylesford Wine Tours as they introduce you to some of the region’s best cellar doors. You’ll visit locations such as Sailors Falls Estate, Captains Creek Organic Wines and Terra Australis Distillery.

Pre-dinner drink Pull up a pew at Daylesford Brewing Co. Here, the stylish and welcoming taproom spills out onto the street, giving you a front row seat to the passing parade as you sip on a craft beer or local wine, paired with a tasty shared plate. Alternatively, drop into Betel Boy. This vibrant space is a great option for classic cocktails and tasty Asian-inspired bites.

Dinner Treat yourself to a Sher Wagyu rump, paired with shoestring fries at Bistro Terroir. It’s a crowd favourite for a reason.

DAY 2: CRESWICK, TRENTHAM, HEPBURN SPRINGS

Breakfast Be transported to the patisseries of France at Creswick’s Le Péché Gourmand. Get comfy on a Parisian-style café chair and take your pick of French classics. Or enjoy a hearty home-cooked breakfast at Three Founders restaurant at RACV Resort Creswick.

Lunch Catch your own trout at Tuki in Smeaton and have it cooked up at their onsite restaurant. From the pond and paddock to the plate, the menu here draws upon Tuki’s own seasonally grown and farmed produce.

Afternoon Pick up some goodies at Istra Smallgoods in Musk before continuing on to the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Trentham. Relax under the canopy of 100-year-old elm trees in the beer garden or get cosy beside the indoor fireplace.

Late afternoon Take a leisurely stroll through Hepburn Springs Mineral Reserve, where you can pump mineral water directly from the source. If visiting earlier in the day, pick up a snack from the Hepburn Pavilion Café. Or enjoy an afternoon tipple on the deck at Hepburn Springs Brewing Co.

Dinner You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into someone’s private home at Frank & Connie’s Kitchen in Hepburn Springs. The menu here features French, Greek, Middle Eastern and South American inspired dishes. Or head to The Argus Dining Room for European inspired cuisine in a grand art deco dining room.

After dinner End your evening at Palais-Hepburn, where you can sip on an exquisite cocktail in the cosy saloon bar before catching a live show.