Explore Blampied, Smeaton & Kingston

Day 1

Start your adventure at Maze House, which offers good old-fashioned fun for all ages. Explore the 30-year-old hedge maze, try your hand at quirky carnival games, and wander through the lush gardens filled with native plants. From retro lawn games to a charming Milk Bar serving coffee and snacks, it’s a playful and nostalgic experience. Be sure to check their website for opening hours.

Keep the adventure going by joining a horse ride with Hepburn Lagoon Trail Rides. Starting at their base at Quirindi Stables (which also doubles as a stunning wedding venue), you then wind your way along country roads and through native bushland, spotting wildlife along the way. Choose from either a 2-hour ride or opt for the 5-hour pub ride, which includes lunch at the historic Swiss Mountain Hotel.

Stop for lunch at the Swiss Mountain Hotel. Built in 1865, this Blampied landmark is one of the oldest continuously licensed weatherboard pubs in Victoria. At one stage it was known as The Manchester, but its current name is a nod to the Swiss-Italian families who migrated to the area in the late 1800s. Tuck into seasonally driven specials or pub favourites such as the steak sandwich or mushroom risotto.

After lunch, pop into the nearby Overwrought Sculpture Garden & Gallery. Wander through the intriguing sculpture garden, browsing the collection of metal sculpture garden art, before heading indoors to the gallery. Inside you’ll discover paintings, ceramics, jewellery, photography, woodwork, handbags, fibre arts, artisans teas and candles, made by local artists and artisans. Be sure to grab a coffee or hot chocolate from the coffee cart before you leave.

Captains Creek Organic Wines is a warm, welcoming spot, where four generations of the May family have worked the land since 1909. The cellar door, set in a restored workers’ hut, invites you to sip certified organic wines and ciders, and enjoy generous grazing platters made entirely from local produce – grown, bred, and baked right in the region.

Wrap up your day at Tuki, a working farm perched on the volcanic ‘Stoney Rises’ with sweeping views (which are especially stunning at sunset). Catch your own trout from one of their ponds and have it cooked fresh, or choose from the à la carte or tasting menus featuring true farm-to-table dining. Stay overnight in one of the cosy cottages and enjoy warm hospitality from hosts Jan and Robert.

DAY 2

Located in a picture postcard setting on the banks of Birch’s Creek at Smeaton, Anderson’s Mill is an important part of Victoria’s Goldfields heritage. Standing much the same as it did over 100 years ago, the five-storey bluestone building and its magnificently crafted iron water wheel are a reminder of an industry that flourished after the gold rush of the 1850s. It opens annually for the Anderson’s Mill Heritage Weekend each May, but you can still pop in and wander around the grounds at any time of year. The site is also home to The Millhouse, a beautiful wedding and events space.

Stop for lunch at The Cumberland Hotel, set in the heart of Smeaton and dating back to 1861, it is recognised as Victoria’s oldest weatherboard pub. Recently restored, it blends gold rush-era charm with a fresh, locally sourced menu. Enjoy dishes like buffalo popcorn cauliflower, lemon myrtle calamari, and chargrilled porterhouse with creamy mash.

As you drive through the tiny hamlet of Kingston, be sure to take a moment to reflect at the Avenue of Honour. 286 trees were planted at the end of WWI, and the avenue is almost three kilometres long. Several of the trees are dedicated to nurses who served during the war.