Nestled in the middle of the Macedon Ranges, 90 minutes from Melbourne, is the regional township of Kyneton, with its old-world charm and country hospitality, it is the perfect day trip to escape the rat-race. Kyneton is known for Pipers street with its incredible food, historic buildings and so many choices for shopping, but take a step off the main drag and you will find some amazing gems hidden around the local’s end of town.
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Kyneton is a picturesque town one-hour north-west of Melbourne. Once a resting place for miners during the gold rush, Kyneton has quickly become a destination for fine food, produce and retail.
Start your day with a coffee from The Town Roaster, a small batch coffee roaster who roasts incredible blends onsite while serving up delectable Keto coffee and food. Pick up your coffee, toasties and some coffee beans for the week ahead.
Once you’ve had your coffee hit, you are ready to explore. There is no better way than following the Historic Building Walk, with the choice of the 1.5 or 2.5km stroll you will discover so many incredible buildings scattered around our town, as a bonus you’ll find many cute cottages and gardens on your trail that are not even listed on the walk!
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After working up an appetite, you will be salivating as you enter Olivia’s Pantry, a plant-based café run by Valentina and her husband Andrea, an incredibly talented Italian Pastry chef. After travelling and working across Europe the emigrated to Australia where they now create a Vegan-Italian menu with such tantalising desserts that you may skip mains altogether! With gluten-free options integrated into the menu, rather than being afterthoughts, and dishes so delicious even the staunchest omnivore will forget their hesitancy.
With a full belly and a happy heart, a wander down High St will take you to The Golden Dog Gallery, which is the artistic haven of local sculptor and artist Larissa Gray, who integrates bronze, ceramics and found objects into whimsical sculptures that often feature her beloved golden dog. The studio is also filled with her illustrations and photography immersing you into her dreamscape world of possibilities.
Continue around the corner to The Old Auction House arts precinct where you’ll be able to explore our two ever-changing galleries of emerging Australian artists and shop filled to the brim with handmade giftware made by small artisans all over Australia. While with us, you can peek in the windows of our working artist studios, including the glass studio run by Leadlight by Ettore, who is a renowned expert in glass preservation and restoration. Our regular weekly and weekend courses include creating a leadlight panel, light catchers, fused glass homewares and mosaics. We also have a range of parent and child classes, planned around the school holidays.
Finish your day unwinding with a glass of local wine in the hidden courtyard of Musk Lane Winery. Located in the middle of town, in what was the lumber yard, Brendan has created the ultimate wine experience, combining the best aspects of a wine bar, beer garden and winery accompanied by delicious culinary treats by local chefs as you chew the breeze with your new friends in true country style.
If you find that you are ready to settle in for a night stay, Mollisons is within five minutes walking distance. It was once the Bank of New South Wales built across 1903-1904. Today this incredible building is home to a fully renovated accommodation and homewares store. The interior, with a tasteful mix of antique and contemporary furniture, is the type of luxury accommodation you would typically expect from a boutique hotel.
Rhain DiPilla runs The Old Auction House - a multi-use arts precinct located in Kyneton. It is home to a retail shop specialising in quality Australian handmade items and art and craft supplies, four working artist studios including local glass artists Leadlight By Ettore, a teaching space for visiting artists, and two gallery spaces with rotating exhibitions.
