Fun fact: some of Australia’s very first providores popped up right here, in Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges, way back in the 1850s. Our region was at the epicentre of the gold rush, and Swiss Italians settled here early on; some earning a living as providores. One of their enduring legacies is the Bull Boar sausage, which you can still find at some local butchers. The Swiss Italians were also instrumental in helping preserve our famous mineral springs, which were at risk from the extensive mining, but that’s another story.

As the crisp Winter dew begins to melt, the Daylesford Macedon region unfurls like a flower bud turning to the morning sun.

International travel and those long-missed Euro-trips may be back on the cards. But why fork out all your money on an international airfare when you can get a little taste of France right here in central Victoria?

My lovely wife always says ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices’. And while we love the cooler months up here, sometimes we need to pop on a jacket and beanie! Whether it’s a gentle stroll, a challenging hike, a quiet cycling trail or a technical mountain bike track, we have loads of great options to get into nature.