Castlemaine prospered in the 1850s following the discovery of gold, the legacy of those time is still evident today, with cute miners’ cottages nestled against grand old buildings. Nowadays, this lively town is home to a flourishing arts scene, matched by a talented community of brewers, winemakers and restaurateurs.

The town celebrates many festivals including the Castlemaine State Festival held in Autumn, the Castlemaine Fringe Festival in march/April, the Castlemaine Jazz Festival in June, the Castlemaine and District Festival of Gardens in November.

For garden enthesitis picnic or stroll the lovely Botanical Gardens, or visit Buda Historic Home and Garden. For art lovers the Castlemaine Art Museum is a must, renowned for its exceptional collection of Australian art. The heritage Theatre Royal is one of many beautiful showcase of history along with The Mill for a mix of new and old treasures.

Around the corner is the Victorian Goldfields Railway, where you can travel via steam between these historic mining towns of Maldon and Castlemaine.