Twenty Things to do on Australia Day
Central Victoria has a wealth of things to do and see that are easily achieved in one day and Australia Day is the perfect day for you to explore and discover what you have in your own back yard. Here are twenty or so things for you to choose from. Of course if you find you want more time, tell your boss you’re taking Friday as well and make it a long weekend.
Playtime
Laanecoorie Lakeside Park – two hours from Melbourne near Dunolly. Swimming, bush walking, fishing, cycling, canoeing, gold prospecting. www.laanecoorie.com.au
Swimming and boating at St. Georges Lake – Creswick, Lake Daylesford – Daylesford, Jubilee Lake – Daylesford, Lake Eppalock – near Bendigo.
Boomerang Holiday Ranch – Daylesford. Go horseback riding through bushland surrounding Daylesford. All rides are fully supervised by experienced leaders and helmets are supplied. www.boomerangranch.com.au
Tangled Maze – Creswick. Family maze, mini golf, games & nursery. www.tangledmaze.com.au
If a more sedate pace is your aim, visit the excellent art galleries in the region.
Ballarat and Bendigo boast two of the best regional galleries in the country and there are a number of excellent, smaller galleries in many towns, Central Goldfields in Maryborough, Castlemaine Art Gallery, The Convent in Daylesford as well as privately run galleries – smaller, but no less interesting.
Creswick Museum – Creswick. Discover aritfacts and original artworks covering the history of the region from the gold rush days. Currently showing an exhibition of Lionel Lindsay paintings www.creswickmuseum.org.
Adam Lindsay Gordon Cottage – Ballarat Botanical Gardens. This quaint cottage, nestled in Ballarat’s fabulous gardens exhibits and sells a wide range of handcrafts made by local crafts people and members of the Crafts Council of Ballarat.
If your craft fingers become inspired you can pick up all you need to create your next project from Threadneedle Craft in Daylesford www.threadneedle.com.au, Pick Up Stitches in Kyneton Ph: 5422 6614 or Eureka Fabrics in Ballarat Ph: 5331 6160
For a bit of retail therapy, the Creswick Woollen Mills is offering a 20% discount off all their Australian made products, including knitwear. www.creswickwool.com.au
The Garden of St Erth in Blackwood has to be on every gardeners list – the gardens, nursery and cafe are open on Australia Day - www.diggers.com.au/gardenStErth.shtml and Gardens Etcetera in Maldon has a great range of garden furniture and accessories. Always a good reason to visit Maldon, one of the State’s most interesting towns.
Feeling like you need to indulge and relax the body – think massage and day spa
Wren Zen – Organic relaxation massage & facial – Kyneton. www.wrenzen.com.au
Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa – Hepburn Springs. www.hepburnbathhouse.com
Central Victoria has some of the best wineries anywhere and is known for the fantastic local produce. When the inner beast is in need of sustenance you’ re almost spoilt for choice.
Flouch’s in Piper Street, Kyneton for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus coffee and cake all day www.flouchs.com.au
Chai Baby also in Kyneton is a great little coffee shop with an amazing array of eclectic giftware www.kyneton.org.au/cafes.html
Wright on Broadway in Dunolly offers the best of the Loddon Region and is a great place to stop on your way to Laanecoorie.
Cocoa Chy Chocolate Cafe in Creswick for a piece of heavenly chocolate indulgence and their home made ice cream is to die for – www.cocoachy.com.au
For a great dinner, Cosy Corner Cafe in Hepburn serves good, honest meals that don’t allow you to leave hungry – www.cosycorner.com.au
And of course there is Herbal Lore Liqueurs in Daylesford. Complimentary tastings, liqueur chocolates, liqueur fruits, specialty ports and tasting platters in the renovated Old Butter Factory, Railway Crescent www.rogermclean.com
There are many, many more things we could have included, but we don’t have the space, so you’ll just have to take some time out and visit the region.