Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Good local walks incorporating various mineral-spring pumps include
Sailors Falls
,
Tipper-
ary Springs, Central Springs Reserve
and the
Hepburn Springs Reserve
; take a water bottle with you
to taste-test the pump water. The visitor centre has maps and walking guides.
DAY SPA
Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa
( 03-5321 6000;
www.hepburnbath house.com
; Mineral Springs Reserve Rd, Hepburn Springs; 2 hr bathhouse
main bathhouse is a sleek, ultramodern building where you can gaze out on the bush set-
ting while soaking in the public pool or lazing on spa couches. The spa offers various
treatments or a soak in a private mineral-spring pool in the original historic building.
Around the bathhouse are picnic areas, mineral-spring pumps and the historic
Pavilion
cafe.
Convent Gallery
( 03-5348 3211;
www.theconvent.com.au
;
7 Daly St, Daylesford; admission $5; 10am-4pm)
This beautiful
19th-century convent on Wombat Hill has been brilliantly converted into an art gallery
with soaring ceilings, grand archways and magnificent gardens. Head up the path in the
gardens behind the convent for sweeping views over the town. There's also an atrium
cafe, bar and penthouse apartment. They run night ghost tours for the brave ($45; book
ahead).
GALLERY
Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens
(Central Springs Rd, Daylesford)
Oak, pine and cypress trees fill these beautiful gardens, which
have a picnic area and lookout tower with fine views of the countryside.
GARDENS
Daylesford Spa Country Railway
TRAIN
( Sundays only 03-5348 3503;
www.dscr.com.au
; 18 Raglan St, Daylesford train station; adult/child/family $10/8/
25; 10am-2.30pm Sun)
This old rail-motor has popular half-hour rides to Musk and back
every Sunday. It's a leisurely ride, but for extra sparkle go on the first Saturday of the
month (at 5.30pm) when the
Silver Streak Food & Wine Train
( 0421 780 100; adult $35)
indulges
you with drinks and finger food served on board. The line to Bullarto was damaged in the
2009 bushfires but repair work is ongoing.
