Tourist Information
The Dayleford Visitors' Centre is located next to the post office in Vincent St, Daylesford, and is open from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. daily, tel: (03) 5348 1339.
Jacksons Lookout Tower
This lookout, on Forest Ave, offers panoramic views of the town and area.
The Blowhole
The Blowhole was created in the 1850s when goldminers used dynamite to create a tunnel through a quartz reef in order to divert Sailor's Creek. This enabled them to scour the old creek bed for alluvial gold. The Blowhole is located along a side road which heads off Blowhole Rd and it is also on the Tipperary Walking Track (see below). It looks quite impressive when the creek is flowing strongly. There is a short loop walk around The Blowhole and an explanatory plaque.
Hepburn Springs Spa Complex
The spa complex is located off Mineral Springs Crescent in Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve. It is built around an Edwardian pavilion which has been greatly extended with sympathetic additions in the last decade. Every kind of hydrotherapy imaginable is on offer. There are also massage therapies and beauty therapy for every inch of your body, tel: (03) 5348 2034. The complex opens from 9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. on weekends and from 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. on weekdays.
There are innumerable businesses and individuals in town offering every kind of massage known to humanity, as well as reiki, shiatsu, acupuncture, aromatherapy, refloxology, spiritual healing, readings etc. They are listed in a brochure available from the Daylesford Visitors' Centre.
Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve
The Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve is really the focal point of the town . It is located atop rock strata and volcanic basins formed by three extinct volcanoes. Waters, trapped in these basins, have slowly leached minerals from 450-million-year-old rocks: minerals which are believed to have a curative effect. The reserve's four major springs are Locarno, Sulphur, Soda and Wyuna.
The attractive park-like grounds are well-established and well-maintained with picnic and playground facilities, toilets, shady trees and an abundance of bird and animal life. Hand pumps and continuous-flow pipes are scattered about and you can bottle or drink your own water free of charge. Mountain bikes can be hired from the Pavillion Cafe. They are ideal for exploring the area's old mining and logging tracks.
Walks
A number of signposted walks fan out from the reserve: to Hepburn Reservoir (5 km return), Jacksons Lookout Tower (2 km return) and Argyle Spring (2.8 km return). The latter can be started from the reserve carpark or from Wyuna Spring.
The major walking trail, however, is the Tipperary Walking Track which explores Hepburn Regional Park. It is quite an easy-going and well-signposted course which is partially built on old water races from the goldmining era. 16.7 km in all, it can be broken into shorter sections thus:
(1) From the reserve to Golden Spring (at the end of Golden Springs Ave) via Jacksons Lookout Tower (2.8 km).
(2) From Golden Spring, following Spring Creek past Liberty Spring to Breakneck Gorge from whence there are excellent views and plenty of rosellas (2.2 km).
(3) Cross the Newstead Rd bridge over the gorge and follow the southbound course of Sailor's Creek to The Blowhole (3.1 km).
(4) Follow the signs and cross the bridge to Bryce's Flat Picnic Area (1.7 km).
(5) There are two tracks (one on either bank of Sailor's Creek) south to Tipperary Spring (3.3 km). The spring itself is located near the footbridge. Panning for gold and garnets is popular here.
(6) You can again follow either bank south to Twin Bridges picnic area (2.3 km).
(7) Cross the highway, follow Wombat Creek, try the waters at Sutton, Hardhills and Central Springs and finish at Lake Daylesford (1.3 km).
Old Macaroni Factory
The old macaroni factory is a large hand-made brick structure on Main Rd which was erected in 1859 by Italian immigrants, the Lucinis. It reflects the architectural traditions of Northern Italy. The facade is plastered and without decoration although the ceilings of the wings feature hand-painted decorations added by the Lucinis. The factory is being restored as funds become available. At the moment it is only open on special occasions, such as the Swiss-Italian Festa.
Other Buildings
The town has a number of fine old guesthouses which are of substantial architectural quality and some historic interest. Main Rd has Villa Parma, Bellinzona Country House, Dudley House, Mooltan Guesthouse and The Springs Hotel. The Liberty Guesthouse is on Mineral Springs Crescent, opposite the spa complex. The old post office (1863-1964) is also a bed-and-breakfast.
Lavandula Lavender Farm
If you follow the Hepburn-Newstead Rd north for 5.2 km you will come to Lavandula Lavender Farm at Shepherds Flat. The lavender is best seen in summer. The Swiss-Italian heritage is reflected in the 1850s stone farm buildings, dry stone walling, cobbled courtyard, lombardy poplars and the herb, cottage and potager gardens. There are fine views, llamas and farm animals, a licensed trattoria and a shop selling lavender products and other items. Opening hours are 10.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. every day from September to May, tel: (03) 5476 4393 or check out: http://www.lavandula.com.au/
Horseriding
The Boomerang Holiday Ranch, 1 km west of Daylesford on Tipperary Springs Rd, offers accommodation and one-hour trail rides in the local forests, tel: (03) 5348 2525. There is also Turner's Horse Farm at Guildford, tel: (03) 5476 4288.
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