The end to 2025 has been busy for Ky and Tess, with life changes, work changes, fitness goals and of course our first child due in early 2026. This has meant that travel has been a little on the backburner. We flirted with the idea of a proper babymoon, but after this didn’t eventuate, we decided on a long weekend in the charming country town of Daylesford in Victoria. The purpose of the trip was to relax and unwind, with Daylesford one of the perfect spots for this due to the proximity to wineries, eateries, mineral hot springs and cute day trip options. We have listed a couple of the things we loved from our getaway, and also included a few happy snaps from the trip.
A few places we enjoyed in Daylesford
Cliffy’s Emporium
This charming rustic cafe come boutique giftshop is well worth a visit. Offering great coffee (a 2 Cups of Travel must!) and tasty brunch options.. it gets busy on the weekends for good reason. Add it to your list for brunch and enjoy browsing the local produce and gifts that Cliffy’s offers. Situated a few minutes out of town, this was our favourite coffee in Daylesford.
Brick Lane Bazaar:
One of the more quirky local stores in Daylesford if the Brick Lane Bazaar. Filled with a variety of mini boutiques, antiques, novelty items, collectables, vintage clothing, preloved booked and much more. We picked up a cute sentimental children’s book! Worth a wander around when in Daylesford.
Daylesford Lake
A visit to the country town of Daylesford isn’t complete without a visit to the lake. There’s a charming walk around the edge of the lake, places to rest and take in the view, and in the warmer months, people swim in the lake. We sat in the sun and soaked up the view and the ambience.
Sample the food and hospitality scene
Daylesford is known for it’s excellent food, wine and hospitality scene. While we didn’t sample around extensively this trip, we have visited before and tried a number of the restaurants in Daylesford and Hepburn Springs. It is also worth not discounting some of the excellent restaurants in nearby Trentham as well.
- Daylesford Hotel – This upmarket pub serves great food. When the sun is out, sit out in the beer garden or under the aesthetic parasols our the front.
- Winespeake Cellar – Offering a great spread of local (and non-local) wines, beverages and cheeses. While we didn’t samples the wines this trip, this little wine bar is the perfect spot to perch and unwind.
- Grain x Daylesford Brewing Co: This brewery offers local brewed ales and a tasty feed. Definitely one for you Daylesford list.
- Cliffy’s Emporium: Detailed above, Cliffy’s is a brunch/cafe staple in the Daylesford scene. A must visit.
- Lotte: Another great cafe located in Hepburn on the fringes of Daylesford. A good alternative to Cliffy’s, especially when the former gets busy on weekend peak times.
- The Surly Goat: A cozy restaurant offering great service and excellent food. We visited during our last stay in Daylesford and highly recommend. Booking in advance are recommended.
- Du Fermier: A classy, French style restaurant in the nearby Trentham that should be on the food lovers list.
- Mr Peacock: Another wine bar, this time located in Trentham, which is well worth visiting.
- Redbeard Bakery: Another Trentham staple. Add this to the road trip!
Day trip to Trentham:
The country town of Trentham is arguably just as cute as Daylesford. Home to the iconic country bakery, Redbeard Bakery, and the beautiful Trentham falls.. it’s definitely one to add to the road trip list. See some Trentham highlights here.
Relax in the thermal Hepburn Springs:
The Daylesford area is known for mineral thermal springs. Located in the Hepburn Springs area, this is a common wellness experience to add to your visit. While we didn’t visit the hot springs this time, it’s definitely something we have done in the past and recommend to anyone visiting who wants to relax and unwind.
Where we stayed in Daylesford:
We stayed in Hotel Bellinzona, a well priced, renovated old homestead with a quirky decor. This is one of many accommodation options in Daylesford or Hepburn Springs area worth checking out.
*Note – Tessa’s drink in the photos above is definitely non-alcoholic.. for anyone concerned.
