Daylesford, the perfect 3 day itinerary

a regional paradise that has it all and only 1 hour from melbourne

Ahhh autumn…that magical time of year when the air starts turning crisp, the leaves melt to gold and the mind (and stomach) turn to hunking slabs of steak and bowls of Shiraz. And if you’re a tree changer more than a sea changer, Daylesford is the perfect autumn retreat.

Located just an hour drive from Melbourne, come for excellent food, wine, nature walks and spas in the adjacent town of Hepburn Springs. It’s also great for doggos so don’t forget your furry friend!

Scroll on for the perfect 3 day long weekend itinerary…

Jump to ⬇️

1. day 1: pies, pancho, pub
2. day 2: brunch, browsing, beppe
3. day 3: saunter, sault, sayonara!
4. final notes

day 1: pies, pancho, pub

If you’re driving up from Melbourne, stop in either at the Country Cob in Kyneton for one of Australia’s best pies (garlic prawn is a winner) or if it’s a sunny day, a snack and a pint at The Cosmopolitan Hotel in Trentham. Nothing will get you in the holiday mood faster than a roadtrip pie or a lazy beer to kick things off!

Next stop – a pre-check in lunch at Daylesford’s cutest cafe, Pancho. They’re a small outfit focused on quality and regional produce, and the meals speak for themselves. A small but always interesting selection, Pancho weave in fusion flavours like siracha or curry into staples like omelette or poached eggs, You’ll also find a few sandwiches like a hot roast beef roll or brekky burger.

There’s a courtyard out the back so you can come with your pooch. Obviously a holiday Bloody Mary is a must, accompanied by a large piece of carrot cake from their dessert display!

Next up: stocking your accommodation with more cheese and charcuterie than you know what to do with. The best place to do this is Winespeake, where you can also curate your own cheese and wine platters to have in-house. This really is a one stop shop for your picnic hamper, laden with the best from local cheese, charcuterie, wine and beer producers! By this stage, it’s probably check-in time which also means breaking out a few charcuterie treats with a wine in your accommodation while you breathe in the fresh country air.

Once you’ve unpacked and unwound from the drive, mosey on down to the Farmer’s Arms, Daylesford’s oldest and cosiest gastropub. Recently renovated, the Farmer’s Arms now sports three different dining areas (pub dining, beer garden, private area) but haven’t lost any of their focus on great craft beers and local wines, and incredible, hearty meals. There’s an extensive menu to choose from, but it’s pretty hard to go past the steak or roast pork belly.

day 2: brunch, browsing, beppe

Holidays mean sleep-ins which means breakfast is really brunch! You can’t visit Daylesford without having a meal at Cliffy’s, a local institution. Linger over conversation or a book, or just sit under their covered street verandah and people watch. I can honestly recommend anything and everything on the menu here – I’d drive back to Daylesford just to eat at Cliffy’s!

After you’ve had your fill, stroll down the road to the local Daylesford Sunday Market at the old Daylesford Station. An outdoor affair, you’ll find all kinds of knick knacks and local souvenirs like handmade soaps. There are also a few food and coffee stalls if you need to top up your hamper for the next stop, a forest walk and picnic in the Hepburn Springs Mineral Reserve. At the Hepburn Springs Mineral Reserve, you’ll find a sprawl of hilly forest with walking tracks strewn throughout so get a little lost and work up an appetite for your picnic! (If you’re into spas, stop in at the Hepburn Bathhouse which backs onto the Mineral Reserve).

If you can fit dinner in, check out shmick Italian diner Beppe which specialises in pasta and pizza, with a range of antipasti, contorni, secondi and dolce to bookend your meal. Beppe is often fully booked, so this one requires some pre-planning to ensure a seat. It’s a little bit white tablecloth fancy too FYI. I’m a sucker for any pasta made with squid ink, and Beppe’s take on this with clams, prawns and a chilli tomato based sauce is a winner.

day 3: saunter, sault, sayonara!

Final day and after a lazy start, we’re going out with a bang.

Kick things off slowly with a saunter through the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, and a light bite and coffee at the onsite Wombat Hill House Cafe. This is Alla Wolf Tasker’s (of Lakehouse fame) casual cafe venture and while the food pales in comparison to Pancho and Cliffy’s, it’s a pleasant enough spot for a coffee while exploring the Botanic Gardens. Save your appetite, as we’re headed to acclaimed Modern Australian restaurant Sault for a fancy lunch finish! (Yes you could also go to the more famous Lakehouse, but I actually preferred the food and more casual vibe at Sault). It’s also very well priced, at 7 courses for $140, or 3-4 courses at the $100-125 mark.

final notes

One of my favourite things about holidaying regional is that time seems to slow down. However, it’s not hard to fill 3 days in Daylesford and you’ll be wishing you’d booked a week or more! In true Travelling Turtle style though, don’t forget to slow down and travel well, travel slow. If you’re coming in one of the chillier months (anything except summer), splash for accommodation with a fireplace to really get in the holiday mood.