The Retreat at Villa 7
Balconies Lakeside on Lake Daylesford
The Love Shack
Elsa Hepburn Springs
The Smitty Cottage Daylesford
Lakeside Suite 2 + Lakeside Retreat + Spa Bath
Guesthouse on Perrins
Kingsleigh Daylesford
Magnolia at Franklin Vale Retreat
Lakeside Suite 4 + Lakeside Retreat + Spa Bath
Lakeside Suite 1 + Lakeside Retreat + Spa Bath
Daydream Cottage
Emerson Retreat Daylesford
Sunnyside Cottage
Balconies Lakeview
Bridport Studio Daylesford
Pietro’s at the Old Macaroni Factory
The Studio Room
Piccolo Lane Daylesford
The Daylesford Art Motel
Villa Acorn | Daylesford
Mulberry at Franklin Vale Retreat
Lakeside Suite 3 + Lakeside Retreat + Spa Bath
Clergy Cottage
Noir
Little Morris Trentham
The Studio Suite at Villa 7
Why couples love Daylesford
Daylesford is about an hour and a half from Melbourne, so you can finish work on Friday and be sitting by the fire for dinner. It feels a long way from the city though. The pace is slower, the air is cooler and nobody is in a hurry.
For a town this size, the food and wine is hard to beat. There are long lunches, country pubs, wine bars and a couple of genuinely special-occasion restaurants, most of them within a short walk of each other. Cellar doors are a short drive out of town.
Then there’s the water. Daylesford and Hepburn Springs sit on the largest concentration of mineral springs in Australia, and people have been coming here to unwind for well over a century. A soak, a massage and an afternoon with nowhere to be is a big part of a couples weekend here.
Daylesford has always been a place where every couple is welcome. It’s home to ChillOut, Australia’s largest rural LGBTQIA+ Pride festival, and that easy, open feel carries through the rest of the year.
Choosing your stay
In winter
Cold nights are when Daylesford is at its cosiest. Look for a place with a fireplace and a spa bath, book a long dinner and don’t plan too much.
In summer
Long evenings are made for sitting outside. Look for a terrace or a garden where you can have a glass of wine in the sun until it gets dark.
Close to town or tucked away
Some places are an easy walk to Vincent Street and dinner. Others are out among the trees, where it’s just the two of you. Each listing shows where it is on the map, so you can choose.
A Saturday for two
This is how we’d spend a Saturday for two. Everything is close, so swap things around to suit you.
Late morning
Late breakfast at Cliffy’s
Start slow with a late breakfast or brunch at Cliffy’s Emporium. It’s about as Daylesford as it gets.
Early afternoon
The Mill Markets and Vincent Street
Wander through the Mill Markets, then the shops along Vincent Street.
Afternoon
A wine tasting
Drive out to Passing Clouds for a tasting and a snack. Rather not drive? WineSpeake is right on the corner of Vincent Street, and you can taste the wines yourself.
Not into wine? Swap the tasting for a soak at the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa. It’s small but worth it. Book ahead.
Evening
Drinks and dinner at the pub
Finish at one of the hotels in town, the Farmers Arms or the Daylesford Hotel, for drinks and dinner.
Dinner for a special occasion
Where to have a drink
Make it special
A few small things make a weekend feel like an occasion. We can have a hamper of local cheese, cured meats, relishes and sweet treats waiting at your place when you arrive. A local mobile sauna can come to you for the day. And if it’s a present, you can give a stay as a gift voucher.
Local produce, delivered before you get there.
A mobile sauna, brought to your holiday home.
Gift vouchers for a stay with us.
Two things most visitors miss
A slow walk with a view right across town.
Bring a bottle and taste the springs for yourself.
Daylesford through the year
Spring
The gardens come back to life and the wineries open their doors for the Budburst Wine Festival.
Summer
Long, warm evenings, swims and dinners outside. Book early for weekends.
Autumn
The trees around the lake and in the Botanic Gardens turn gold and red. It’s one of the prettiest times of year to visit.
Winter
Fires, spa baths and long lunches. Words in Winter brings talks and readings to the region.
Daylesford or Hepburn Springs?
Stay in Daylesford to be close to Vincent Street, the lake and most of the restaurants and bars. Plenty of places are an easy walk to dinner.
Hepburn Springs is a few minutes’ drive north. It’s quieter and greener, and home to the bathhouse and the Mineral Springs Reserve. Good if a slow, spa-centred weekend is the plan.
Getting here
Daylesford is about an hour and a half’s drive from Melbourne. Take the Calder Freeway through Woodend and Trentham, or the Western Highway and turn off at Ballan. V/Line trains run to nearby towns, with local buses from there, but most couples find a car makes the weekend easier.
Why book with us
We’re a local team based on Albert Street in Daylesford, and every stay comes with 24/7 guest assist. Book direct and if you find a lower rate for the same place and dates on another site, we’ll match it. Conditions apply.
Questions couples ask
Is Daylesford good for a couples weekend in winter?
It’s one of the best times to come. Look for a place with a fireplace and a spa bath, book dinner somewhere warm and take your time.
How far is Daylesford from Melbourne?
About an hour and a half by car, depending on traffic and where you leave from.
Should we stay in Daylesford or Hepburn Springs?
Daylesford if you want to walk to dinner and the shops. Hepburn Springs if you want it quieter and close to the bathhouse. They’re only a few minutes apart by car.
How do we find a place with a spa bath or fireplace?
Use the Spa Bath and Indoor Fireplace buttons on this page. Each listing shows its features, and those pages only show places that have them right now.
Can we have a hamper waiting when we arrive?
Yes. Order an arrival hamper from our online shop and we’ll have it delivered to your accommodation before you get there.
Can I give a stay as a gift?
Yes. Gift vouchers are in our online shop. To book with a voucher, call our reservations team.
Is Daylesford welcoming for LGBTQIA+ couples?
Very. Daylesford is home to ChillOut, Australia’s largest rural LGBTQIA+ Pride festival, and every couple is welcome here all year round.
Do we need to book the bathhouse?
Yes, book ahead, especially on weekends.