The best things to do in Daylesford
Daylesford is small, but there’s plenty to fill a weekend, and a week. These are the things locals send every visitor to first.
Walk around Lake Daylesford
The track loops right around the lake, past mineral springs, the swimming jetty and cafés on the water. It takes about 45 minutes at an easy pace. See our Lake Daylesford guide.
Climb Wombat Hill
The Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens sit above town, with huge old trees, sweeping lawns and the lookout tower. Climb it for views across the whole district.
Taste the mineral springs
The district has more natural mineral springs than anywhere else in Australia. Bring a bottle and fill it at the pumps in the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve, or at the springs around Lake Daylesford. Every spring tastes different, so try a few. Browse every mineral spring on the map.
Soak at the bathhouse
Daylesford is the spa capital of Australia. The Hepburn Bathhouse has mineral pools in the bush, and there are day spas, massage and saunas all over the district. See our wellness and spa guide and the Relax section.
Wander Vincent Street
Daylesford’s main street is lined with galleries, bookshops, homewares, antiques and some of the best bakeries in the state. Give yourself a morning, and don’t rush it.
Get lost at the Mill Markets
The Mill Markets fill an enormous old mill with vintage furniture, retro finds, books and collectables. It’s dangerous for anyone who loves a bargain.
Eat and drink well
From long lunches to wine bars and country pubs, Daylesford eats far above its size. Start with our guides to restaurants, cafés, bars and pubs and wineries.
Walks and nature
Daylesford sits in the hills among forests, lakes and old volcanoes, and most of it is walkable from town.
The Tipperary Track
The Tipperary Track follows the creek from Lake Daylesford to Hepburn Springs, through bushland and past mineral springs. Walk one way and have lunch at the other end.
Mount Franklin
Just north of town, Mount Franklin is an extinct volcano with a forest inside its crater. There’s a picnic ground at the bottom and a walk around the rim with views across the district.
Waterfalls
Trentham Falls is one of the longest single-drop waterfalls in Victoria, and at its best after rain. See every waterfall on the map.
Longer trails
The Goldfields Track passes through the district on its way across the goldfields, and the Domino Trail follows an old railway line near Trentham. Both are good for walkers and cyclists.
Browse all walks and bush trails, lookouts and lakes and parks.
See our full guide to walks around Daylesford.
Galleries, markets and shopping
Daylesford has long drawn artists and makers. You’ll find galleries in town and in Hepburn Springs, studios out in the countryside, and art in many of the cafés and shops.
Markets run most weekends across the district, from farmers’ markets to makers’ and craft markets. Check What’s On for dates.
Browse galleries, attractions and fashion and homewares.
Wineries and tours
The cool-climate country around Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges is known for pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling. Many cellar doors are a short, pretty drive from town. Read our guide to wineries near Daylesford, or let someone else drive with a local tour.
Ideas for every kind of trip
On a rainy day
Book a soak or a massage, browse the Mill Markets, spend an afternoon in the galleries and bookshops, or settle in for a long lunch. Daylesford in the rain, by the fire, is half the point. See our stays with a fireplace.
With kids
Walk the lake, feed the ducks, swim off the jetty in summer, climb the lookout tower on Wombat Hill and fill a bottle at the springs. The playgrounds by the lake and in the gardens are a hit, and Mount Franklin is perfect for a picnic.
With the dog
Most walking tracks welcome dogs on a lead, and plenty of cafés have water bowls out the front. See pet-friendly stays.
For couples
A bathhouse soak, a long lunch, a wine bar and a walk back under the stars. See couples escapes.
Through the seasons
Winter is for fires and soaking, spring for gardens and festivals, summer for the lake and long evenings, and autumn for some of the best colour in Victoria. Whenever you come, see What’s On for festivals, markets and events.
Day trips from Daylesford
Hepburn Springs
Five minutes up the road, and the heart of spa country. Read our Hepburn Springs guide.
Trentham
A pretty village about 20 minutes east, with the falls, great food and a historic main street. Read a weekend in Trentham.
Further afield
Castlemaine, Kyneton, Woodend, Hanging Rock and the Macedon Ranges wineries are all within easy reach for a day out.
Plan your stay
Every one of our holiday homes lists the places nearby, so you can see what’s a short walk away before you book. Find your stay in our Daylesford accommodation guide, check special offers, and read the Journal for more ideas.
Questions about things to do in Daylesford
What is Daylesford known for?
Mineral springs, spas and bathhouses, good food and wine, galleries, and the lake. It’s known as the spa capital of Australia.
What can you do in Daylesford for free?
Walk around Lake Daylesford, climb Wombat Hill to the lookout tower, fill a bottle at the mineral springs, walk the Tipperary Track, and browse Vincent Street and the Mill Markets.
Can you drink the mineral spring water?
Yes. The pumps in the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve and around Lake Daylesford are there for drinking. Each spring tastes different. Bring a bottle.
What is there to do in Daylesford when it rains?
Soak at a bathhouse or day spa, browse the Mill Markets, galleries and bookshops, or book a long lunch. Then light the fire at your stay.
Is Daylesford good for kids?
Yes. The lake, the playgrounds, the jetty in summer, the lookout tower on Wombat Hill, the springs and a picnic at Mount Franklin all work well with children.
How long should I spend in Daylesford?
A weekend covers the highlights. Stay three or four nights to add the bathhouse, a winery afternoon and a day trip to Trentham or Castlemaine.
What’s the difference between Daylesford and Hepburn Springs?
Daylesford is the town, with the shops, cafés, restaurants and the lake. Hepburn Springs, five minutes away, has the bathhouse, the springs reserve and a quieter, leafier feel.
Where can I find what’s on this weekend?
On What’s On, our calendar of festivals, markets and events across the district.
