Itinerary
- Day 1
Melbourne to Daylesford
You'll head northwest from Melbourne to Trentham, stopping for morning tea at Red Beard Bakery where they still use a wood-fired oven. From there it's on to Daylesford to start walking around Lake Daylesford. The first stretch takes about 2.5 hours to reach Bryces Flat for lunch, then you'll continue another 3.5 hours through some rugged gorges and across Spring Creek to get to Golden Springs. You should finish around 3:30-4pm, giving you time to soak in the natural mineral spring pools at Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa. After settling into your accommodation, there'll be some pre-dinner snacks and a two-course dinner to cap off the day.
- Meals
- Lunch (Picnic lunch at Bryces Flat provided by Park Trek), Dinner (Two course dinner prepared by guides)
Included Activities
- Morning tea at Red Beard Bakery in Trentham
- Walk from Lake Daylesford to Bryces Flat (approximately 2.5 hours)
- Walk from Bryces Flat to Golden Springs via Blowhole and Spring Creek (approximately 3.5 hours)
- Evening bathing at Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa in natural mineral springs
Landmarks Red Beard Bakery Lake Daylesford Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa 
- Day 2
Daylesford
Following breakfast and lunch prep, you'll head to Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve to walk the Goldfields Track and try the local mineral spring water. Walking through Beehive Gully (which looks like a mini Grand Canyon at 10-15m deep) you'll see old mining remnants still visible. When you come out, there's the Chocolate Mill where you can sample chocolates and hot chocolate. Lunch happens at a viewpoint stop, then it's over to Daylesford Cider in Musk for tasting ciders made from organically grown heritage apples. Mid-afternoon brings a visit to Convent Gallery (entry's included), followed by free time to wander Vincent Street shopping or go back to the bathhouse if you like (that's on your own cost). You'll return for pre-dinner nibbles and a two-course dinner your guides will prepare.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at viewpoint), Dinner (Two course dinner prepared by guides)
Included Activities
- Walk along Goldfields Track through Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve
- Sample local mineral spring water
- Walk through Beehive Gully
- Visit Chocolate Mill with chocolate and hot chocolate tasting
- Lunch at viewpoint on Porcupine Ridge road
- Cider tasting at Daylesford Cider in Musk
- Visit to Convent Gallery with self-guided wandering
Optional Activities
- Shopping on Vincent Street, Daylesford
- Revisit Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa (own expense)
Landmarks Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve Beehive Gully Chocolate Mill Daylesford Cider Convent Gallery Vincent Street - Day 3
Daylesford
After breakfast and lunch prep, you'll pack up and head to Porcupine Ridge to continue on the Goldfields Track. Walking through Sailor's Gully with a morning tea break, you'll then move toward Vaughan where there are mineral springs and a picnic area for lunch. If the weather cooperates, swimming in the Loddon River swimming hole is an option. From there it's roughly 2 more hours of walking to Fryerstown, which sits in the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park and was once home to 15,000 miners during the gold rush. You'll head back to Daylesford with free time to check out the Botanic Gardens, walk around Lake Daylesford, explore Vincent Street, or relax at Manor House. Dinner at a local restaurant is on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch at Vaughan)
Included Activities
- Walk through Sailor's Gully from Porcupine Ridge with morning tea stop
- Walk to Vaughan with mineral springs and picnic area
- Walk to Fryerstown (approximately 2 hours)
- Free time to explore Daylesford sights including Botanic Gardens, Lake Daylesford, Vincent Street or relax at accommodation
Optional Activities
- Swimming in the Loddon River swimming hole at Vaughan (weather dependent)
Landmarks Porcupine Ridge Sailor's Gully Vaughan Fryerstown Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park Daylesford Botanic Gardens - Day 4
Fryerstown to Castlemaine to Melbourne
After breakfast and lunch prep, you'll check out of Manor House and walk from Fryerstown, passing remnants of Spring Gully mines (one of the Castlemaine district's most famous, operating from the 1850s to 1930s). Getting closer to Castlemaine means a short but steep climb to The Monk viewpoint (200m, though there's vehicle access via Jacobs Track if needed) for morning tea. In season you might catch wildflowers and orchids up there. Lunch happens at the Botanical Gardens, then you'll visit two popular stops: The Mill (the old Castlemaine Woollen Mills building from 1875 now filled with artisans, food and wine spots, vintage goods and an Austrian coffee house; Vintage Bazaar is open Thursday-Monday 10am-5pm) and Castlemaine Art Gallery & Historical Museum (entry included, it's a heritage art deco building with late 1800s artworks and goldfields items). Your last stop is Duck Duck Goose and Larder in Kyneton on Piper Street. You'll return to the drop-off point outside the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne between 4:30-5pm.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Botanical Gardens, Castlemaine)
Included Activities
- Walk from Fryerstown viewing Spring Gully mines remnants
- Climb onto The Monk viewpoint with morning tea stop
- Lunch at Botanical Gardens, Castlemaine
- Visit The Mill, Castlemaine (former woollen mills with artisans, food outlets and Austrian coffee house)
- Visit Castlemaine Art Gallery & Historical Museum with self-guided exploration
- Stop at Duck Duck Goose and Larder in Kyneton
Landmarks Spring Gully mines The Monk Castlemaine Botanical Gardens The Mill, Castlemaine Castlemaine Art Gallery & Historical Museum Duck Duck Goose and Larder National Gallery of Victoria 
