A Excellent Day in Daylesford & The Macedon Ranges, With Paul Bangay
Most Melbournians will in all probability have visited Daylesford earlier than – the bustling regional city, with its glorious eating places, retailers and vibrant artistic group isn’t precisely a nicely saved secret. However, regardless of how nicely you suppose you realize the world, there are at all times hidden gems to find within the wider Macedon Ranges area, simply 90 minutes from Melbourne.
We lately spent a day in Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges, capturing a few of the greatest that the area has to supply. Our information was celebrated panorama designer Paul Bangay OAM. Paul moved right here round 20 years in the past, discovering himself drawn to the area for its distinct seasons, its cool winters and delicate summers, and its wealthy and fertile soils. He wished to construct a backyard right here – and what a backyard he constructed! Stonefields is Paul’s non-public residence, and the backyard he has created right here actually have to be seen to be believed.
After a tour of Stonefields, Paul took us all around the area, to go to his favorite spots for espresso, lunch and dinner – and I additionally took a brief aspect journey to one in every of his favorite plant nurseries, too. So, be part of us, for A Excellent Day in Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges, with Paul Bangay!
Stonefields
Unbelievably, Paul created his grand nation backyard at Stonefields from scratch, and it has been a labour of affection for 16 years. Over that point, Paul has witnessed the spectacular and dramatic methods the panorama adjustments with the seasons – from frosty winters to verdant spring and summer time, and resplendent autumn, with all its fiery colors.
As one in every of Australia’s most celebrated panorama designers, Paul’s tastes and pursuits have modified within the final decade and a half, and these altering tastes are mirrored within the ever-changing panorama at Stonefields. What began life as fairly a proper, structured backyard is right this moment softened with areas of rigorously cultivated wilderness.
While not open to the pubic 12 months spherical, Paul takes small teams for personal excursions of the backyard seasonally – control his web site for particulars.
Cliffy’s Emporium, Daylesford
An area establishment, Cliffy’s Emporium is a restaurant with a lot outdated world allure – and quite a lot of native historical past. Housed in a former basic retailer, the constructing, with its rustic timber and corrugated iron cladding has been part of the Daylesford group because the Nineteen Fifties.
Quick ahead greater than 60 years, and the guts and soul of the unique basic retailer lives on, this time within the type of a buzzing native cafe and providore. Serving up superb breakfasts, lunches – and glorious espresso, Cliffy’s is a nicely beloved native favorite.
30 Raglan Road, Daylesford
Du Fermier, Trentham
Du Fermier is a a lot beloved French-style kitchen restaurant, created by revered native chef Annie Smithers.
Positioned in Trentham, round 20 minutes from Daylesford, du Fermier takes its inspiration from traditional French farmhouse cooking. Every weekend Annie lovingly creates a menu that includes native and seasonal produce, a lot of which she grows in her personal kitchen backyard. Friends are served by Annie personally, who makes time to speak to each visitor, at each sitting. The sensation right here is heat, inviting and so pleasant – an expertise virtually like eating in Annie’s own residence.
Du Fermier is open for lunch Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday. Reservations for bookings two months upfront on the primary of each month – get in fast!
42 Excessive Road, Trentham
Lambley’s Nursery and Gardens, Ascot
Artist Criss Canning and her husband David Glenn personal Lambley Nursery and Gardens, an incredible plant nursery in Ascot, famend for his or her unbelievable array of dry local weather crops. Right here, underneath David’s course, a passionate workforce of horticulturalists propagate, develop and promote an enormous number of decorative crops, shrubs and flowers, in addition to tending to the gorgeous public gardens which draw many guests annually.
The gardens are open to guests 9am to 5pm, 7 days per week
395 Lesters Street, Ascot, Victoria 3364
The Lake Home, Daylesford
Fairly merely, The Lake Home is an establishment. Positioned overlooking Lake Daylesford, this iconic venue incorporates a 5-star lodge and spa, and naturally, a very outstanding restaurant, which has obtained numerous accolades and awards, together with 2 hats from the nationwide Good Meals Information.
With Culinary Director Alla Wolf-Tasker AM on the helm, the Lake Home restaurant prides itself on its unbelievable produce, a lot of which is sourced from native producers, in addition to the restaurant’s personal productive vegetable backyard at Dairy Flat Farm, the place produce is handpicked each day.
4 King Road, Daylesford
There’s by no means been a greater time to discover regional Victoria. Keep shut, go additional and plan your subsequent getaway right here. Bear in mind, tourism and hospitality companies have doing it robust recently so, take note, to #travelkind.
