A GOOD OLD SUNDAY ROAD TRIP Richard Cornish @foodcornish
Order a picnic, throw a rug in the back of the car, or book a late lunch in a beautiful country location eatery... because we're going on a day trip.
W
e’re embracing the good old Sunday drive intertwined with a few little walks in the forest, a sip of cool climate wine or a splash in the natural mineral waters that bubble naturally from the Earth. Here are three doable day trips and while there is a lot more to see and do in our wonderful region, we've whittled down the options into three carefully crafted itineraries for you.
using natural yeasts. Their near neighbour is Double Oaks Winery, where they make wines from grapes off their 36-year-old vines. Drop into Rowanston on the Track. This winery and B&B is well known for their balanced blanc de noir and fullbodied red sparkling wines. Riesling lovers should make sure they have Granite Hills Winery on their itinerary. Consider doubling back to dine in Lancefield or the luxe historic Evans Bistro, Bar and Garden in Romsey.
WINE - BURKE AND WILLS TRACK VINEYARD TREK FORESTS, GARDENS, OUTDOORS - MOUNT MACEDON
Follow in the footsteps of explorers Burke and Wills on the track they forged on the first leg of their 1860 journey to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Head north from Lancefield and turn left into this beautiful meandering road that follows a ridge through the forest in the Cobaw Ranges, catching glimpses of old homesteads and ancient river red gums. Not far out of Lancefield, look out for Lyon's Will Estate. Here they make elegant cool climate wines fermented
Daylesford Macedon Life | 12
TO HANGING ROCK
This is a hauntingly beautiful day trip that takes in the dramatic drive on the C322 over the summit of Mount Macedon down to the mysterious summit walk at Hanging Rock. In summer, there are avenues of grand trees, forests filled with foragable fungus, and magnificent gardens such as Forest Glade Gardens to explore.
Book a meal at Mount Towrong Vineyard, minimalist intervention winemakers working in a true cold climate at 600 metres. Try the Vivace non-vintage sparkling blend of chardonnay and nebbiolo with a few Italianinspired dishes. If you're a gardener, drop by Stephen Ryan's Dicksonia Rare Plants, a beautiful nursery stocked with flowering, foliage, and structural plants. Then head to the summit of Mount Macedon to take the stunning views of the Loddon and Campaspe rivers and the skyline of Melbourne to the south. Through the towering mountain ash trees, drive down to the entrance to Hanging Rock. A powerful sacred site to millennia of Indigenous Australians, it is no wonder that Dame Joan Lindsay set her Victorian era school girl mystery Picnic at Hanging Rock here. Afterward, head a few kilometres north to the Newham General Store, owned by three local families, for a glass of local bubbles, a toastie, or hot Millet Road crumpet and a cup of tea.
