Overview

After a regional trip where sustainable choices are front of mind? Central Victoria has you covered.

Explore larger centres such Ballarat and Bendigo. Or take in the gold era ambience of charming smaller towns including Castlemaine, Maryborough or Kyneton. Either way, there's no shortage of eco-friendly dining and accommodation options.

Range further for stunning natural attractions, such as the rugged beauty of Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve. Get on your bike to enjoy the rolling scenery of the Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail. Or add a touch of literary intrigue by packing a picnic to take on the invigorating stroll to the top of Hanging Rock.

When you need to slow down and revive, head to one of the many spa retreats around the Daylesford and Hepburn Springs area.

There's plenty of ways to see Central Victoria at its stunning finest, and all with the lightest possible impact on the beautiful environment surrounding you.

 

Conservation experiences

Native fauna abounds in Central Victoria amid an array of landscapes and habitats, rewarding the traveller who treasures immersive opportunities.
Visitor having photo with a koala

Ballarat Wildlife Park

Sanctuaries, zoos & farms
Winner of Victoria's Best Attraction at the 2023 Victorian Tourism Awards.Ballarat Wildlife Park is set amongst the beautiful gum trees on the outskirts...
Hanging Rock Llama Treks at Hanging Rock

Hanging Rock Reserve Llama Trek

Tours
The Hanging Rock Reserve Llama Trek is a five kilometre, three hour llama walk to Hanging Rock Reserve and return with a simple morning or afternoon tea...
Maze House - Centre of maze

Maze House

Parks & gardens
Maze House is located on the Midland Highway ten minutes from Daylesford and ten minutes from Creswick, with an old hedge maze, country carnival games,...
wooden steps in forest covered in grass and branches

Koala Park (Creswick Regional Park)

Parks & gardens
Take a walk through Creswick's beautiful Koala Park, where there is a circuit track with multiple walk options starting at 30 minutes that takes you on...
Murrup Laar

Murrup Laarr Ancestral Stones

Aboriginal art
Murrup Laarr translates as 'Ancestral Stones' in Wadawurrung. This artwork by Deanne Gilson is located in the North Gardens Indigenous Sculpture Park...
Black Cockatoo and Paige

Ballarat Bird World

Sanctuaries, zoos & farms
Take a stroll along the raised walkway past the landscaped waterfall and gardens to view the birds on display. Some of the varieties on display include...
}

Unable to get data

Nature places

Find your happy place sitting by a picturesque lake or waterfall, meandering through a forest or national park, or exploring botanic gardens or bike trails.
Pink Cliffs Reserve, Heathcote, Victoria, Australia

Pink Cliffs Reserve

National parks & reserves
Wander through intriguing mini gorges and cliffs of fine pink clay at this geological reserve. A great spot for bushwalking and photography.
Bendigo Botanic Gardens, Goldifelds, Victoria, Australia

Bendigo Botanic Gardens

Parks & gardens
Admire rare and fine botanic specimens, picnic by the pavilion, stroll by the lagoon and walk through the aviary at Bendigo's historic botanic garden.
Hanging Rock, Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges, Victoria, Australia

Hanging Rock

National parks & reserves
Your Picnic at Hanging Rock will be a gourmet affair served with drama and intrigue - and stunning flora and fauna.
Monument Hill Reserve

Monument Hill Reserve

National parks & reserves
Located an hour north of Melbourne in Kilmore, Monument Hill Reserve is a fantastic recreational area perfect for activities such as bush-walking and horse...
Lerderderg State Park

Lerderderg State Park

National parks & reserves
Rising in the Great Dividing Range, the Lerderderg River has cut a 300 metre deep gorge through sandstone and slate, almost bisecting the park. The park...
Werribee Gorge

Werribee Gorge State Park

National parks & reserves
Werribee Gorge retains a wild, rugged natural beauty. The park offers spectacular views and great opportunities for bushwalking and rock climbing.There...
Trawool Valley

Trawool Valley

Parks & gardens
Trawool, originally named 'Traawool', the indigenous word for 'wild water', is a district dominated by agriculture, dairy and unforgettable scenery. The...
Mount Piper aerial view

Mt Piper Nature Conservation Reserve

Parks & gardens
Mt Piper is a haven for local fauna, take the challenging climb to the peak. It is worth the effort for the breath-taking views. On the way, look for the...
Girl at Mount Disappointment Forest

Mt Disappointment State Forest

Parks & gardens
In 1824, explorers Hume and Hovell named Mt Disappointment. This was due to their disappointment in discovering that Port Phillip Bay could not be viewed...
Tallarook Ranges Aerial View

Tallarook State Forest

National parks & reserves
The Tallarook State Forest is a fantastic spot to enjoy a wide range of recreational activities including, four-wheel driving, bushwalking, trail bike...
Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, Goldfields, Victoria, Australia

Castlemaine Botanical Gardens

Parks & gardens
Discover this lush Victorian garden with its manicured lawns, colourful flowerbeds and heritage listed trees.
Sanatorium Lake, Macedon Ranges, Victoria, Australia

Sanatorium Lake Eco-Trail

Walking & hiking
Walk through native forests of the Macedon Ranges, passing through stands of tall eucalypts and moist gullies of beautiful ferns.
The Historic House of St Erth

Garden of St Erth

Parks & gardens
The Garden of St Erth is a beautiful historic house and garden, a short drive from Daylesford and Ballarat.Explore the gardens and discover an extraordinary...
Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges, Victoria, Australia

Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens

Parks & gardens
Perch on the hill for uninterrupted views, take in the floral charms of Begonia House, or get a taste for Alla Wolf-Tasker's cuisine at Wombat Hill House.
Trentham Falls, Trentham, Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges, Victoria, Australia

Trentham Falls

Lakes & waterways
Get soaked by the spray from Victoria's highest single-drop waterfall, enjoy a picnic by the river or a scenic walking track in the surrounding forest.
A park chair overlooking a lake and gardens

Lake Daylesford

Parks & gardens
Take a walk around picturesque Lake Daylesford and take in the sights and sounds of nature. A short stroll from Daylesford town centre Lake Daylesford...
Lal Lal Falls

Lal Lal Falls

Waterfalls
Lal Lal Falls is a waterfall 20 minutes' drive from Ballarat with an impressive drop into a large, rocky gorge.The reserve features a large grassy area,...
Lake Wendouree, Goldfields, Victoria, Australia. Credit: Anthony Evans

Lake Wendouree

Lakes & waterways
Join visitors and locals alike for lakeside activities and water sports at this ever-popular recreational spot in Ballarat.
}

Unable to get data

Spa & wellbeing

The Daylesford/Hepburn Springs area is rightfully regarded as Victoria's 'spa central'; but the serenity of a relaxing massage or pampering spa treatment is easily found wherever you roam.
One of our treatment rooms

Daylesford Healing Massage

Spa & wellbeing
Come to Daylesford Healing Massage to escape the hustle and bustle of your daily life and emerge relaxed, rejuvenated and at peace. Whether you’re indulging...
Meditation

Meditation and Buddhism Classes - Kadampa Meditation Centre

Spa & wellbeing
The classes provide practical methods for improving the quality of lives and developing inner peace through meditation and Buddhist teachings.The in-person...
Samadhi Spa & Wellness Retreat, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia

Samadhi Spa and Wellness Retreat

Retreats & lodges
Visit this award-winning destination spa and wellness retreat with a focus on rejuvenation, relaxation, healing and meditation.
Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa - Creekside Pool

Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa

Spa & wellbeing
Spend a day rejuvenating body and mind in the natural mineral waters of the original Hepburn Springs spa, welcoming locals and travellers since 1895.
Salus Spa at Lake House

The Spa at Lake House

Spa & wellbeing
Indulge on the shores of Lake Daylesford at this state-of-the-art spa offering the latest in European spa treatments and technology.
Couple in an ice bath with infrared sauna within Flow's serene and beautiful contract therapy garden

Flow Floatation and Sensory Retreat

Spa & wellbeing
Flow Retreat offers unique experiences that have been designed to quiet the chatter of the mind, and put your body, mind and spirit into a state of calm,...
Wet-room body treatments and spa massage

Ellenis Day Spa

Spa & wellbeing
Ellenis Day Spa is the Macedon Ranges' premier spa facility. Designed for luxury, Ellenis is the perfect place to indulge, be pampered and relax.Crystal...
Hallway

Ballarat's Sanctuary Day Spa

Spa & wellbeing
At Ballarat’s Sanctuary Day Spa, their ultimate goal is to guide you towards a lasting sense of well-being through holistic healing and nurturing treatments.A...
}

Unable to get data

You may also like...

Prom Country Cheese, Moyarra, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia

Feel good road trip

Features
Seek out sustainability in Victoria's regions. Plan a road trip with a feel-good difference, or swap out the car for a bike or multi-day hike.
Five Acres, Ventnor, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia

Farm stays

Places to stay
Escape to the country with a farm stay in regional Victoria. Peer behind the door of a working farm, get to know the locals, or just relax and unwind.
Cycling, Winton Wetlands, Chesney Vale, High Country, Victoria

Car(e)free

Road trips & itineraries
No wheels? No worries! Hop a train or a bus for a day trip or mini-break to beachside towns, national parks, riverside retreats and regional cities.
Main Ridge Dairy, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia

Paddock to plate

Local produce
Taste the philosphy as you trace the journey of produce and products from paddock to your plate, around regional Victoria.