Daylesford & Macedon Ranges spa country
Full day · ~9 hours
A relaxed day in Australia's spa capital. We loop Daylesford and Hepburn Springs — the natural mineral springs, the lake walk, the hilltop Convent Gallery — then swing through the Macedon Ranges past Hanging Rock on the way home. You book your own bathhouse session and lunch; we time the day around it and wait at every stop.
Why it's famous
Discover Daylesford & Macedon.
Daylesford and Hepburn Springs sit in Victoria's spa country, about 90 minutes north-west of Melbourne. Mineral water rises naturally from the ground here. You can taste it from hand pumps in the reserves or soak in it at the Hepburn Bathhouse, which has drawn bathers since 1895.
Between soaks, the towns move at an easy pace. Lake Daylesford is ringed by walking paths and willows. The hilltop Convent, for almost 90 years a convent and boarding school, now holds seven gallery spaces across four levels, with gardens that look out over the central highlands.
On the way home we drive through the Macedon Ranges to Hanging Rock, the volcanic formation that inspired Joan Lindsay's novel Picnic at Hanging Rock. A trail of paths, stairs and rock passages leads up to the summit lookouts, and the land is Country of the Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples.
What you'll see & do
- Taste naturally sparkling mineral water from the hand pumps in the springs reserves
- Soak in mineral water at the Hepburn Bathhouse, established in 1895 (pre-book your session)
- Walk the path around Lake Daylesford and stop for lunch at a lakeside café
- Explore the Convent's seven gallery spaces, gardens and views over the central highlands
- Browse the cafés, bookshops and providores along Vincent Street
- Climb the summit trail at Hanging Rock (allow 60–90 minutes return)
- Take in views across the Macedon Ranges on the drive home
Why you'll love it
- Mineral-spa bathing at Hepburn Bathhouse (we time the day around your session)
- Lake Daylesford strolls and spa-town cafés
- The Convent Gallery's art, gardens and valley views
- Hanging Rock on the way home — picnic-at-Hanging-Rock country
$420 AUD — total. No hidden anything.
One fixed price per vehicle (up to 7 people). Here's exactly what that covers:
- Fixed price in AUDThe price you see is the total — per vehicle, up to 7 people
- No hidden chargesNo booking fees, no card surcharges, no surprises
- Tolls, fuel & parking includedEverything the car needs is in the price
- No driver or waiting chargesYour driver and reasonable waiting are included
- Hotel / home pickup & drop-offDoor-to-door across Melbourne — included free
- FREE airport pickup with any tourBook a tour and we collect you from the airport at no charge
- Pay your wayIn advance or any time before your trip ends — PayID, card or cash
See it on film
Official videos
4 Must-Do's in Daylesford Macedon Ranges #nature #naturewalk
Official video · Parks Victoria
Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa
Official video · Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa
Places to visit in Daylesford - Convent Gallery.
Official video · The Convent Daylesford
Your day, stop by stop
What we’ll do.
Times are guidance — we adjust on the day to your group’s pace.
Send this itinerary to your group:
- 08
08:30
Pickup from your home
Western Suburbs door pickup — it's about 90 minutes northwest.
- 10
10:00
Hepburn Springs reserve
Hand-pump the natural mineral springs and stroll the reserve before the day warms up.
The mineral springs around Hepburn are part of Hepburn Regional Park, which Parks Victoria says includes Sailors Falls, Tipperary Springs, Golden and Argyle Springs. Bring a bottle to try the naturally effervescent water from the hand pumps.
Official website ↗ - 10
10:45
Hepburn Bathhouse (you pre-book)
Historic spa, established in 1895 — book your soak online; we wait or run an errand loop.
The Hepburn Bathhouse was established in 1895. Its mineral water is drawn from natural sources and fills pools including the Salt Therapy Pool and the Creekside Pool, plus a mineral hammam.
Official website ↗🎟️ Booking required
Book your bathing session online before the day and tell us the time, and we'll plan the day around it.
- 13
13:00
Lake Daylesford & lunch
Lakeside walk, then your choice of Daylesford's well-known cafés and providores.
Lake Daylesford is a calm, tree-fringed lake a short walk from town. A walking path circles the water past jetties and the lakeside boathouse café, and it's beautiful in autumn.
- 14
14:30
The Convent Gallery
Hilltop former convent — gardens, galleries and town views.
This 19th-century hilltop building was a convent and boarding school for almost 90 years. It now holds seven gallery spaces across four levels, plus a museum, a chapel, a café and gardens with views over Victoria's central highlands. Entry is paid at the door, and admission helps maintain the gardens.
Official website ↗ - 16
16:00
Hanging Rock
The eerie volcanic formation made famous by the film — short uphill walk to the summit.
Hanging Rock is an ancient volcanic formation in the Macedon Ranges. A summit trail of sealed paths, stairs and natural rock passages leads to lookouts and takes 60–90 minutes return. Joan Lindsay's novel set here is a work of fiction.
Official website ↗ - 17
17:30
Drop-off at home
Direct return via the Calder.
Getting there
How far is it?
Every numbered stop on one map — shown from the CBD for scale. Your day is door-to-door from your home, we handle all the driving, tolls and parking. Tap the map for Google Maps.
Tickets & bookings
Book your tickets before the day.
Attraction entry isn’t included in the fare — buy it directly from the official sites below (no mark-up, no middleman). Tell us your session times and we’ll plan the driving around them.
Hepburn Bathhouse (you pre-book)
Booking requiredBook your bathing session online before the day and tell us the time, and we'll plan the day around it.
secure.netbookings.com.au
Hepburn Bathhouse
Pre-book your bathing session — we time the day around it
hepburnbathhouse.com
What’s included
- Premium 8-seat MPV for the whole day
- Driver, fuel and all road tolls
- Door-to-door pickup and drop-off
- Up to 9 hours from pickup to drop-off
Not included
- Bathhouse / spa sessions (book direct online)
- Hanging Rock reserve entry
- Convent Gallery entry
- Meals and any food
Common questions
Good to know.
- Should we pre-book the bathhouse?
- Yes — Hepburn Bathhouse and the private spas are timed and sell out on weekends. Book direct and tell us your session time; we build the day around it.
- Can we add a winery stop?
- Yes — the Macedon Ranges has excellent cool-climate cellar doors. Tell us at booking and we'll slot one in on the way back.
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Ready for Daylesford & Macedon?
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