Story by Deshani
A Winter Countryside Escape
Adventure in Lauriston, Macedon Ranges, VIC, AU
The day started exactly as planned; four women on a mission to get away, connect and unwind. But first thing’s first: food. Pancho's is one of the best rated cafes in Daylesford (25 minutes from the property) and the scrumptious breakfast was devoured prior to heading to our next destination. Our intention? Initiation into rejuvenation, with full body massages – obviously!
Hello bliss! Four relaxed and essential-oiled bodies opened the doors to our home for the next two nights. We were all in awe of the beautifully decorated and cosy cottage, which was filled with unique vintage pieces – my favourite! Feeling instantly uplifted, we headed straight to the heated kitchen and indulged in the warm, freshly baked bread delivered by the lovely hosts. The night included wood-fired pizza (pre-ordered, delivered and highly recommended), local wines and jamming to live guitar tunes by the glorious fire.
We woke to catch the sunrise illuminating the scenic view of the farm. There’s something about winter sunrises that cannot be described in words. The friendly neighbourhood goats were all about connection, making the morning experience rather special. After a homemade brekkie, we drove up to Hanging Rock, which is important to Australian cultural heritage and sacred to Aboriginal Australians. A relatively easy hike to the top results in super amazing views and it's definitely worth paying a visit to the Discovery Centre. On our way back, we took a walk down Piper Street – a vibrant retail street in Kyneton. The rest of the day was spent as we'd hoped – warm baths, relaxing, reading by the fire, Prosecco sunset picnics overlooking the windmill field and long, deep and meaningful chats.
At night, rugged up, we headed to the Daylesford Lake to see Dan Archer’s Northern Lights (Borealis on the lake). The creativity was outstanding. There’s always something happening in Daylesford so I recommend checking out what’s on a couple of days before heading out.
Our last morning at the cottage was nice and slow. We ended our getaway sitting around the outside fire. Each of us expressed an intention, something we each wanted to commit to in the presence of each other. It was a great escape for reflection, healing, connection and sisterhood. Make time for it....
Hello bliss! Four relaxed and essential-oiled bodies opened the doors to our home for the next two nights. We were all in awe of the beautifully decorated and cosy cottage, which was filled with unique vintage pieces – my favourite! Feeling instantly uplifted, we headed straight to the heated kitchen and indulged in the warm, freshly baked bread delivered by the lovely hosts. The night included wood-fired pizza (pre-ordered, delivered and highly recommended), local wines and jamming to live guitar tunes by the glorious fire.
We woke to catch the sunrise illuminating the scenic view of the farm. There’s something about winter sunrises that cannot be described in words. The friendly neighbourhood goats were all about connection, making the morning experience rather special. After a homemade brekkie, we drove up to Hanging Rock, which is important to Australian cultural heritage and sacred to Aboriginal Australians. A relatively easy hike to the top results in super amazing views and it's definitely worth paying a visit to the Discovery Centre. On our way back, we took a walk down Piper Street – a vibrant retail street in Kyneton. The rest of the day was spent as we'd hoped – warm baths, relaxing, reading by the fire, Prosecco sunset picnics overlooking the windmill field and long, deep and meaningful chats.
At night, rugged up, we headed to the Daylesford Lake to see Dan Archer’s Northern Lights (Borealis on the lake). The creativity was outstanding. There’s always something happening in Daylesford so I recommend checking out what’s on a couple of days before heading out.
Our last morning at the cottage was nice and slow. We ended our getaway sitting around the outside fire. Each of us expressed an intention, something we each wanted to commit to in the presence of each other. It was a great escape for reflection, healing, connection and sisterhood. Make time for it....
Things We Did
- Hike
- Food & Drink
- Experience
- Sunrise
- Event
Hanging Rock (Traditionally known as Ngannelong) is a geological formation in the Macedon Ranges. It was a fairly easy hike up to the top to be greeted by breathtaking views. It has been an important cultural centre for First Nations people for hundreds of years and it's definitely worth paying a visit to the discovery centre to learn more....
Our Adventure Map
Where we stayed
Things we did
We've plotted our adventure on the map below. Select the map icons to discover more details.
Share The Love
Add this story to your bucket list or gift it to someone you think deserves it!
Book Our Adventure
Book through this story to receive our itinerary and extra tips to help you live your adventure to the fullest.
What are Riparide Stories?
Riparide Stories are authentic experiences shared by real travelers (who are handy with a camera). It's like reading your best friend's travel journal - packed with photos, honest reviews and visual itineraries.