10 Best Things To Do in Daylesford with Kids in 2024

Daylesford, Victoria, is famous for its spas and romantic getaways, but it's also an equally great weekend and short getaway destination for families. It's only a 1.5 hours drive away for most Melbournians, which means you can visit on a day trip or a short stay without having to spend days planning your trip.

Surrounding Daylesford are several small towns (Hepburn Springs, Creswick, Trentham, Kyneton, and Castlemaine) that make it a good base camp for additional day trips once you get there.

Once you're inspired to visit Daylesford – then lock in the best family-friendly accommodation in Daylesford for your holiday.

Alternative destinations in the same direction from Melbourne are Bendigo and Ballarat. While Geelong is a similar distance away and thus a competing day trip destination. For a longer summer break, you may want to also consider a coastal destination like Phillip Island.

10 best things to do in and around Daylesford with kids in 2024

1. Spend the day by the lakes

On a sunny day, it's easy to spend a good part of a day around Lake Daylesford. The Lerderderg Track (1-hour loop) follows the edge of the lake and offers beautiful views across the water. The northern edge of the lake has a jetty that faces the panorama of The Boathouse on the south.

Next to The Boathouse is a small playground for older toddlers and bigger kids.

Aerial Photo of the Boathouse and playground, Lake Daylesford (Image: Bob T/Wikimedia CCBYSA4.0)

Five mins drive away from Lake Daylesford is Jubilee Lake. Here you'll find a 30 min walk around the lake, paddle boat hire, a decent kids playground and a kiosk serving reasonably priced food and drinks.

Sign at Jubilee Lake showing the walk around the lake, Daylesford

Paddle boats at Lake Jubilee, Daylesford

Playground at Jubilee Lake, Daylesford

You can also walk from Lake Daylesford to Jubilee Lake, it takes about 30 mins to do the stroll. Combine the two loop lake walks and the journey between for a 2.5 hour return walk.

2. Refresh in the local mineral springs

Hepburn Springs – 5 mins drive north of Daylesford - is home to the largest concentration of mineral springs in Australia and is famous for its mineral spring bathing.

At the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa children are welcome to swim and bathe inside in the mineral springs at the Bathhouse Mineral Bathing and the water is heated to between 33 and 36°C.

A number of the local Hepburn Springs and Daylesford hotels and accommodation offer mineral springs bathing, but the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa is the only family-friendly spa.

Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, Hepburn Springs (Image: DMR Tourism)

Bathing at Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa, Hepburn Springs near Daylesford (Image: Visit Victoria)

If you're looking for something more budget-friendly, Daylesford has three great free options where you can swim with your kids. The clean clear water of the man-made lake at Lake Daylesford is perfect for a warm day. In the early days of the Lake, it had a designated swimming pool section (this has now been removed) and you can still use swimming pier and the change rooms.

Lake Daylesford with swimming precinct and change rooms (Image: Jacob Dyer/Unsplash)

A bit further out of town is Vaughan Mineral Springs which has a man-made river pool built across the Loddon River. It's a picturesque location about 25 minutes from Daylesford, where you can feel like you're properly in nature. (There is also a separate concrete shallow toddler pool which is filled only by falling rainwater, which means whether it has any water is a bit hit and miss depending on recent weather.)

Swimming in the mineral water in the river pool at Vaughan Mineral Springs near Daylesford (Image: Visit Victoria)

If a traditional swimming pool is more your style, check out the Daylesford Olympic Swimming Pool with its outside 50 m swimming pool and toddler pool. Entry is free and it is open from first weekend in December until the long weekend in March.

3. Bottle your own mineral water at Hepburn Springs

Next to the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa is the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve. Here you can walk along an above-ground stream that features stops at 4 taps and sample the water directly from the different mineral springs. (There is an additional spring, but it's a few kilometres walk away.) The range of mineral composition gives each spring a very different taste! It's lots of fun for kids to pump and bottle the water - and the strong metallic taste at some of the springs might give them a surprise!

Mineral springs taps near the Hepburn Springs Pavilion at the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve (Image: Visit Victoria)

Mineral Spring at Hepburn Springs (Image: denisbin/Flickr CCBY2.0)

In the same reserve, you'll find the Hepburn Springs Pavillion with a small cafe for your summer ice-cream hit, with a playground nearby.

Bottles of sparkling and still mineral water from the Daylesford & Hepburn Springs Mineral Springs Co (Image: Visit Victoria)

A set of nice - and healthy - gifts from the region are drinks from the Daylesford & Hepburn Springs Mineral Company which uses the local mineral springs for bottled sparkling, still and flavoured mineral waters.

4. Visit the Lavandula Swiss-Italian Farm

One of the top days out in Daylesford is a 10-minute drive away at the Lavandula Swiss-Italian Farm. In the flats of Daylesford's surrounds is a farm with plenty of European-styled gardens and many historic stone farm buildings styled with old farm equipment; as you can imagine they're super popular for wedding photoshoots but are also a joy to just wander and explore.

The active part of the farm grows lavender and creates a plethora of related health and beauty products.

Lavender at Lavendula Swiss Italian Farm, Daylesford (Image: PhotoBohemio/Flickr CCBYSA2.0)

La Trattoria, the on-site cafe, caters to humans of all sizes with a changing menu throughout the year.

Emu at Lavendula Swiss Italian Lavender Farm, Daylesford (Image: safetypinheart/Flickr CCBY2.0)

While the farm has a European touch, you'll be reminded of Victoria as you stumble across the growing emu chicks and the local birdlife.

Duckling at Lavendula Swiss Italian Farm, Daylesford (Image: safetypinheart/Flickr CCBY2.0)

And of course, it's not a "proper farm" without ducks, so you'll find them too!

5. Delight in the botanic gardens at Wombat Hill

Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens, Daylesford (Image: Larry Ellis/Flickr CCBYSA2.0)

One of the most accessible highest points in Daylesford is the lookout in the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens. You can drive the scenic loop or park your car and have a picnic (or something from the on-site cafe) followed by a climb to the top of the lookout tower.

Wombat Hill Botantical Gardens Lookout (Image: Peter/Flickr CCBY2.0)

The panoramic view from the lookout atop Wombat Hill gives views of the lush vegetation in the area; if you're after a more dramatic view, you can drive the half-hour to Mount Macedon.

6. Go fishing at Tuki Trout Farm

The ponds at Tuki Trout Farm are stocked full of rainbow trout, so you're guaranteed to catch a fish. This is a great first fishing spot for kids and adults. It is $45.00 for two adults with children and two fishing rods with bait. Extra rods and bait can be purchased.

You can even have your fish cooked and served in the restaurant which has beautiful views of the surrounding area. Tuki Trout Farm is 25 mins drive north of Daylesford.

Family with fishing nets and fishing rods at Tuki Trout Farm, Smeaton near Daylesford (Image: City of Ballarat)

Cooked fish at Tuki Trout Farm, Smeaton near Daylesford (Image: City of Ballarat)

7. See the spa region from the sky with hot air ballooning

For a truly luxury experience, you can see Daylesford and the region from the sky with your whole family (assuming they're all over 6 years old) on a 1-hour hot air balloon flight with Daylesford Ballooning. It's not cheap, but definitely stunning.

Aerial Photo of Lake Daylesford (Image: Bob T/Wikimedia CCBYSA4.0)

8. Go on treasure hunts

Secret Forest Walks provides a unique treasure hunt come self-guided trek. Instead of a map, you get a GPS device and follow the map and compass to the various checkpoints.

The shortest of the routes is 5km and winds itself to end at the Sailor's Falls – a fun way to spend a few hours outdoors with your kids and end up at a great picnic destination!

Sailors Falls, Daylesford (Image: Mattinbgn/Wikimedia CCBYSA3.0)

9. See wool spun at the Creswisk Woolen Mills

Creswick Woollen Mills – 25 mins from Daylesford – offers a full sheep to cardigan journey. Outside – depending on the season – you can see and pet young lambs, alpacas and goats. While indoors, you can follow the journey raw wool takes through a variety of processes to become clothing.

Visit the alpacas at Creswick Woollen Mills (Image: anne beaumont/Flickr CCBYSA2.0)

10. Go horse riding

There are several horse riding services in the area:

• Hepburn Lagoon Trail Rides offers 2 and 5-hour rides

• Boomerang Holiday Ranch rides start at 1 hour and can be longer on booking

As usual, a 6 year minimum age limit applies to both.

6 best things to do in Daylesford for free with kids

1. Walk around Lake Daylesford and enjoy a picnic.

2. Drive the scenic route at Wombat Hill and relax at the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens.

3. Explore the taste of the mineral springs at Hepburn Springs.

4. Take in the panorama at Mount Macedon.

5. Make memories splashing at the water at Sailor's Falls.

6. Pet cute lamb and goats and learn about the history and process of making textiles from wool at Creswick Woollen Mills.

Frequently asked about Daylesford

What is there to do between Daylesford and Melbourne?

Depending on the route you take there are several great places to stop on your way to Daylesford.

Heading via the M8 (towards Ballarat)

You can go via Lerderderg State Park which has a great picnic spot (with public toilets) near the water at Mackenzies Flat Picnic Area.

On this same route, you can stop by Trentham and get yourself some delicious bread from RedBeard Bakery.

Alternatively, you can head up to Daylesford via Sailor's Falls.

Heading via the M79 (via Gisborne)

This route has several great stops on the way at Macedon and Woodend. This is quite a bit longer than the M8 option, but the view at Mount Macedon is hard to beat.

Things to see and do in Daylesford

Playgrounds & Activities

• Daylesford Community Park Playground

• Daylesford Skate Park

• Lake Daylesford Playground

• Jubilee Lake Reserve Playground

• Hepburn Recreation Reserve Playground

• Lerderderg Track around Lake Daylesford

• Daylesford Olympic Swimming Pool

Botanical Gardens & Parks

• Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens

• Mount Franklin Reserve Volcanic Crater Picnic Site

Mount Franklin Reserve, Daylesford (Image: John Englart/Flickr CCBYSA4.0)

Picnic beneath the amazing canopy at the picnic grounds at Mount Franklin Reserve Volcanic Crater.

Art Galleries & Sight-seeing

• Sailor's Falls

• Wombat Hill Lookout

• Thomas' Lookout

• Clayfire Gallery

• Michael Parker Gallery

• Bromley & Co Gallery

• Thirteen 05 Gallery

• Hepburn Springs

Cafes, Restaurants & Pubs

• The Convent, Daylesford

• Daylesford Brewing Co.

• Rubens @ Hepburn

• Blue Bean Love Restaurant

• Hepburn Springs Brewing Co.

Daylesford Convent Art Gallery and Restaurant (Image: Mattinbgn/Wikimedia CCBY3.0)

Enjoy delicious breakfast, brunch or afternoon tea at the cafe and view the art at the gallery at the Convent, Daylesford.