Daylesford
Australia's Spa Capital
On the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung people.
schedule 3 min read / Updated Jun 2026
A historic spa and mineral-springs town in Victoria's central highlands, 90 minutes north-west of Melbourne. Daylesford has more natural mineral springs than any region of its size in Australia, a thriving restaurant and wellness scene, and a strong LGBTQIA+ identity that goes back decades.
Daylesford sits in the central highlands of Victoria, 90 minutes north-west of Melbourne, on the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung people. The town was founded in the 1850s as a gold rush settlement and grew rapidly during the Victorian gold rush era before discoveries of mineral springs in the surrounding hills shifted the town's identity in the late 19th century from mining to bathing tourism.
The region has more natural mineral springs than any comparable-sized area in Australia, more than 80 in total, with many of them concentrated in the Hepburn Springs precinct just north of Daylesford. The springs were first commercially developed in the 1890s as part of the European spa-town tradition, and the original Hepburn Bathhouse (opened 1895 and rebuilt 1930) is still in operation today. It was joined in 2023 by a new spa facility next door.
The Hepburn Springs Bathhouse is the headline attraction for most visitors. The modern facility combines the restored 1930 heritage wing with contemporary thermal pools, private soaking baths, sauna and steam. The mineral water is drawn directly from the naturally carbonated springs below the town and the water temperature is regulated rather than heated, so the experience is different from a standard thermal spring elsewhere in the world.
Lake Daylesford, in the centre of town, is a former mill pond that is now a scenic lake with a walking trail, rowboats for hire, and the Lake House restaurant on its shore. Lake House is one of the most awarded country restaurants in Australia and is the defining fine-dining experience of the region. Book months in advance for weekends.
The region has one of the strongest food and produce scenes in Victoria. Saturday mornings bring the Daylesford Sunday Market (despite the name) to the Daylesford Railway Station, with local producers selling truffles, smallgoods, cheese, wine, bread and preserves. The Convent Gallery, a restored 19th-century convent turned art gallery and cafe at the top of Wombat Hill, is worth a visit for both the view and the building.
Daylesford has been a recognised LGBTQIA+ safe haven since at least the 1970s, when city couples from Melbourne started buying holiday cottages in the region. The annual ChillOut Festival, held every March on the Labour Day long weekend, is one of the oldest continuously running regional pride festivals in the country and brings around 20,000 visitors to the town for parades, performances and street events.
Beyond Daylesford itself, the surrounding area is the Goldfields region of Victoria. Nearby towns include Castlemaine, Maldon, Clunes and Trentham, all of which preserve 19th-century gold rush architecture and have their own food, art and antique scenes. Mount Franklin, 20 minutes north, is a volcanic crater with a walking track around the rim, and Lake Eppalock and the Wombat State Forest are short drives away.
Daylesford is a year-round destination but is particularly attractive in autumn (March to May) when the deciduous tree colours peak, and in winter (June to August) when the cold weather makes the hot mineral baths especially welcome. Summer can be hot and bushfire-prone. The closest airport is Melbourne Airport (MEL), 90 minutes south.
Tourist locations
Places to visit in Daylesford.
6 locations to explore
Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa
Victoria's iconic mineral bathing
Bathhouse from $60 adult; Sanctuary from $120
Full guide arrow_forwardHepburn Mineral Springs Reserve
Free-flowing mineral springs parkland
Free
Full guide arrow_forwardLavandula Swiss Italian Farm
Lavender fields and rustic charm
Adults $5, children 5-18 $1, under 5 free
Full guide arrow_forwardThe Convent Gallery
Art and history on the hill
Adults $10, concession $8, children under 12 $5, under 5 free
Full guide arrow_forwardTrentham Falls
Central Victoria's tallest waterfall
Free
Full guide arrow_forwardWombat Hill Botanic Gardens
Heritage gardens above Daylesford
Free
Full guide arrow_forwardGallery
Daylesford in pictures.
10 images licensed from Wikimedia Commons
All images are sourced from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licences. Individual photographers are credited on the source pages.
Scenic views
Lookouts near Daylesford.
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Attribution
Sources & credits
Content (1)
Images (10)
- Daylesford Station Pennsylvania.jpg · Lucius Kwok · CC BY 2.5
- Lake Daylesford, Victoria.jpg · Canberranone · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Daylesford, Bassendean, April 2026 01.jpg · Calistemon · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Daylesford, Bassendean, April 2026 02.jpg · Calistemon · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Daylesford, Bassendean, April 2026 03.jpg · Calistemon · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Daylesford Hotel and Roundabout.JPG · Mattinbgn (talk · contribs) · CC BY 3.0
- Daylesford Lake.jpg · Graham Manning · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Daylesford Lake Victoria Australia (7085530203).jpg · Roger G · CC BY 2.0
- Daylesford Midland Highway Sign 001.JPG · Mattinbgn (talk · contribs) · CC BY 3.0
- Daylesford Midland Highway Sign 002.JPG · Mattinbgn (talk · contribs) · CC BY 3.0
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