Kyneton

[kyneton soundtrack. marinade].

There are so many awesome little weekend getaways out of Melbourne, and the historic town of Kyneton in Victoria's Macedon Ranges is just one of them. Located 85km north-west of Melbourne, Kyneton is an easy hour (ish) drive from the centre of Melbourne, or an even easier train ride. If you are really organised, take your bikes on the train (catch the Bendigo Line) from Spencer Street station - because once in Kyneton, you will be able to bike almost everywhere, and its the perfect way to get around.

Like its neighbors (Castlemaine, Trentham, Daylesford and even Bendigo), Kyneton is a hub for good living - with access to fresh and seasonal produce, local farmers markets, great coffee, impressive dining options, and an inspiring art scene. These small towns seem to attract a whole host of makers, creators and innovators, and the vibe here is friendly and welcoming. You will love wandering along its pretty streets, surrounded by impressive 19th century bluestone architecture.

We recently had the pleasure of spending the weekend in Kyneton - courtesy of the wonderful team at the Flop House. Genevieve and the Flop House crew look after a number of beautiful vacation rentals in and around Kyneton, and their HQ can be found tucked away at the top of some stairs off the main street in a gorgeous interiors store.

I had had my eye on the Flop House’s Harpsichord Housefor some time (it was the Scandi-inspired design that got me!), but given the house was already booked over the weekend I was going to be there, Genevieve instead recommended the brand new and luxe River Houseinstead. We were in for a serious treat.

The River House is Flop House’s latest venture and offers a new level of luxury for the Macedon Ranges. Opening in April 2016, we were one of the River House's first set of guests and were lucky enough to spend a weekend relaxing in this modern home situated on 2 acres of bushland, with private river access. The house, located in the little town of Lauriston, is just five minutes from Kyneton, and twenty minutes from Daylesford.

With a large infinity pool, tennis court, fishing rods, bikes, picnic baskets, wood-fired pizza oven, and an awe-inspiring veggie garden, it's the perfect place for a group getaway. There were only four of us this time, but the house can accommodate up to six. To make guest’s feel grounded Flop House provide their signature summer breakfast hamper with locally made preserves, Grist sourdough, bircher muesli, yoghurt and poached fruits. A heartier breakfast of locally produced, McIvor free-range bacon and Hand to Ground eggs can also be arranged. Not only that, a complimentary bottle of local sparkling was waiting for us on arrival. 

It was tempting not to leave the house all weekend, but when we did, we managed to find a few wonderful little things in town we can happily recommend for your next weekend away in Kyneton. 

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To eat/drink.

Coffee and breakfast from Little Swallow Cafe. 

Lunch (or to grab supplies for your picnic) from Monsieur Pierre food store (coffee by Allpress).

Pre-dinner drink at Midnight Starling.

Dinner (or lunch) at Source - an incredible local and seasonal menu (the beef fillet was a stand-out).

Dinner at La Bonta (for something a little more formal).

A pub meal at the New Keynote Hotel (formerly the Newmarket) - bar at the front, restaurant out the back.

Or a drink and pub meal at the historic Royal George Hotel.

Grab a bottle of wine from Banks Fine Wine in Mollison Street.

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To shop

kabinett: our favourite shop of all. A perfect mix of vintage pieces, taxidermy, art, Indian textiles and ceramics. This store is made for foraging.

mulch: new to kyneton, this little store is home to locally made ceramics, letterpress stationary, homewares and fashion. You can also find an awesome selection of Aesop products as well.

stockroom: an impressive and unique space that is part real (showcasing local artists and makers), and part gallery space as well.

upstairs with grandfathers axe and flop house: home to the flop house HQ and an impressive range of antiques and interiors as well.

lauriston press: home to sarah gabriel’s original drawings, prints and art supplies. 

rundell & rundell chairmakers: for lovers of handmade chairs and other furniture classices, as well as handmade leather bags.

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To do.

Ride bikes (Flop House can recommend some great biking trails).

Wander along historic Piper Street - checking out all the stores mentioned above.

Check out the Farmers Market (2nd Saturday of the month from 8am-1pm). 

Picnic in the Kyneton Botanical Gardens.

Wander or bike along the Campaspe River trail.

Visit the Black-Hill Reserve - for a lovely nature experience (you are almost guaranteed to see kangaroos, and the giant granite rocks make for a spectacular picnic location). 

Visit the Flop House’s communal vegetable plot that is part of a new initiative by A Plot in Common (contact Flop House to arrange a visit).

Take side trips to:

daylesford (guide to follow)

castlemaine (guide to follow)

trentham (guide to follow) - but don't miss coffee and breakfast at our favourite, The Trentham Collective.

Daylesford

[daylesford soundtrack. station]

Known as the spa capital of Australia (thanks to the hundreds of naturally occurring mineral springs in the area), Daylesford is only 90mins from Melbourne - making it an easy weekend getaway. A little more touristy now than I once remember, it still retains an element of charm. Most importantly however (aside from its hot springs, the nature, the great local produce, and its art scene), it is home to an incredible vacation rental by the name of St.Etienne. This gorgeous home popped up on my radar only recently, and when its very kind and fun owners - Steve and Lina - invited me to stay, I jumped at the chance. In their words, “we wanted to create a home for us and the tots to enjoy, as well as like-minded travelers who appreciate design”. I saw some pics (their website is a beauty). I was sold.

St. Etienne is a Federation home from 1912 located right in the heart of Daylesford. Perfect for a getaway with a group of friends, or with a small family, this three-bedroom home can happilyaccommodate everyone. Maintaining its period features whilst adopting a minimalist and contemporary style, St. Etienne is surrounded by a native woodland garden, making it a perfectly quiet and peaceful corner of the world.

An easy five minute walk from Lake Daylesford and only 450m from the heart of town (Vincent Street), St. Etienne also includes a few creature comforts should you decide to stay indoors. We fell in love with some of the countless and well-considered personal touches. Some of my favourites - the welcome hamper full of locally made treats; the denim SMEG fridge in the kitchen; the “simplemente puntos” pegboard-looking wallpaper by brisbane-based designers milton and king, and the light, bright plywood vibes in the front bedroom; the personal iPhone chargers beside each of the beds; the Byron Bay Hanging Chair looking out to Wombat Hill from the other front bedroom (with the giant ‘mortadella’ print looking down over the bed, by south australian artist billie justice thomson); the ridiculously awesome kaare klint safari chair and freestanding tub in the bright and airy bathroom; and all the perfectly curated mags and books in the living area. Its cosy and perfect. Seriously perfect. 

It would be easy to bunker down in the house all weekend (we pretty much did - only leaving for a coffee run each morning, or to stock up on produce for the kitchen). We did find a few cute things in town though, if you feel like popping out for a moment or two.

To eat and drink

It literally takes 5mins to walk up to the main street of Daylesford - Vincent Street - where you will find some good coffee. We chose Larder as our go-to. 

Daylesford Health Food + Organics became another go-to. A cute little organic food store that also does healthy sandwiches, salads and smoothies. Perfect for something quick and easy to grab on the go.

The tea and scones at the little cafe within the Convent Gallery are definitely worth hunting down (check out the art there too, and the lovely tranquil surrounds).

Wine and Country (as recommended to us by our Castlemaine insider, Tim Sproal) is a really cute little boutique wine shop, showcasing some of the best low-intervention produces both locally and afar. You can buy bottles of awesome local wines and beers to take home, or you can choose to sit and have a glass of wine and a cheese board while you wait.

The Farmers Arms for dinner - a local favourite - and a favourite of ours, as well. We like to sita thte bar (more atmosphere than the dining room), chat to the barman, order a glass of wine, and then a big medium/rare eye-fillet steak. Perfect on a cold wintry night. 

Mercato (a Daylesford institution) if you’re in the mood for some fine-dining, or The Argus Dining Room in nearby Hepburn Springs as well.

To do.has recently styled the boathouse cafe and worth a look during a morning walk to the lake. It's 450 m away if you walk down to the start of West st and follow the track down. 

Farmers Market: if you happen to be in town on the first Saturday of the moneth, this is a really cute little local farmers market (held between 8am-1pm).

Head up to the Botanical Gardens (which are equally beautiful in summer or winter), and stop by the Wombat Hill Cafe up there too - warm and friendly.

If you are a fan of Australian artist David Bromley, check out his retail design store. Bromley recently styled the Boathouse cafe, so its worth having a peek there too, while doing your morning walk around the lake.

Visit the Convent Gallery for some lovely art in tranquil surrounds. Be sure to try their tea and scones as well, they are to die for!

For your afternoon walk, head down Central Springs Road to The Mills Market for some vintage treasures (only 450m from St.Etienne).

If you like cider, head out to the Daylesford Cider Company (who specialize in traditional craft cider using English heritage-listed apple varietiess grown organically out there on their farm) for a pot of cider in the sun (they do food as well).

For some pampering, pay a visit tothe Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa for a traditional communal bath, or spa treatment. We love their hydrating facial.

Lavendula is a pretty place for a wander, surrounded by olive trees and lavender fields, and a great little petanque field. 

Look out some of the nearby local providores nearby: Holy Goat Cheese at the Sutton Grange Organic Farm, and Istra Smallgoods for cured meats (in Musk) for example. 

And visit some of the region’s cellar doors: Curly Flat in Lancefield; Captains Creek Organic Wines in Blampied; Passing Clouds Winery in Musk; Ellender Estate Winery in Glenlyon.

Day trip to Kyneton, Trentham and Castlemaine (*see our separate guides for each - Kyenton now live, Trentham and Castlemaine coming soon).

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To Sleep

St. Etienne (obviously).

Or, Lynda Gardner’s most fabulous White House. We are so inspired by this woman (one of our Melbourne insiders). Everything this very clever cookie touches, turns to gold.

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