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The best Daylesford accommodation for a perfect weekend getaway

Pauline Morrissey Pauline Morrissey
Plan your next getaway around one of these peaceful stays.

With its incredible range of activities and serene landscapes, Daylesford is a destination that deserves the perfect accommodation to match. From luxury lodges with onsite pampering spa treatments to cosy cottages nestled in lush gardens, you’ll find the ideal spot to recharge and make the most of your time in Victoria’s spa country.

In short

If you only stay at one place in Daylesford, make it Lake House – the region’s most iconic retreat right on Lake Daylesford. With its world-class restaurant, beautifully appointed studios and suites, spa offerings and picture-perfect gardens, it captures the essence of spa-country indulgence.

1. Lake House

the pool at the Lake House Daylesford
Unwind in style. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Best for: Iconic spa-country indulgence

Overlooking the still waters of Lake Daylesford, Lake House is a luxurious retreat on beautifully landscaped grounds. This iconic property blends elegant accommodations and natural surroundings, featuring stylish hotel studios, suites and villas. Each space is thoughtfully designed, showcasing custom furnishings crafted by local artisans and adorned with original artwork.

Relax by the solar-heated infinity pool, enjoy a game of tennis, or take a stroll through the picturesque gardens. To elevate your stay, savour the acclaimed a la carte breakfast and buffet, featuring freshly baked sourdough and viennoiserie, or opt for room service for a leisurely morning.

Price: $$$$$

Address: 4 King Street, Daylesford

2. Dairy Flat Lodge & Farm

a cedar hot tub at Dairy Flat Lodge & Farm
Relax in a cedar hot tub overlooking the idyllic countryside. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Best for: Immersive countryside luxury

Surrounded by rolling hills, Dairy Flat Lodge & Farm presents as an exclusive countryside escape just 10 minutes from Daylesford. Each of its six private king suites affords the same level of refinement as its renowned sister property, Lake House, combining lavish designs with custom furnishings and locally sourced art for a truly sophisticated stay.

A dedicated Lodge Concierge is available to prepare a hearty country-style breakfast, light the fire pit, or craft a sunset cocktail. Lodgers can also explore the 40-acre regenerative farm, home to olive groves, vineyards, and lush herb and vegetable gardens. Adding to the sense of retreat, a mineral pool overlooks rows of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines – close enough to catch the scent of croissants baking each morning in the on-site bakehouse.

Price: $$$$$

Address: 238 Dairy Flat Road, Musk

3. Dollywood

Dollywod, Daylesford
Laze the day away on the deck. (Credit: Dollywood)

Best for: Stylish group stays with Americana flair

Exuding retro charm, Dollywood is a chic departure from Daylesford’s usual quaint cottage lodgings. With its bold Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic, this stylish four-bedroom home combines modern amenities with vintage flair. A neon sign welcomes travellers into a vibrant space with a bubblegum pink door, wood-panelled walls and a cosy fireplace.

The open-plan living flows seamlessly onto a wrap-around deck with gorgeous countryside outlooks. Guests can make the most of the well-equipped kitchen, where a servery window connects to the deck – a gathering spot for alfresco dining, while fully immersed in the home’s laid-back California-cool vibe.

Price: $$$$

Address: 82 Central Springs Road, Daylesford

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4. Jumoku

Best for: Design lovers and mid-century devotees

A mid-century lover’s dream, Jumoku is a revived 1970s home offering a moodier, more design-forward Daylesford stay. Wrapped in an all-black, Japanese-inspired palette – a refreshing departure from traditional country cottages – the home takes its name from the Japanese word for tree, nodding to the towering gums out front and sculptural maples in the garden. Sleeping up to eight, it’s ideal for shared weekends away.

Inside, light fills the living spaces throughout the day, while its slightly elevated position captures golden hour across the town. Generous communal areas invite slow mornings, fireside evenings and unhurried time spent together.

Price: $$$$

Address: 46 Vincent St, Daylesford

5. Clifftop at Hepburn

Clifftop at Hepburn luxury villa interior with a fireplace
Take in sweeping views across forested hills and bushland. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Best for: Globe-trotting romantic getaways

Perched high above Hepburn Gorge, Clifftop at Hepburn delivers architecturally designed villas with sweeping views across forested hills and bushland. Flooded with natural light through expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, the villas are designed with couples in mind, pairing privacy with a strong sense of place.

Beyond its classic cliffside retreats, Clifftop offers a collection of globally inspired stays – from Solitude Villas crafted from reclaimed shipping containers to Samurai Villas infused with a refined Japanese sensibility. The experience extends further with Sahara Villas, drawing on African-inspired design with a contemporary, luxury lens. Just minutes away is the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, a highlight of Victoria’s legendary spa country and just one of the many incredible things to do in Daylesford.

Price: $$$$

Address: 209 Main Road, Hepburn Springs

6. Headland

the Headland cottage exterior, Daylesford
Sleep in elegance in this French provincial-inspired cottage.

Best for: Couples seeking a quiet, cottage escape

Tucked away in a serene garden, Headland is a storybook country cottage primed for a romantic getaway. With French provincial-inspired interiors – featuring classic white linens, plush scatter cushions, and a wrought-iron bed frame – this snug retreat exudes elegance and comfort. The inviting porch adds to the allure, just the right spot for enjoying tranquil mornings or peaceful evenings in the fresh air.

While its vintage appeal sets a romantic tone, Headland reveals modern comforts throughout. Guests will appreciate the blockout blinds for restful nights, a luxe rainfall shower head in the bathroom, and sleek Smeg appliances in the kitchen.

Price: $$$$

Address: Confirmed upon booking

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7. Shizuka Ryokan

Shizuka Ryokan, Daylesford
Shizuka Ryokan reflects the traditional ryokan style from Japan. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Best for: Authentic Japanese-inspired wellness retreats

Transport yourself to Japan with a stay at Shizuka Ryokan, an adults-only retreat in Hepburn Springs designed to transpose the tranquillity of a traditional Japanese inn. Set amidst immaculately manicured gardens, this getaway crafts an authentic experience, complete with minimalist interiors, private tsuboniwa (small garden), and the calming ambience of tatami floors and futon bedding.

Relax with a soothing spa treatment or unwind in your room’s ensuite bath, donning a yukata (summer kimono) to fully embrace the peaceful ryokan lifestyle. To make your stay extra special, don’t miss the traditional Japanese breakfast, a highlight for many guests.

Price: $$$$

Address: 7 Lakeside Dr, Hepburn

8. Milk and Honey

Milk and Honey bedroom interior, Daylesford
The verandah opens up to breathtaking views.

Best for: Peaceful garden hideaways

Offering a peaceful escape on the northern side of Wombat Hill, Milk and Honey is an elevated retreat that greets visitors with a charming, leafy stairway leading to its welcoming front door. Surrounded by lush gardens, the home boasts two bedrooms, each with king-sized beds and direct access to the sweeping verandah, with breathtaking countryside and Mount Franklin views.

When patrons aren’t enjoying the verandah outlooks or relaxing by the fireplace in winter, the home’s prime location means local gems like the Convent Gallery, Daylesford Sunday Market, and the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens are just a short stroll away.

Price: $$$$

Address: Confirmed upon booking

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Pauline Morrissey

Pauline Morrissey

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8 experiences to get the most out of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road

    Louis Costello Louis Costello
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    Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

    There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.

    So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.

    1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

    Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism
    Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.

    Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.

    2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

    woman relaxing at Deep Blue Hot Springs
    Let mineral-rich water heal you.

    If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.

    The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.

    3. Take to the air at Princetown

    12 Apostles Helicopters flight alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road
    See an icon from a different view.

    You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.

    The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.

    4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

    Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum
    Visit a time of yore.

    Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum, a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.

    The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.

    If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.

    5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

    kid having a lesson with Go Ride A Wave
    Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.

    Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.

    6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

    Barwon Flow Trails Otways Flow MTB
    Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.

    Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.

    Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.

    7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

    bush rat on Wildlife Wonders tour
    Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)

    If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.

    The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.

    8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation

    Cape Otway Lightstation
    Delve into the tales of Cape Otway Lightstation.

    Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red.

    While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.

    And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.

    Plan your next no-stone-unturned journey along this iconic Aussie road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.