You Ultimate Guide to Where to Eat, Shop and Stay In Trentham

Explore Trentham’s top dining spots, stylish accommodations, and outdoor activities in this ultimate guide to one of Victoria’s hidden gems.

Tucked between Daylesford and Woodend, Trentham may be small, with not much more than one main street, but it’s packed with delightful surprises. Its crisp air, tranquil streets, and gold rush history from the 1850s lend the village its country charm, while a creative pulse runs through every corner, attracting a new wave of visitors.

While travellers often dedicate much of their time and attention to the busier Macedon-Daylesford regions nearby, those in the know recognise Trentham for what it is—a burgeoning hidden gem that’s more than worthy of its time in the limelight.

The best Trentham restaurants

With a focus on local flavours and seasonal produce, Trentham’s diverse restaurant scene caters to both casual dining and gourmet indulgence.

The Cosmopolitan Hotel

Sitting proudly on the corner of High Street and Cosmo Road, The Cosmopolitan Hotel has stood the test of time since 1866. Its sweeping verandahs and storied walls invite you in for a meal crafted with heart. Expect a seasonal menu brimming with fresh, locally sourced flavours that pay homage to the area’s rich agricultural landscape.

Wander the scenic garden paths, shaded by towering elms, while devouring wood-fired pizzas and regional wines. The garden courtyard is ideal for leisurely gatherings, where the laid-back ambience sets the perfect backdrop in this vibrant town.

Address: 21 High Street, Trentham

Du Fermier

Brimming with the rustic beauty of a French country kitchen, Du Fermier invites guests to indulge in a surprise feast inspired by the freshest ingredients of the day. Chef Annie Smithers personally selects produce from her garden, crafting each course with an exquisite balance of local flavour and French flair.

Limited to just a few service days each week, reservations (well in advance, as sittings sell like hotcakes!) are essential. Visit during the warmer months for a meal that sings of spring vegetables and blooming herbs, all set in the inviting ambience of this local treasure.

Address: 42 High Street, Trentham

Hotel Trentham

While Hotel Trentham has enjoyed a recent renovation, it has honoured its 1926 roots, keeping things relaxed while elevating the pub dining experience. The well-priced menu, crafted with local and Australian produce, delivers familiar classics that are as comforting as they are fulfilling.

The beer garden is a true highlight, with picnic tables for the whole gang—kids playing, dogs lounging, and live music softly setting the mood. It’s a place where everyone feels part of the fun, making it an ideal spot for a laid-back afternoon.

Address: 31 High Street, Trentham

Pig and Whistle Hotel

A place where the heart of Australian pub culture still beats strong, the Pig and Whistle Hotel blends its 1887 roots with a fresh, country-style menu. From hearty bangers and mash to crispy fish and chips, every dish offers a true taste of the region.

Settle into the hotel’s beer garden, where live music and shaded picnic tables create a cosy space to savour good food and great company. With its laid-back vibe and lush surroundings, it’s easy to see why this pub remains a favourite in Trentham East.

Address: 705 James Lane, Trentham East

Mr Peacock

Bringing a bit of nightlife sparkle to Trentham, Mr Peacock nods to classic neighbourhood wine bars, offering a refined yet no-fuss spot for dinner and drinks. Since opening in early 2022, this new kid on the block has earned a loyal following and cemented its status as a local gem.

The menu here may be small, but it packs a punch, featuring charcuterie, sharing plates, and highly-rated pizzas. Pair your meal with a drink from their carefully curated list, serving creative cocktails and an impressive range of wines, many from surrounding regional vineyards.

Address: 44 High Street, Trentham

Cafes and casual eats

From homely cafes to artisan bakeries, Trentham’s casual dining spots offer delicious, down-to-earth meals prime for a quick bite or a relaxed stop.

Trentham General

Housed in the beautifully restored old Bank of Australasia, Trentham General is a cafe brimming with character. Their nourishing menu is designed to please, with the signature Trentham Happy Hens Eggs on Zeally Bay sourdough being the ultimate breakfast pick, while the Halloumi Burger is a lunchtime fave.

Inside, you’ll find a stylish mix of banquet seating, bentwood chairs, and indoor plants. On sunny days, the outdoor tables are great for soaking up the lively streetscape and enjoying some people-watching alongside your coffee.

Address: 37A High Street, Trentham

RedBeard Historic Bakery

RedBeard Historic Bakery honours the time-honoured tradition of wood-fired baking. Their sourdough, baked in a restored 1891 oven, is the undeniable star—crunchy on the outside, soft and airy on the inside, a true artisan masterpiece.

In addition to their famous bread, you’ll find tasty treats like sausage rolls, pizza slices, hot diggity dogs, and a rotating selection of cakes to satisfy the sweet tooth. This bakery is legendary among locals, and it’s easy to see why.

Address: 38A High Street, Trentham

Trentham Bakery

Another beloved local bakery, Trentham Bakery is known for its quality, freshness, and affordability. The old-school signage invites you in, and once inside, the aroma of freshly baked goods fills the air. Their homemade pies and sausage rolls are firm favourites.

Pair your pastry pick with a perfectly brewed coffee, or opt for a sweet treat from their tempting cake selection to take home.

Address: 50/52 High Street, Trentham

Things to do in Trentham

Trentham may be teeny-tiny, but it’s brimming with activities, from discovering local boutiques to immersing yourself in the area’s natural beauty.

Go boutique shopping

Wandering the quaint streets of Trentham offers the perfect opportunity to indulge in boutique shopping. Kuki Trentham draws you in with its selection of chic homewares and fashion, while Vincent Jenden’s design space, tucked away in the rear verandah, offers a glimpse into inspired interior creativity. For an extra dose of luxury, visit The House of Marcelle and Mr John , where refined decor and beautiful gifts capture the essence of upscale country living.

Visit an art gallery

a look inside Little Gallery Trentham — Little Gallery Trentham features contemporary paintings and unique sculptures.

Run by local artists, Little Gallery Trentham showcases an imaginative mix of fine art from emerging and mid-career Australian talents. Established in 2012, the gallery has become a cultural hub, connecting visitors with the artistic soul of the Central Victorian Highlands.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration or a chance to connect with local artists, the gallery’s ever-evolving exhibitions provide something fresh with every visit, from contemporary paintings to unique sculptures.

Explore natural wonders

the Trentham Falls from above — The majestic Trentham Falls is nothing short of spectacular. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Lace up your boots and explore the Wombat State Forest, where the Wombat Trail offers an eight-kilometre loop circling the town of Trentham. From scenic bushland to towering trees, this tranquil walk takes you through nature at its best, with chances to spot native wildlife along the way.

Nearby, Trentham Falls dazzles with its 32-metre drop. This spectacular waterfall, especially powerful in winter and spring, is a must-see for those seeking a deeper connection to Central Victoria’s untamed landscapes.

Top Trentham accommodation

For travellers seeking a countryside retreat, Trentham presents a range of standout options, from stylish cottages to a modern take on traditional pub lodging.

The Estate Trentham

Housed in a restored 1902 Federation home, The Estate Trentham offers a stylish escape with Scandinavian-inspired spaces, designed by interior stylist Lynda Gardener. The fresh white walls, dark floors, and natural wood furniture create a peaceful, airy ambience, while curated collections of old and new add intrigue to each room.

Outside, the garden overflows with seasonal produce, from fresh herbs to ripe fruit, ready for guests to handpick. The surrounding orchard and Mediterranean-style garden provide a picturesque setting for dining alfresco or simply unwinding in the lush countryside.

Address: 17 Falls Road, Trentham

Acre of Roses

Hidden within a lush garden oasis, Acre of Roses offers a luxurious escape with dual accommodations. The beautifully restored two-bedroom Miner’s Cottage combines vintage allure with modern comfort, with access to a cedar hot tub. Meanwhile, The Potting Shed provides a studio-style hideaway for couples seeking a romantic retreat.

Both accommodations enjoy access to the sprawling rose garden, providing a stunning backdrop for relaxation. Wander the pathways, and don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.

Address: 5 Blue Mount Road, Trentham

Hotel Trentham

Reviving the tradition of pub lodgings, Hotel Trentham offers a modern twist on an old classic. While it maintains the appeal of nostalgic country town stays, it has evolved with two fully furnished, two-storey villas. These stylish accommodations provide a superb base for families and friends to hit the town’s highlights.

Conveniently located just steps from Trentham’s main streets, the villas offer easy access to local cafes, shops, and galleries. With spacious living areas and modern amenities, the villas are ideal for travellers seeking comfort and convenience.

Address: 31-35 High Street, Trentham

Discover incredible things to do in Daylesford.

The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns.

It’s a chilly 16 degrees. My husband pulls on a steamer and jogs – as all seasoned surfers do – into the water. We’re at Bells Beach , the legendary break on Victoria’s Surf Coast that’s home to the Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest-running event in competitive surfing. Each year, over the Easter long weekend, up to 40,000 people descend on the region for the event. Today, though, we have the beach almost to ourselves, and the less-than-favourable temperature doesn’t deter my husband from surfing this famous break.

Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

The red dome of Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The nearby surf town of Torquay marks the starting point for the Great Ocean Road . Unfolding our map, which we have marked out with a highlighted route for our children to follow, we set off for lesser-known Anglesea, a chilled-out town 20 minutes south of here. Its wide, sandy beach is a gentler swimming option for our young family. Groms can learn to surf here with Go Ride a Wave, which also runs stand-up paddle boarding on the Anglesea River.

Split point lookout — The lighthouse overlooks the Shipwreck Coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

After a couple of nights in Anglesea, we hit the road again, first stopping at Aireys Inlet. Here we stretch our legs at Split Point Lighthouse, which was made famous by the 1990s television series Round the Twist, before driving under the Memorial Arch that welcomes us, officially, to the Great Ocean Road.

This 243-kilometre coastal road was built by returned First World War servicemen and serves as a permanent memorial to those who fought and died during the war. Carved into rock using hand tools and horse-drawn carts, it was a huge engineering feat and provided much-needed access to isolated coastal communities.

Lorne to Birregurra

Lorne is a delightful beachside stop for lunch and browsing boutique stores. It’s also the gateway to Great Otway National Park , which comprises a varied landscape of old-growth forests, cool-temperate rainforests, heathy woodlands and rugged coast. With the highest rainfall in Victoria, the region is home to many waterfalls – 10 of which are within 10 kilometres of Lorne.

Turning slightly off the main drag, we wind along a gum-shaded road to Erskine Falls. Here, our son leads the way through the hyper-green rainforest and down 200-plus stairs to the cascade that drops 30 metres into a lush fern gully. We hop over large boulders to get closer to the falls, enjoying the entire place to ourselves; it’s worth the return climb.

From Sheoak Falls Picnic Area, there are walking trails to Henderson Falls, Phantom Falls, Won Wondah Falls and Kalimna Falls, some of which follow an old timber tramway from forest-logging days, which only came to an end in 2008.

You can follow your appetite north to the town of Birregurra, which is part of the Otway Harvest Trail that connects farm gates, markets, wineries, breweries and distilleries. It’s home to three-hatted modern Australian restaurant Brae , helmed by celebrated chef Dan Hunter, set among native gardens and an organic farm, and Otways Distillery, which produces small-batch spirits using local produce and botanicals.

Brae restaurant — Brae is a three-hatted restaurant in Birregurra. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Apollo Bay to The Otways

Back on track, the cliff-hugging stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is breathtaking. At Teddys Lookout, we overlook the winding road ahead and St George River spilling into the ocean. We spend languid days in Apollo Bay, a buzzy seaside town that boasts a three-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped beach with a backdrop of rolling green hills. One evening, as the sun sets, we take the steep 10-minute walk to Marriners Lookout, which affords panoramic views of the ocean, hinterland and town.

A 15-minute drive along the road, Maits Rest is a lush rainforest gully that has been protected since the early 20th century. Wandering along the 800-metre boardwalk, we inspect the delicate moss-covered forest floor and the gnarled roots of 300-year-old myrtle beech trees, then crane our necks to see their canopies, some 50 metres above us. It’s therapy in nature.

Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles

The southernmost tip of Cape Otway is a delightful detour, home to the 1848-built Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. We climb the narrow winding staircase to the gallery deck, explore the keepers’ quarters and telegraph station, and enjoy a coffee and some ‘famous’ scones at the charming onsite cafe.

It’s a pinch-me moment to finally see the Twelve Apostles in person. This unmistakable cluster of limestone stacks rising abruptly from the sea were never 12, however. When coined this in the 1890s as a marketing ploy, there were only nine; today, only seven remain after two collapsed in 2005 and 2009. We admire these Aussie icons from the viewing platform, in awe of Mother Nature’s ever-evolving artwork.

The Grotto is another natural attraction within Port Campbell National Park. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

Edging the wild Southern Ocean, this part of the coast – dubbed Shipwreck Coast – is made up of many sea-carved natural wonders including London Bridge, The Grotto and Gibson Steps. After exploring the lookout trails of Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool – its English name taken from the site of the 1878 shipwreck – we nestle into the sandy beach encircled by towering sandstone cliffs, as our children splash about on the water’s edge, and soak it all in.

Port Campbell to Timboon

Timboon Fine Ice Cream is part of a regional foodie trail. (Image: C McConville)

Just north of Port Campbell National Park, the region of Timboon is part of the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail, filled with purveyors of delicious foodstuffs such as Timboon Fine Ice Cream , Timboon Railway Shed Distillery and Apostle Whey Cheese. As an antidote to the indulgence, the 20-kilometre Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail is a self-guided ride or walk between Port Campbell and Timboon through tall forests, over historic bridges and past sparkling lakes and farmland with grazing cattle.

Warrnambool to Port Fairy

Warrnambool building — A 19th-century building in Warrnambool. (Image: Peter Foster)

In Warrnambool, a town rich in maritime history, we take the four-kilometre Thunder Point Walk that traces the coast. The kids squeal when an echidna shuffles out from beneath the wooden boardwalk, and we stop to admire a seal lazing on a rock at the port.

Further along, the streets of quaint fishing village Port Fairy are lined with 19th-century cottages, old stone churches and Norfolk pines. Follow the historic walking trail to see some of the 60-plus National Trust buildings. Port Fairy is also home to Port Fairy Folk Festival (6-9 March), one of the country’s longest-running music and cultural festivals. You could time your road trip with the event for a fittingly celebratory end to any journey.

The Great Ocean Road can easily be done in three days, but we’ve spent a week on the road. The highlighted line on our now creased and well-worn map doesn’t follow the famous route precisely. It has sprouted branches in many directions, leading us to untouched rainforest and charming rural towns filled with culinary delights, and where we experienced some of our most memorable moments on the Great Ocean Road.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

The Monty is a highly anticipated, newly refurbished motel with a chic Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic set across the road from the Anglesea River. Basalt Winery in Port Fairy grows cool-climate wines such as pinot noir and Riesling in rich volcanic soil. Stay among the vines in its tiny home, complete with a kitchen, lounge area and outdoor firepit.

The Oak & Anchor Hotel has been a Port Fairy institution since 1857. Cosy up by the bar in winter or bask in the sunshine of the Lawn Bar in summer. The rooms are beautifully boutique with considered details, such as luxe baths for sinking into post-road trip.

Eating there

The Coast in Anglesea is a modern Australian restaurant focused on local ingredients. Grand Pacific Hotel has been a local landmark in Lorne since 1879 and recently underwent a restoration. It serves a mix of traditional pub and Italian fare alongside ocean views.

Graze is a cosy 40-seat dining room in Apollo Bay with a modern Australian menu complemented by regional wines. Apollo Bay Distillery offers tasting flights, a gin blending masterclass and serves woodfired pizzas.

The complete guide to Trentham – here’s where to eat, shop and stay

Explore Trentham’s top dining spots, stylish accommodations, and outdoor activities in this ultimate guide to one of Victoria’s hidden gems.

The best Trentham restaurants

The Cosmopolitan Hotel

Du Fermier

Hotel Trentham

Pig and Whistle Hotel

Mr Peacock

Cafes and casual eats

Trentham General

RedBeard Historic Bakery

Trentham Bakery

Things to do in Trentham

Go boutique shopping

Visit an art gallery

Explore natural wonders

Top Trentham accommodation

Acre of Roses

Hotel Trentham

8 incredible hikes just outside of Melbourne

The Macedon Ranges is Victoria’s best-kept food and wine secret

Hepburn Bathhouse reopens with new mineral baths and experiences

The best Daylesford accommodation for a perfect weekend getaway

Taking the route less travelled along the Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns.

Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

Lorne to Birregurra

Apollo Bay to The Otways

Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles

Port Campbell to Timboon

Warrnambool to Port Fairy

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Eating there