Hepburn Springs Things to Do

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My favorite stop during our weekend in Hepburn Springs was the Lavandula Lavender farm. It was the end of November and the lavender was gorgeous. I could have spent all day exploring and enjoying the farm. You could run around in the lavender fields that also had some beautiful flowers growing in different colors, have a bite to eat (the famous lavender scones) at the cafe, check out the animals, explore the art gallery, or shop in the large gift shop.

I did buy some lavender products in the shop. A lavender bubble bath for $12.50 that smells great and bubbles well and a hand soap for $9.50 and foot soak for $4.

As I mentioned, the lavender scones were very tasty with just a subtle hint of lavender. See my pictures for a shot of Anne & the scones.

Entry fees: $3 Adult, $1 Students , Under 13 Free , Dogs on leashes are welcome.

Hours: 10.30am - 5.30pm
Daily 1 September - 2 July
Weekends July/August
Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Check the website below for a full menu, product list, and special event information (the harvest times in January look pretty fun).

It also seems to be a popular and lovely place for a wedding, so check the wedding details on the website if you are in need of a wedding location!

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Yes, this is the official title of "Lavandula", (well the Swiss Italian Farm bit not the Aussie Bush bit. lol! That was my addition)but I think everyone just refers to it as "The Lavender Farm" as this is what strikes you most about it.

Mark, Sarah, Anne & I visited here Saturday morning after brekkie @ The Boathouse Cafe in nearby Daylesford. I had read about it not only on Anne's Vt pages, but also a couple of others so was quite looking forward to it.

Now the master of understatement swings into action. This place is just gorgeous. You could easily while away a few hours or more here just wandering around, discovering all the different flowers, visiting the artist's residence, saying hello to the scarecrow & if you're like me taking some photos of Mother Goose & here little Goslings. Wish my girls had been there to see them. Donkeys too were just down in the next door paddock from the Geese.

But, there's more & I'll add "La Trattoria" as a restaurant tip & of course, "The Barn" needs to be mentioned, where you actually enter & pay your $3 entrance fee & where you can also buy lots of interesting products including their own lotions etc produced in what they call the "Stillroom". I bought a few things including some After Shave Lotion for me, Sleepy Time Lotion to rub on the hands, neck & soles of the feet of my girls to help them relax & go to sleep (much needed I can tell you!) & a small container of Lavender Balm & Tea Tree Balm for minor scratches, bites, burns (including sunburn). I like the fact that these things were hand made on the premises from lavender grown here on the farm.

Have a squiz at their website where they give you all the interesting historical background information to not only this place, but also the area in general.

I thoroughly recommend a visit here for a treat for all the senses.

Russell Petherbridge has been playing with mental for many years.
His passion has turned into am amazing business and Sculpture Park in the woods of Yandoit just out of Hepburn.
Here you can wander through the gardens and find works of art, or just sit and take in the fantastic views over the farm lands.
There is also a cottaage in the gardens with a display of Russell's art work.

Cricket Willow was the dream of a local Shepherd's flat family.
The Tinetti family are the 5th generation that have been on the land in this area.
This is the only facility where you can see the process of a cricket bat being made from the willow timber to the finished bat.
You can play cricket.
Watch the bats being made.
Play Bocce
Have a cuppa at the Cafe' while the kids play.
Have a game of pool and much more.

Open 10.30 to 5.30 weekends
Group bookings available.

Well dear reader you are in the Spa Capital of Australia, so why not experience the mineral waters of Hepburn Springs and indulge your mind, body & senses in some sort of Day Spa Package.

You are most definitely spoilt for choice through the Hepburn Springs/Daylesford area & in my walking 10 -15 minutes up or down to and from where I was staying to the Cafes & Shops etc I must have passed more than half a dozen places advertising such things.

You all know how travelling can fill the muscles with knots, some you are not even awarr of, & I have an unforgiving neck that punishes me for even tiny indescretions against it & my back has also been known to complain on occasions! You're getting the idea that I did indeed enjoy some sort of Spa package aren't you? lol!

But where you are saying & would you believe that I am, at last getting to that point. At the "acqua viva day spa" & I had a combined mineral spa & massage package for $99 plus 4% for credit card use. In my opion that was very good value for firstly a 45 minute massage from the magic hands & fingers of Kerri followed by more than 20 minutes in the mineral spa for which I was given a choice of either "Relaxation" or "Clarity" aromatherapy. Thinking I was feeling fairly relaxed after the massage I went with the "Clarity" of a combination of Claris Sage, Scottish Pine & Rosemary.

I've already mentioned Kerri, but now I'll finish up by mentioning Daryl (must ring him & check that spelling), the terrific man who will take your booking then take your info when youo arrive & advise/suggest what is best for you & your needs. I'll be very happy to visit here next time I am in Hepburn Springs knowing that I will be equally well looked after as I was yesterday. Aah, big contented sigh..................

On our way back into town after visiting Lavendula we stopped and had a look at the Miner's Blowhole which is quite fascinating. It is a spot where the old gold miners diverted the creek to assist with their mining by somehow tunnelling through what looks like not only earth, but also solid rock. What they were doing was diverting Sailor's Creek (don't ask me why it was named that being so far from the sea & only a creek probably not big enough to sail in???!!!) to use the water to sluice for gold in the dry creek bed on the other side of the hill

Not only is it interesting for this historic aspect, but there are also a number of walking trails for you enthusiasts. We didn't really have either the time or inclination to do any of these as we were on our way in to have a look around Daylesford & some lunch. Given more time I would like to have a better look around here & do the walks. They don't seem too difficult.

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Lavendula Lavender Farm - Outside of Hepburn Springs

It cost $3.00 to go into the Lavendula Lavender Farm - it was money well spent. You could spend the whole day there.

At Lavendula Lavender Farm you can walk among the lavender beds and smell the roses. There are numerous garden paths you can walk along.
You can meet a scarecrow in one of the garden beds.
We met a flock of geese with goslings (baby geese) which were cute and yellow and fluffy.

We walked around all the garden beds.
Then we walked to the Artists Residence - sometimes it is open and you can see an artist at work - there was no-one there the day we went.
We saw some llamas lying around - rolling in the dirt.

Then we wandered over to the restaurant - here you can purchase home made lemonade, scones, jam and other delicacies. At the restaurant you can purchase lavender scones, jam and cream (two scones) for $7.50. It was a tad expensive but yummy.

We have two lakes in town where you can do all of the above.
Daylesford Lake and Jubilee Lake.

Jubilee lake has also got camping facilities.

You can also do lovely walks around these lakes.

You can hire paddle boats at the Daylesford Lake and Canoes at Jubilee.

Both lakes have BBQ areas

PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN SWIMMING OR BOATING THESE LAKES ARE DEEP AND COLD EVEN IN SUMMER. SWIM WITHIN YOUR DEPTH AND DO NOT TAKE YOUR EYES OFF CHILDREN.