We are surrounded by the remarkable Wombat Forest so we have amazing clear air at 2000 ft altitude, and there’s no nearby-big-city glare, yet Melbourne ( world’s most liveable city, so they say) is less than 90mins drive away. Yet why go there when Hepburn Springs has just been declared by Trip Advisor to be the 4th ranked wellness destination in the world ( http://ir.tripadvisor.com/news-releases/news-release-details/tripadvisor-names-most-blissful-destinations-wellness-travel)? Massages, spas, bush walks, local food and wine....it’s all here.
Our area’s European heritage is celebrated each year in April with the Swiss-Italian Festa. Each year the Words in Winter literary festival occurs in August ( https://wordsinwinter.com/)
Day trips: Within 40mins drive is the 1860s gold boom city of Ballarat with impressive architecture and the Sovereign Hill open air museum by day, with sound and light show at night (http://www.sovereignhill.com.au/sovereign-hill/). 1 hr north is Bendigo, with its impressive art gallery and its working gold mine where tours are available (www.central-deborah.com/). 90 mins to the south is the famous Great Ocean Road and surf coast, featuring Bells Beach .
2 hrs to the west are The Grampians mountains, home to fantastic bushwalking, but the challenge is to get past the Great Western vineyards en route. Don't miss Best's Wines cellar door with the tour of the cellars and some free tastings (http://www.bestswines.com/Cellar-Door). Our fave is their iconic sparkling shiraz, one of Australia's major contributions to civilisation.