Lake Daylesford: A visitor's guide to this picture-perfect landmark

No trip to Daylesford is complete without a visit to its famous ornamental lake.

Lake Daylesford is a much-loved centrepiece of Daylesford’s tourism, and often the first stop for travellers visiting the area. From its peaceful loop trail and birdwatching to indulgent lakeside restaurants and a spa, the lake is a dynamic attraction boasting natural beauty and a rich history.

Here’s your guide to visiting Lake Daylesford, one of the best things to do in the Victorian spa town.

Where is Lake Daylesford? A visitor’s guide to its location

Lake House, Daylesford on a foggy morning — This man-made lake exudes a tranquil vibe (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Daylesford is a popular country town nestled in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range in northwest Victoria, about halfway between the gold rush towns of Ballarat and Castlemaine. At a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, it makes for an easy day trip or weekend getaway. Lake Daylesford is just a five-minute drive south of the town centre (or around a 12-minute walk).

A brief history of Lake Daylesford and the surrounding region

Lake Daylesford and the surrounding landscape — Lake Daylesford served as a hunting and fishing area for the local Dja Dja Wurrung people. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Prior to European settlement, the area where Lake Daylesford sits was a creek valley, fed by mineral springs and Wombat Creek. The local Dja Dja Wurrung people used it for hunting and fishing before they were displaced by settlers in the 1840s. Following the discovery of gold in the area in 1851, the subsequent population growth and mining activity drastically damaged the landscape.

The first proposal for an ornamental lake dates back to 1893, as Daylesford’s reputation as a spa town grew and locals wanted to improve the town, covering the damage done from the mines. Construction eventually began in 1927, and in 1930, the lake was officially opened.

Over the years it’s been a hotspot for recreational activities, from boating and swimming to diving competitions. There was once a swimming pool and diving tower, but now only the historic change rooms remain (which are inaccessible). Today, the lake is still a drawcard for both locals and visitors who want to enjoy its many attractions, or simply admire the beautiful scenery.

Things to Do at Lake Daylesford: Activities, Dining, and Attractions

Best swimming spots

the picturesque Lake Daylesford — Take an afternoon to cool off. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

The best place to go swimming in Lakes Daylesford is by the historic change rooms, which are a short walk from the main car park off Leggatt St. Here, you have two options: you can enter the lake from a small, sandy beach – great for kids to splash around in the shallows – or skip the sand and mud and slip straight into the water from the concrete terrace in front of the old bleachers.

The water depth is variable and the lake isn’t patrolled, so it’s best for experienced swimmers. There are public toilets and a kiosk near the main car park, and grassy, shaded areas for picnics – everything you need to linger for the afternoon.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Scenic walking trails

Lake House Daylesford from above — The lush Daylesford landscape. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Whenever I visit Daylesford, I always make time for the Peace Mile Loop Walk. This 2.8-kilometre loop around the lake takes 40-60 minutes, and it’s as peaceful as it sounds. Whatever the season, from misty mornings to sunny blue skies, you’ll be treated to delightful views of the water, the boathouse and the surrounding wooded area.

Points of interest include the small jetty/lookout directly opposite the boathouse; Wombat Flat Mineral Spring, where you can taste the natural mineral water; and the spillway, historic change rooms and remnants of the old swimming pool, where you can appreciate the lake’s rich history. It’s an easy enough walk, although strollers and wheelchair users should note it’s a gravel track and there are some inclines. Dogs are welcome on leads.

If you’re up for a longer walk, you can continue to a section of the Goldfields Track, the 210-kilometre hiking and cycling trail that weaves through historic towns of Central Victoria. From the spillway, follow the signs down to Central Springs Reserve, and keep going along the track that follows Wombat Creek (this section is known as the Dry Diggings Track). After about 20 minutes, you’ll end up at the picturesque Twin Bridges Picnic Area. Alternatively, turn left off of Dry Diggings Track before you reach the Midland Highway, onto Wallaby Track which heads south (simply turn back when you’re ready).

Wellness experiences

the pool at Lake House Daylesford — Relax by the solar-heated infinity pool at Lake House Daylesford. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Established in 1984 on the edge of Lake Daylesford, Lake House Daylesford is an icon and one of Victoria’s best-loved regional hotels. It’s also home to a dreamy day spa that celebrates the healing mineral waters of the region and utilises its own line of luxury bath products, which incorporate ingredients from the region.

You’ll start to feel relaxed just from reading the spa’s treatment menu. Choose from signature rituals like Woodland Bliss (a hot stone massage, oil-infused body polish, face and scalp massage, and Hydrostorm experience) or the thermal Grounding Salt & Clay ritual, which includes a pink salt exfoliation and warmed white clay mask to draw out toxins.

Along with a bliss-inducing selection of massages and facials, they also offer a Tree Top Soak; relax in a private tub filled with heated Daylesford mineral water, while looking out through the willow trees to Lake Daylesford. Heaven.

The spa isn’t cheap, but it’s a must-do for wellness lovers if you’re visiting the area. Be sure to book ahead, and consider staying in one of the hotel’s gorgeously decorated rooms (check the website for available packages).

Kayaking

a yellow canoe on Jubilee Lake — Paddle up the picturesque Jubilee Lake. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Imagine enjoying the scenic views and tranquillity of Lake Daylesford from the water itself. The calm lake is ideal for canoeing or kayaking; you can launch from the sandy beach near the old change rooms.

If you don’t have your own equipment, head to the nearby Jubilee Lake, just a six-minute drive away. Here, you can hire canoes and paddleboats from the kiosk (you can also buy birdseed if you want to try feeding the peacocks!).

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Birdwatching and photography

ducks swimming in Lake Daylesford — Ducks are the official inhabitants of the lake. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

Lake Daylesford is a paradise for photographers and birdwatchers alike, due to its natural beauty and abundant feathered wildlife.

The lake is home to a diverse range of both woodland and water birds, including ducks, cormorants, wrens, honeyeaters, rosellas, moorhens and cockatoos. Early morning or late afternoon is often the best time for birdwatching – be patient as you make your way around the Peace Mile Loop Walk, and bring binoculars for easier identification.

Photographers are also spoiled for choice around the beautiful lake, with views shifting with the seasons and time of day. Calm mornings, the golden hour of late afternoons and moody overcast days all create different lighting for photographers to work with, while the seasons offer variations in foliage and activity on the lake. Some of the best spots for snaps are near the jetties and the bridge decorated with padlocks (inspired by the Pont des Arts Bridge in Paris); while the old swimming area is great for history-meets-nature shots.

Lakeside cafes and restaurants

the dining room at Lake House Restaurant, Daylesford — The light-filled Lake House Restaurant. (Credit: Lisa Cohen)

There’s an old-world romance to lakeside dining that speaks to a bygone era. Savour the views from the indoor dining area or outdoor deck of the Boathouse Restaurant, open Wednesday to Sunday, while enjoying a sophisticated Modern Australian menu. Choose from 2, 3 or 4 courses, or a special 7-course menu only available on Saturday nights; the duck breast main, with maple orange glaze, fig confit, beetroot purée and port jus is a standout.

The Lake House restaurant offers an even more elevated dining experience, with two Chefs Hats from the Good Food Guide. It’s perfect for a special occasion, but we say don’t wait for one; book into the elegant light-filled space with tree and lake views, and prepare to enjoy a multi-course à la carte menu. It features local, seasonal produce, some of which is from their own regenerative Dairy Flat Farm just down the road (if you’re dining Monday lunch in peak season, you can join a free farm tour beforehand). There’s also a spacious outdoor deck which beckons at aperitivo hour.

For a much more casual and wallet-friendly option, Walters 3460 is a cheerful cafe and kiosk right by the main car park. Come here to get a takeaway coffee before walking the loop trail, or for something more substantial, they serve smoothies, toasties, pies and pastries. On hot days, their ice cream hits the spot. Sit on the outside tables facing the lake or take away to your own picnic.

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.

A visitor’s guide to picturesque Lake Daylesford

No trip to Daylesford is complete without a visit to its famous ornamental lake.

Where is Lake Daylesford? A visitor’s guide to its location

A brief history of Lake Daylesford and the surrounding region