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Price is based on twin-share rooms. Choose how many members of your group would like to stay in single occupancy rooms during the trip.

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  • Over four unhurried days, hike close to 36 km (22 mi) of Victoria's Goldfields Track between Daylesford, Hepburn Springs, and Castlemaine. Expect easy-to-moderate trails through box ironbark forest, gold rush ruins, and heritage townships, balanced with mineral bathhouse soaks, artisan chocolate, and home-cooked dinners each evening. Base camp for all three nights is a spacious manor house in Daylesford, and the only thing on your back is a daypack.

    • We depart Melbourne and head northwest, pausing in the village of Mt Macedon for a morning tea break. From there, we continue to Hanging Rock, climbing the summit track for sweeping panoramic views before spending two to three hours exploring the reserve and its discovery center. Heading north to Chewton, we step into the region’s gold mining history, tracing old water race tracks and passing mining ruins through dry eucalypt forest, our first real taste of the Goldfields Track. Before continuing to Daylesford, there’s time for a swim or a quiet moment by the water. Once we arrive and settle into our accommodation, the evening closes with a two-course dinner prepared by our guides.

      Meals: Lunch, dinner
      Hiking: 5 km (3.1 mi)
      Accommodation: Manor House in Daylesford

      Victoria park bench
    • After breakfast and packing our own lunch, we set off for Hepburn Springs Reserve and a scenic 5 km (3.1 mi) stretch of the historic Dry Diggings Trail, ending at a chocolate mill where our transport is waiting. From there we head to Fryerstown, exploring its historic buildings, including the Burke and Wills Mechanics’ Institute dating to 1863, before walking to Spring Gully through open farmland and box ironbark forest scattered with old mining gullies and sluices. A stop in Guildford brings insight into the region’s Indigenous heritage and a picnic lunch beneath a nearly 1,000-year-old River Red Gum, listed on the National Trust Register. In Castlemaine, we explore The Mill, a former woolen mill turned artisan precinct, with time to sample local chocolate and coffee. The evening wraps up with a two-course dinner back at our accommodation.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
      Hiking: 10 km (6.2 mi)
      Accommodation: Manor House in Daylesford

      Walkers on a path in Victoria
    • After preparing breakfast and packing lunch, we return to the Goldfields Track within Wombat State Forest, starting with the Three Lost Children walk and its resonant local history. From there, we continue along the trail from Sawpit Gully to Porcupine Ridge, moving through former goldfields turned regional parkland. After lunch, we head to Mt Franklin, a dormant volcano cloaked in conifer forest and ornamental trees, and walk the loop trail circling its rim to a lookout over the surrounding plains. Later, we visit the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, soaking in mineral springs pools that have offered communal bathing since 1895. The day ends with a final group dinner at a local restaurant.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
      Hiking: 12 km (7.5 mi)
      Accommodation: Manor House in Daylesford

      Victoria spa
    • After breakfast and packing lunch, we check out and head to the Convent Gallery, a heritage complex of galleries, gardens, and a café that was once a convent, with time to explore at your own pace. From there we continue toward Melbourne, pausing in Lyonville for a 6 km (3.7 mi) walk along the Domino Rail Trail, a former railway line and habitat for the endangered Powerful Owl. In the village of Trentham, we visit the Red Beard Bakery, home to a wood-fired Scotch oven that’s been in continuous use since 1891, for a treat before heading back to Melbourne.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch
      Hiking: 9 km (5.6 mi)

      Red Beard bakery
    • Included:

        • An experienced, local walking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
        • 4-day guided walking tour in the Daylesford-Goldfields region (2 full days of hiking plus travel/immersion days)
        • Accommodation for 3 nights at a charming Daylesford home (twin-share)
        • All meals: 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 two-course dinners; snacks, fruit, and non-alcoholic drinks throughout the trip
        • Entry to the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, tasting experiences at local chocolate and cider producers, and visits to artisan villages and galleries
        • All transfers including return transport from Melbourne and daily trail shuttles
        • National park entry fees
        • Carbon offset program participation

      Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):

        • Single occupancy room

      Not included:

        • Flights
        • Alcoholic beverages
        • Anything not mentioned in the ‘Included’ section above
        • Insurance — recommended, available at checkout
        • Guide gratuities — optional
    • In order to join this walking tour, basic fitness is required and no prior hiking experience necessary. The most you’ll walk within a day is up to 10 km (6 mi), with very gentle elevation changes. The guides carry group gear and snacks—just your light daypack and an open mind to enjoy the walking, culture, and food.

    • Clothing:

        • Comfortable hiking clothes
        • Spare layers for changing weather
        • Waterproof rain jacket
        • Sunhat
        • Swimwear (for the bathhouse and any lake swims)

      Footwear:

        • Lightweight hiking boots or trail shoes
        • Comfortable shoes for evenings in town

      Equipment/essentials:

        • Daypack (20-30L is plenty, since you’re not carrying overnight gear)
        • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
        • Hiking poles — optional
        • Camera — optional (but recommended)

      Toiletries:

        • Sunscreen
        • Hand sanitizer
        • Bug spray
        • Tissues

      Optional:

        • Swim towel (bathhouse towels may be provided)
        • Binoculars for spotting wildlife along the Domino Rail Trail

      Dress comfortably and for the weather—layers let you adapt to cool mornings and warm afternoons.

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    • Group sizes and pricing:

        • For this guided walking tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 5:1.
        • It takes a minimum of 1 person for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 10 participants.
        • Solo travelers can share a room with another same-gender solo traveler at no extra cost, or guarantee a private room by paying a single occupancy fee.

      Min. age requirements:

        • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
        • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the walking tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
        • If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
    • The price for this hiking tour in Daylesford is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee. You can add it to your booking at checkout.

    • The starting point of your Daylesford Goldfields Track hike is Melbourne. To get there, most people fly into Melbourne Airport (MEL). From there, you can take a shuttle service, public transport, or rent a car to reach the meeting point.

      You will meet your guide at 7:15 am in Melbourne, at the National Gallery of Victoria, for a 7:30 am departure.

    • We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

      Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

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