Wonderful Weekend Away.......

My man and I were long overdue for a weekend away so for his birthday and our anniversary we took a trip away to country Victoria....headed off on Friday..stopping in at Trentham on our way to Castlemaine....a trip to Daylesford on Saturday and then Hanging Rock on the way back home on Sunday....if you've never taken a trip around Victoria's historic gold field towns...it's a beautiful way to spend a sunny, if not a bit chilly, weekend.

First stop was Lunch in Trenthan at the Red Beard Bakery....all products sourced locally...my man's sausage roll .

Local goodies line the wall of the Café...I love shops that sell regional produce

Relaxed style of the café....it was a great spot for our first stop



Lots of recycled items in the brick fence ....it was amazing and so creative. ..loads of clever people in rural Victoria



Next stop Trentham falls....the highest single drop waterfall in Victoria...another little gem hidden away.

One of my absolute favourite parts of the Australian Countryside....I adore the rows of quirky letterboxes that are dotted around the place....impossible for me not to stop and snap a quick pic..

I'm sure the letterboxes are as individual and quirky as their owners....so much to see when you take the time to look.

Our accommodation at Castlemaine was the Coach House a lovely conversion that sits in amongst a beautifully restored Victorian homestead on 5 acres...only spent 2 nights but we think we could live in Castlemaine .... would love to restore one of the many old houses that are dotted around the town....it's nice to dream about.

Our accommodation...1900's coach house conversion...lovely and very rustic inside.

 A visit to Buda House in Castlemaine was a great insight to life in the late 1800's...the house appears as it would have been in the early 1900's and is of significant historical value to the local area....information about the Leviny family can be found here ...the daughters helped to inspire the art and craft movement in rural Victoria.

Buda House and gardens....unchanged since the early 1900's .... maintained by the local community.

Art and handicraft fill the home.. including this amazing stitchery created by one of the Leviny daughters.



Saturday saw us in Daylesford for lunch...have been lots of times as I love Daylesford...our usual trip to the Convent Gallery and as always lit a candle for our sister-in-law and now also for our friend Heather who we lost earlier this year....it's a lovely place

We lit two candles in the convent chapel....... it's a sentimental reminder we do each visit.

The Convent Gallery Daylesford...lovely place to pop in and check out the artwork

 Friday night dinner was at the Railway Café and Saturday night was a slap up 3 courses at the NewNorthern..very fancy...lots of locally sourced foods, and things we had never eaten before...quite an experience.....Sunday morning saw us taking brunch in the Run Rabbit Run café in Castlemaine ...it was our favourite café...my man's meal was called Cowboy Scrapple...and I had Grandma's Toastie.....before heading off to the hauntingly beautiful Hanging Rock..

Ed's brunch...Cowboy Scrapple...chorizo, chilli cornbread, eggs and special chutney...he loved it

The walk up Hanging Rock ....we didn't get to what they charmingly call the summit...we only went as far as the Hanging Rock...that was far enough for me ...very steep and it was very cold. 

The start of the walk up the mysterious Hanging Rock....the visit to the display and information room is really interesting.

This is the actual hanging rock...didn't know that was how they got the name. it's the small suspended rock 2nd from the left.

 What would a trip to Hanging Rock be without a lunch of bread, pate, cheese and our favourite Oyster Bay....it was a quick lunch as it was only 6 degrees while we were there....sun was shining .....but still pretty chilly.

Lunch in the chilly car park....joined by two very friendly magpies...they enjoyed the sourdough.

 We had a great trip.  It was so good to spend time away together just the two of us....eating out, sightseeing, looking through shops....enjoying good food and great experiences ... we really should do it more often....We all need a break at some time.. Will have to think about planning our next getaway....so many great spots only a few hours away.