Daylesford & Macedon Ranges

ABOUT THIS REGION Daylesford is a town located in the Shire of Hepburn, Victoria, Australia. It is a former goldmining town about 115 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. At the 2006 census, Daylesford had a population of 3,073. The Midland Highway runs through the town. At 616 metres above sea level, it has a cooler, wetter climate than Melbourne. Summer (January–February) temperatures range from 10 to 37 °C (50 to 99 °F), while July temperatures are cold, ranging from about 1–2 °C (34–36 °F) to 9 °C (48 °F) with occasional snow fall. The broader area around the town, including Hepburn Springs to the north, is renowned for its natural spring mineral spas where visitors can sample the mineral water. This together with its proximity to Melbourne make it a popular destination for tourists. As a result, the region has a number of spa developments including Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, Mineral Spa at Peppers Springs Retreat and Salus Spa, Lake House. The town is also known for hosting a number of annual events including the Chillout Festival held during the Victorian Labour Day long weekend in March each year the largest gay and lesbian festival in rural and regional Australia, the Harvest Week Festival and the Lavandula's Festivals celebrating the town's Swiss-Italian heritage. The wider Macedon Ranges covers an area of 1,747 square kilometres (675 sq mi) and, at the 2011 Census, had a population of 41,860. It includes the towns of Clarkefield, Gisborne, Kyneton, Lancefield, Macedon, Malmsbury, Mount Macedon, New Gisborne, Riddells Creek, Romsey and Woodend. The area has attractions such as Mt Macedon and Hanging Rock and numerous waterfalls. INDUSTRY RESOURCES Regional Tourism Website : Visit Daylesford Regional Tourism Website : Macedon Ranges Tourism Regional Tourism Website : Visit Victoria Research and Statistics : Daylesford & Macedon Ranges Tourism Board Local Council : Hepburn Shire Council Local Council : Macedon Ranges Shire Council CREDITS Information Source : Wikipedia Image Credit : Lake Daylesford : Tourism Victoria : 2006 Peter Dunphy Regional Map : Copyright 2014 GoPanda Communications GoPanda