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Chanters Ridge is a boutique, family owned and operated vineyard established in 1996 in the Macedon Ranges Wine Region, 45 minutes drive north from Melbourne.

From this cool climate vineyard Glenys and Barry Elliott produce premium Pinot Noir, both still and sparkling and their sparkling Macedon white.

Grapes are picked by hand in late April to early May. With their wine maker John Ellis at Hanging Rock, they strive to achieve varietal characteristics of nose and palate using open vat whole bunch fermentation, the maturation in 30 per cent new French and older oak barrels.

Their newer planting, "Back Paddock" are two years younger than the original vines. Chanters Ridge "Back Paddock" Pinot Noir 2003 won a gold medal and the trophy for Best Pinot Noir at the Macedon Ranges Wine Exhibition 2005.

The 2003 Pinot Noir a silver in both 2005 and 2006 and the 2004 "Back Paddock" a silver at the 2006 Macedon Ranges Wine Exhibition with James Halliday being the senior judge.

Their 2005 wines are showing great promise having recently been bottled, but will not be released for about 18 months. The views of the surrounding countryside from the vineyard are fantastic and the one hectare garden worth a wander through particularly in spring and early summer.

Located in Tylden, the award winning Springhill Nursery has been established for over 20 years and offers an extensive cool climate garden nursery. Covering two hectares, it offers thousands of plants including Azaleas, Camellias, Rhododendrons, roses, fruit trees and more. It features one of the best examples of espaliered fruit trees and incorporates The Garden Walk, a display garden to inspire and admire. Qualified Horticulturalists offer expert advice and expertise in all things garden. Regular pruning demonstrations are seasonally scheduled. Springhill Nursery also contains a wonderful Gift Ware Shop and Art Gallery offering works by a local artist which is open for viewing and sales. Centrally and conveniently located just minutes from Woodend, Kyneton, Trentham and Daylesford, do not miss the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful feature of the Macedon Ranges. Bus groups are welcome by prior arrangement.

RedBeard Historic Bakery is located in picturesque Trentham, between Woodend and Daylesford, just over an hour from Melbourne. RedBeard won the 'Victorian Tourism Minister's Encouragement Award' and was listed in 'Country Style Magazine's' Top 100 Great Australian travel experiences. RedBeard also won the 'National Baking Industry Association's Baking Seal of Excellence' as well as the 'NBIA Environmental Award'. 'The best bakery in the world. This is all about heart, passion and a love for making great bread.' George Calombaris, MasterChef, 2013 RedBeard is famous for its organic, sourdough bread, baked in a huge wood-fired,19th century masonry oven. Watch the artisan bakers at work. Enjoy delicious, contemporary Australian café food with excellent coffee, local wines, beers and ciders. Take home a loaf fresh out of the oven. RedBeard Historic Bakery is a year-round destination, open Friday to Monday, including most public holidays, with a warm interior for winter and shady courtyard for summer. RedBeard is fully licensed, with a menu featuring local organic produce in season. The menu changes regularly and includes delicious coffee, sausage rolls, soups, salads, and a range of cakes and pastries. All food is made on the premises, using the historic oven. Few bakeries in Australia create handmade, organic, sourdough bread. Even fewer use a 140 year old Scotch oven. RedBeard's simple doughs of organic flours, salt and water are hand-shaped using traditional techniques, and transformed by the alchemy of natural fermentation and wood fired baking into a range of loaves of outstanding colour, texture and flavour. Extend your experience by taking a fascinating, behind-the-scenes, guided tour of the historic bakery. Large groups must book ahead. Sunday workshops - where you can mix, shape and bake your own sourdough. Home baking equipment is available to purchase. Midweek workshops for groups larger than four. Bookings are essential.

Silver Brumby Trails is located one hour from Melbourne CBD and 20 minutes from Daylesford. Come and enjoy scenic trail rides around the home of the Silver Brumby. Ride though shady forests and rolling hills on incredibly well cared for horses, then sit back and relax with a cuppa taking in the stunning scenery....

Rising in the Great Dividing Range, the Lerderderg River has cut a 300 metre deep gorge through sandstone and slate, almost bisecting the park. The park has a wide variety of vegetation and wildlife and some interesting relics of goldmining. Lerderderg State Park offers a true bush experience. Walking is the best way to get to know the park - there are several tracks for a range of walks from short, easy strolls to strenuous overnight hikes for experienced bushwalkers. Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe. ...