National parks & reserves

Witness natural wonders unlike anything you've seen before in Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges' national and state parks. From rugged river gorges to dramatic rock formations and stunning panoramic views, the region has the natural attractions to rival the man-made delights.

Lush parks and wildlife spotting
Pack a picnic and set out on the walking trails in the lush Wombat State Forest, Hepburn Regional Park, Hanging Rock Reserve, and Lederderg State Park. Keep your eyes peeled for sightings of quintessential Australian wildlife, dramatic waterfalls, and scenic lookouts affording vast vistas of the surrounding landscape.

Savour a memorable picnic of local produce at the sheltered extinct volcanic crater of Mount Franklin, making your way to the summit and around the rim of the crater.

Picnic at Mount Beckworth State Park for bird watching, bushwalking and the beautiful wildflowers that bloom in spring. Tour the Creswick Regional Park, including the 15-hectare koala park or enjoy a stroll and picnic on the shores of scenic St George Lake, home to waterbirds and the elusive platypus.

Macedon Regional Park
Dominating the landscape of the region is Macedon Regional Park, which forms the southern end of the Great Dividing Range. Make your pilgrimage to the imposing Memorial Cross at Mount Macedon for unforgettable views. Follow the Forest Eco-tourism trail to Sanatorium Lake, named after the former tuberculosis sanatorium.

Your Hanging Rock experience
Wander through wildflowers, clamber over rocks, and discover local history, mystery and geology at Hanging Rock, the small steep-sided volcano (mamelon) that became fixed in Victorian history with Joan Lindsay’s novel Picnic at Hanging Rock.