If you have been fortunate to visit the Victorian town of Daylesford, then you would know it is a “foodies’ paradise!” Among relaxing day spas or countless antique stores, Daylesford offers quality restaurants, cafes’, pubs and wineries. Each serving seasonal delights, fresh from the farm to the table.
Set within the Macedon Rages of Victoria, Daylesford exhibits quality fresh provincial produce, carefully created by passionate farmers, wine makers, cheese makers and bakers.
Visit the bustling weekend markets, breath in the aroma of the village bakeries, or simply call upon the local friendly farm gates that sell delicious honey, fresh eggs or seasonal fruit and vegetables.
Usually when we visit Daylesford, we have our regular stops, where we purchase some of this regions fine produce, such as home produced honey form Des O’Toole’s Honey or salami from Istra’s small goods.
On this particular trip, after visiting the antique shops in the morning and enjoying a picnic at Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens (which you can read about here, in Part 1 ) we decided to pay a visit to the local cider mill.
Daylesford Cider grows organic apples on site using seventeen different varieties of English heritage apples. The English style cider is produced on the premises and sold from and English style tavern cellar door, creating a cosy, cottage atmosphere. Set among pristine landscaped gardens, including a separate area for lawn games, the friendly staff greet and welcome customers.
We relaxed in the courtyard that afternoon with the warm sun playing hide and seek in between the clouds. Children were playing in the gardens, while the adults were sampling an array of ciders served on unique cider paddles. With the distinct smell of pizzas in the air, being freshly cooked in the outdoor wood fire oven, what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon?
After a delightful visit at Daylesford Cider and a six pack of ciders to go, we ventured off to another regular attraction. The Chocolate Mill is seven minutes north of Daylesford heading towards the historical gold mining town of Castlemaine. The Chocolate Mill is a definite must for all chocolate lovers. The chocolates are all hand made on site and are produced from Callebaut Belgian Couverture Chocolate. This certified fair trade couverture chocolate, is made from the finest cocoa beans and 100% pure cocoa butter, and is free from artificial colours, flavours, preservatives and palm oil.
Talented staff produce these delectable desserts through the large viewing window in the showroom. Watch them mold these little morsels of heaven, right in front of your eyes! In fact, when we were there just after Christmas, the staff were busily producing chocolate bunnies for their countless Easter orders, four months prior!
With the rich, sweet smell of chocolate in the air, we sat down in the adjoining café to feast on their award winning hot chocolates, iced coffees, ice creams and cakes. A perfect end to the day!
Directory:
Des O’Toole Honey –
143 Jubilee Lake Road, Daylesford VIC 3460
(03) 5348 2997
Cellar door open 7 days a week
Kitchen open, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 12pm to 3pm offering a seasonal menu
155 Dairy Flat Rd, Musk VIC 3461 (03) 5348 2275
Open 7 days a week, 10am to 4.45pm
5451 Midland Hwy, Mount Franklin VIC 3461 (03) 5476 4208
Pin for Later
Related Posts:
Daylesford Part I: Antiques and Tragic History
Check out, comment or follow me at :
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/A-Mindful-Traveller-1914788908734223/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LorelleCat
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amindfultraveller/
Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/amindfultraveller/boards/
O M Gosh. What a divine way to spend a day. I must go. Everything sounds fabulous
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha… you definitely should Lyn. X
LikeLiked by 1 person
Drool Drool…When I lived in Ballarat Daylesford was my place to take visitors too or I would catch up with a girlfriend who lived in Kyneton. The chocolate mill was also a stopping point. What a delightful place..Memories…I think I even have a chocolate mill t/shirt lol. The cider place is not one I have been too so next time I am up that way will have to check it out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s funny you mentioned that Bree. I have family from overseas here so was thinking of taking them there too. A great place to show visitors. I haven’t been to Kyneton in years so will have to head up there and check that out too! Glad to bring back the memories for you….. you’ll have to try and find that t-shirt…. 😂😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Check it out first the chocolate mill used to close in February. haha too funny I think I might give it to my daughter the t/shirt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍🏼😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful post Lorelle. Makes me want to head back to Daylesford, especially seeing as I haven’t visited either of these places.🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh well then that is a must for you Miriam! Highly recommend checking out both! 👍🏼😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like cider and chocolate:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mmmmm, pretty good match I’d say! 😊
LikeLike
Lovely post Lorelle, it must be wonderful to see all those varieties of chocolate goodies getting molded and packed and of course the mill .My kids would love this place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Nisha. My kids always love visiting there. ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
This does sound perfect!
Cider, chocolate and gorgeous flowers all in one spot!? It almost seems like you got this ready just in time for valentines day! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mmmmm, Chocolate is the way to the heart isn’t it?! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh, two of my favourite things. I’m sure all these wonderful places you’ve written about weren’t there the last time we visited Daylesford. I was thinking about that after your last post. I think it might have been 2004. Time we went again. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not sure if they have been around since then, but it definitely would be time for a revisit Carol 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll add it to the roadtrip list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍🏼😊
LikeLike
What a delightful place to visit!! (Especially that chocolate mill, haha(: ) Thank you for sharing your adventures ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very welcome Maggie. Who can resist a chocolate factory right? ❤️
LikeLike
It looks great and I love the idea of a cider place:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
The cider mill was great. A wonderful spot to relax for the afternoon 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would like to try that out:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
How did I not know Callebaut was down there?!?! Will definitely be needing a road trip to check that out! Those truffles all lined up in a row look verrryyyy tempting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, there’s not a lot of places that sell it but you can find it here.
Mmmm, definite temptation right there! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mmmm, the chocolate mill has me drooling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
For sure Tracey 😉
LikeLike
You had me at chocolate =o) This place looks so fun!
https://dreamofadventures.com/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha…thanks lovely 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
A deliciously delightful post!
Love that selection of cider – looks so very fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was Ju-Lyn. A fun way to spend the afternoon indeed 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh… Cider, chocolate and pretty flowers… please take me there right now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha… sure thing! 👍🏼😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear those chocolates! I had to look at google maps to see if Daylesford is not too far from Melbourne 🙂 Keeping it in mind in case we go visit Melbourne again 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know, so irresistible.
Well if you’re here in Melbourne we’ll make a date and I’ll take you there Amor. Xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can only dream of it right now, but thank you very much for the offer 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
One day ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person