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By Caz Hatherly

I recently attended the fantastic Autumn in Central Victoria program with Out Doors. Our accommodation was at Boomerang Holiday Ranch, which was very comfortable. It’s a large property with around 70 horses. A couple of horses were always at the fence, and we frequently fed them. One of them didn’t like to be patted—it would push your hand away so it could check if you had any food for it! You could give it a whole bag of carrots and it would still be checking your hand for more.

We had a wonderful time visiting the historical Goldfields towns of Malmsbury, Maldon, and Kyneton. We took a walk to the historic Maldon Train Station, which had once been part of the Victorian Goldfields Railway. We found an old heritage steam locomotive there that’s still in use today.

Next, we visited the Beehive Mine, which has a rich history in the state’s gold mining era. It was a significant operation with large-scale mining beginning in 1860. The mine produced a considerable amount of gold. Its 30-metre towering chimney is a landmark and symbol of Maldon’s gold mining heritage—it’s the oldest and largest of its kind still standing in Victoria.

Then we were off to Vaughan Mineral Springs, where we stopped to sample the mineral water, definitely an acquired taste!

Not far from the town centre, we enjoyed a lovely walk around Lake Daylesford. It was a beautiful day and we spotted lots of birdlife. After that, we explored the Mill Markets Daylesford, a huge indoor market with over 100 stallholders. You can find some real treasures there: vintage clothes, furniture, art, books, records, and memorabilia, just to name a few. Whatever you’re looking for, you’re bound to find it.

My favourite place was the café, where I had the best coffee ever! It was so good.

The next day, we visited the Kyneton Botanical Gardens. I always enjoy walking through gardens—looking at the plants, trees, flowers, and birds. I find it very peaceful. We also visited the Malmsbury and Castlemaine Botanical Gardens.

We had an interesting walk along the Campaspe River in Kyneton. It was a very scenic track that follows the river for about three kilometres. It’s so refreshing listening to the sound of the water. We were very fortunate to see a lorikeet feeding her babies in a hollow in a tree that was a very special moment for us.

We also had some free time to explore the towns of Maldon and Kyneton. Both had large heritage buildings, quirky shops, and of course, plenty of op shops to browse through. They’re always popular with participants!

Our two-day adventure was great, and we all had the best time. We were well looked after by the ODI staff—a big thank you to them! Being in nature is awesome, and such a happy and wondrous place to be. There’s so much to see and appreciate. It’s so good for the mind and soul.