What are the best things to do in Woodend, Victoria?
The best things to do in Woodend Victoria include seeing the old clock tower and doing the Summit Walk to the top of Hanging Rock. Visitors can also enjoy the Mount Macedon Winery and Hanging Rock Winery.
The best things to do in Woodend, Victoria
The best things to do in Woodend, Victoria, are…
- Wine tasting at the Mount Macedon winery.
- The sculpture trail at Hanging Rock Winery.
- The Summit Walk at Hanging Rock.
- The Three Town Scenic Route bike trail.
In the 19th century, the little Victorian town of Woodend was regarded as a resort.
It’s a green, leafy place in the Macedon Ranges, with the south-eastern edge butting up against the Mount Macedon Regional Park.
These days, Woodend tends to get skipped on the way to somewhere else. The Calder Freeway passes on the eastern side, making the town little more than a coffee stop on the drive from Melbourne to Mildura, Melbourne to Bendigo or Melbourne to Echuca.
This is a shame, because Woodend still has a handsome town centre, and a main street that charms as you stroll along it. The old clock tower is the most photogenic sight.
What to do in Woodend, Victoria: Mount Macedon Winery and Hanging Rock Winery
There are also a couple of wineries to visit in Woodend. The Mount Macedon Winery is south-east of the town, next to the Mount Macedon Regional Park. There’s a restaurant on site, and it’s a popular wedding venue. The Mount Macedon Winery’s vineyards are spread over six acres, and the chardonnay pinot noir and sparkling wines are produced from grapes grown on the property. Other wines are made from grapes sourced from other growers in the region.
The Hanging Rock Winery is to the north-east of Woodend towards Romsey and Lancefield. It also has a cellar door open to visitors. Again, the focus is on cool climate wines, but the Hanging Rock Winery also sells bold shirazes made with grapes from the Heathcote region.
The Hanging Rock Winery’s unique selling point is Art In The Vines, however. Every year, a different trail of sculptures is installed in the vineyards.
Things to do in Woodend, Victoria: Hanging Rock
The Hanging Rock Winery, as the name would suggest, is near Hanging Rock. And this tops the list of things to do in Woodend, Victoria. Hanging Rock sticks out above the landscape, and was formed by a volcano more than six million years ago. Magma pushed out through a vent, then congealed in place, giving Hanging Rock its distinctive look.
The more culturally-inclined will know it from the Peter Weir film, Picnic At Hanging Rock. The film was based on the novel of the same name by Joan Lindsay.
There are three walking trails at Hanging Rock. The Creek Walk is arguably prettiest, taking around 40 minutes for the 2.3km return walk. But it’s the Summit Walk that most come for. Getting to the top of Hanging Rock takes about 50 minutes along a 1.8km return track.
Things to do in Woodend: Three Town Scenic Route
Woodend is one point of the triangle on the Three Town Scenic Route, a bike trail that also takes in Kyneton and Trentham. Trentham is the nearest town to Trentham Falls on the Coliban River. The 74km cycle route is mainly gentle, apart from one climb at Shepherd’s Hill Road.
The best places to stay in Woodend
The best Woodend accommodation options are:
- For overall quality: Northfield Boutique Apartments.
- For style meets homeliness: Silverwood House.
- For kangaroos grazing outside: Hanging Rock Views.
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