Peppers Mineral Springs Retreat

Day Spas
Hepburn Springs and its twin town, Daylesford, have a special magic in the air (and the water), as the official home of Australia?s first Mineral Springs Reserve and the primary source of more than 80% of all mineral water for Australia. The mineral water was discovered just as the gold rush of the mid 1800?s began to take hold across the region. The Swiss/Italians recognised liquid gold when they saw it and dubbed the springs, ?The Foundations of Youth". Today, Daylesford and Hepburn Springs continue to be situated in the middle of the largest concentration of mineral springs in the country, and are the most frequented spa destinations in Australia. Making this one seriously relaxed place! Notably, Mineral Spa is the only spa in Australia to have 100% mineral spa baths, following the tradition of authentic European spas. Soaking in mineral water is therapeutically beneficial for increasing blood circulation, reducing stress on joints, relieving muscle fatigue and calming the mind.
High Tea
Afternoon Tea has been a fashionable social event for over 150 years and continues to retain its glamour status with everyone from Kate Moss to the Duchess of Cambridge recently being spotted enjoying the most British of traditions. Even Lady Gaga takes a delicate bone china cup and saucer with her wherever she goes. However the ultimate indulgence is having High Tea in the luxurious surroundings of a grand country hotel, wrapped up in the opulence and serenity of nature.
Recalling the glamour of a by-gone era, Peppers Mineral Springs Retreat serves High Tea under The Arches, in the picturesque setting under the iconic 1930?s arches of this heritage country hotel. Settle into the deep cane armchairs and relax over beautiful Petit Fours, delectable bite-sized sandwiches, piping hot, freshly baked scones with double whipped cream and homemade jams; all elegantly presented on tiered cake stands. Befitting the elegant style of this beautiful hotel, guests are encouraged to dress accordingly for High Tea.
Farmers Markets
Remember how carrots used to taste? Or the flavour of freshly churned fetta? Thank heavens for farmers? markets. Buying food that tastes as it should and rebelling against bland. With Daylesford and Macedon Ranges at the heart of Australia?s food bowl, the boundaries between nature and gourmet are blurred in the most delicious way. Few smells are as evocative as the earthy scent of just dug carrots or potatoes, few tastes can rival that of freshly vegetables and few flavours are as sweet as fruit desserts or preserves prepared straight from the orchard.
Daylesford 10am ? 3pm, 1st Saturday of month Talbot 9am ? 2pm, 3rd Sunday of month Trentham 9am ? 1pm, 3rd Saturday of month Kyneton 8am ? 1pm, 2nd Saturday of month
Dine in Style, as Nature intended
Daylesford and its surrounding villages are packed with dining options, but none have the glamour quota of Wild Birch Dining Room in Hepburn Springs. The food style of this elegant dining room located in the heritage Peppers Mineral Springs Retreat is a combination of European elegance with Australian inventiveness and wild country flavours.
Cooking with nature-as-it-matures doesn?t mean compromising elegance or flair. The trick is to let the fresh produce do all the heavy lifting. As often as not, the skill is organising temperature control and getting out of the way. . Representing a fresh approach to gourmet dining in the country, Wild Birch kitchens are run by the Chef Collective, a reinvention of the traditional of the Executive Chef model that taps into the collective brains and skills of the most ambitious team of collaborative young chefs this side of Melbourne. With soaring 1930?s decorative ceilings, original polished floor boards, and a photographic exhibition of local legends on the walls, dining in the country has never been quite so stylish.
Cafe Culture
The cafe culture has been fundamental to life in Daylesford and Hepburn Springs since the early Swiss Italians settled here in the mid 1800?s. With this culture, the region has an imbedded love, heritage and respect for authentically delicious espresso coffee, pasta, Swiss sausages and pizza. The flavours permeate Hepburn Springs and Daylesford, with a smorgasbord of cafes for breakfast, brunch and lunch tucked in various nooks and crannies. Favourites of locals and visitors alike include the patina graffiti-ed Frangos and Frangos, the well stocked Gourmet Larder and cosy Cliffies both in Daylesford. For cafe style reminiscent of European glamour, visit the deliciously charming Conservatory in Hepburn Springs. Located on the back terrace of the iconic Peppers Mineral Springs Retreat, The Conservatory is elegantly furnished with an inspired assortment of deep wicker chairs and soft cushioned banquettes and serves classic country dishes, cafe style.
Horse Riding
Since the time of early settling pioneers to the region right up to present day, Hepburn Springs has had strong horse traditions. Hepburn was originally known as ?Old Racecourse? and was the hub of Victorian high society gatherings during their rural sojourns. Today, many local farmers still use horses to get around their large outback properties. In the village, the Palais and cafes have the original horse railings outside, for horse riding groups and locals stopping for lunch and a glass of wine.
Set in the picturesque hills of Mt. Prospect, just 10 minutes from Daylesford, Hepburn Lagoon Trail Rides is ideally situated for leisurely exploring the region on horseback. Hepburn Lagoon operates out of a quaint historic stone cottage, running boutique gourmet riding experiences that reflect the philosophy of the founder and experienced horseman, Kieran Prendergast. Most popular trails include riding through the Wombat eucalyptus and pine State Forest to the historic Swiss Mountain hotel for lunch or riding to Captain?s Creek winery for wine tastings and gourmet dining.
Cellar Doors and Wine Bars
Tucked in various corners of the region, boutique, family-owned wineries are bustling with activity; making their annual alchemical transformations of vines to wine. Most of the winemakers here use a mix of traditional and modern harvesting techniques, with oak barrels from France and 1930?s John Deere tractors will hard at work.
This region is renowned for its sparkling wine, with the ranges' high altitude and cool climate providing perfect conditions for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. But there is also award-winning Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, and even Shiraz. For some cellar door therapy, visitors are spoilt for choice. Winery Cellar Doors within the surrounds of Hepburn Springs and Daylesford include Ellender Estate (Glenlyon), Passing Clouds (Musk), Captain?s Creek (Blampied), Barcaldine House (Musk) and Kyneton Ridge (Kyneton). Also tucked in heart of Daylesford is Horvat?s Cellar Door and wine bar; taking a stylish yet laid back approach to wine, bar food and live music.
Feel like pre-dinner aperitifs, digestifs or just lounging around, then sit back and sip the night away in The Tipperary Bar & Lounge; the darling of the well heeled, with a style that is one-part private club, two-part return of old world glamour, and just a dash of Mad Men. Sink into deep club chairs and work your way through the classic cocktail menu; simple yet fine tribute to cocktail history, starting with the Sours from the 1800s and striding purposefully on to Modern Classics. All this adds up to the club like feeling that all the best European bars possess.
Golf
The Hepburn Springs Golf Course is only a two-minute drive from Hepburn Springs? village. Set in a peaceful bushland setting, this undulating 18-hole course is both challenging to the skilled player and inviting for a novice. Beautiful views of surrounding valleys, forests and hills with abundant wildlife and kangaroos sharing the course.
The clubhouse is licensed, and features a covered decking with spectacular views. Motorised carts, buggies and equipment hire are available. The course hosts regular weekly competitions and welcomes visitors from other clubs (with golf handicap) to join members in playing local competitions.
The Golf Course is available for all day use 7 days a week, excluding Saturday (10.30am - 2.30pm) and Wednesday (9.30am - 11.30am).
Retail Therapy
Don?t plan a visit to the region without allowing ample time for shopping. Some of the most charming shops in Victoria can be found in Daylesford, Hepburn Springs and just 20 minutes down the road, Kyneton. Find original art and galleries, fine traditional linens and homewares, wrought iron sculptures, local fashion designers, fresh handmade chocolate, handmade paper, local gourmet produce and vintage collectibles. For bookworms and book lovers, there?s Paradise Bookshop; a wonderful rambling maze of books, housed across three floors in an historic Georgian bank. The 14 rooms are packed to the ceilings with new and second hand books, comics, magazines and ephemera, as well as second-hand records (33 rpm albums) compact discs and DVD?s.
Walking
Daylesford and Macedon Ranges are a dream for the hill walker, cyclist, or just lover of the great outdoors. There are long and short walking tracks, peaceful mountain routes, and many gentle bush walks. So where do you start? The national, state and regional parks in the area all have picturesque bushwalking trails. These include Lederderg State Park, Macedon Regional Park, Werribee State Park, Hepburn Regional Park and Hanging Rock Reserve, as well as Wombat State Forest and Mt Disappointment State Forest.
The Great Dividing Trail is a must for the great outdoor types. Daylesford is located at the junction of three sections of this magnificent walking trail - the 71 km "Lerderderg Track" to Bacchus Marsh, the 57 km "Dry Diggings" track to Castlemaine and the 92 km "Wallaby Track" to Ballarat. Following the Great Dividing Ranges, this trail reveals central Victoria's hidden mining relics and its natural beauty.
For a slightly gentler expedition, the 16km Tipperary Track is picturesque takes walkers to Sailors Falls, the now extinct volcano Mount Franklin, past the remains of water races used by gold miners in the last century, through native bush and stands of European trees, around the Blowhole miners? tunnel and past mineral springs. Whereas amblers love wandering the 1.3km Hanging Rock Trail; taking in the small volcano, Hanging Rock, made famous in the classic Australian novel and movie Picnic at Hanging Rock. Whatever your pace, this is a county where everyone slows down to enjoy the stunning natural world around them.
Cycling
Cycling through Daylesford and its surrounding countryside is an unexpected pleasure, with spectacular and varied biking tracks and trails. Whether it be meandering the local shops, around the lake, mountain biking through the Wombat Forest or along the newly formed Great Dividing Trail from Daylesford to Woodend. For the more adventurous seeking a multi-day trek, Dry Diggings Track is part of the Goldfields Track, a superb 210 km cycling trail that connects the towns of Ballarat and Bendigo via scenic villages such as Castlemaine, Hepburn Springs, Daylesford and Creswick.
Bring your own or for those who prefer to travel light, mountain, urban or children?s bicycles are available for hire from Tipperary Bicycle Hire in Daylesford.

Making sporting history
Nestling in the hills behind Hepburn Springs, the Tinetti family's Cricket Willow estate is the only place in Australia where you can follow the whole manufacturing process of making a cricket bat "from bud to bat". Cricket Willow was the first to make cricket bats out of willow in Australia and was the official bat of Australian cricket till just a few years ago.

Records dating back to the gold rush days show that the colonial sport of cricket was played intermittently on Tinetti's Hill. The cricketing connection was firmly entrenched by the Crockett family just after the turn of the century. It began with the 1902 MCG Test Match between Australia and England. Test umpire Robert Crockett and English captain Archie MacLaren were casually chatting during a break in play. MacLaren was surprised that Australia did not cultivate its own bat willow and Crockett idly suggested that MacLaren should send some cuttings to Australia upon his return to the mother country. The rest is sporting history. Cricket Willow is open weekends 11am ? 3pm (closed June ? August), displaying sporting memorabilia including the first cricket bat.

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