As the weather turns from t-shirt season into jumper territory, there’s NOTHING better than rugging up, jumping in the car and getting out of town. The Regional Centre for Culture’s Sunday, July 1st itinerary leads us to Daylesford – a perfect, scenic day-trip, one-hour-and-a-half drive from Melbourne.

Daylesford is home to many artists and creatives, whose influence and activities enliven the beautiful township. Good eats abound thanks to the fresh, local produce of the area, with many city-dwellers traveling just to experience the fine dining and cafe offerings! (Check out Paul Bangay’s top spots here). Nearby, visit Hepburn Springs for some r’n’r – how could you not enjoy a region known as ‘Spa Country?!’

If market-hopping is your thing, the Daylesford Market, running every Sunday for the past 36 years (open 8am-3pm), has everything from fresh, local produce and goods to artwork and restored furniture. Half-an-hour drive north, both the monthly Castlemaine Farmers Market (open 9am-1pm) and Castlemaine Artists’ Market (open 9am-12pm) will also be running.

While in Castlemaine, explore The Mill, a MASSIVE warehouse stocked full of vintage and collectibles and antiques or Buda Historic Home and Garden, which was home to the creative Leviny family for 118 years and houses their significant intact collection of furniture, artworks and belongings (12-5pm).

Round out the day at the Old Castlemaine Gaol (9am-4pm), offering guided tours at 10am and 2pm, plus Escape Room ‘Breakouts’/’Breakins’ throughout the afternoon (bookings essential).

Alternatively, stop by the stunning art-deco Theatre Royal, a cinema and performance space screening a curated selection of classic, wide-release and independent films throughout the year.

Make a long weekend of this trip by including the June 28th to June 30th itinerary, featured here. Further details about the Meander itineraries be found at rcc2018.com/june-meander.