Smythesdale
Australia · Oceania
About Smythesdale
The Goldfields is a region in Victoria, Australia.
Smythesdale travel guide
Understand
For a period of time immigrants came from all over the world for the new gold rush in the Victorian hills north of Melbourne. The gold rush has long past (leaving a legacy of architecture in Melbourne and the surrounding towns), but there is much history to experience in this easy day trip from Melbourne.
Getting there
The Goldfields is best explored by car. Everything in the Goldfields is a scenic 60-minute trip from everything else. There are two major freeways running from Melbourne to this region, depending on where you want to go in this region. The M79 Calder Freeway heads northwest up to Bendigo, passing through much of the Macedon Ranges, while the M8 Western Freeway goes up west to Ballarat.
See
Hanging Rock Recreation Reserve, ☏ +61 418 373 032 (ranger), toll-free: 1800 244 711. The 1975 film Picnic at Hanging Rock, directed by Peter Weir, has made this awe-inspiring location famous. According to the plot, widely believed by many (erroneously) to be a true story, during a private school excursion, two school girls and a teacher went missing from the Rock on Valentine's Day 1901, with no trace of them ever found. The area is well developed, with walking trails, lookouts, interpretive displays, large picnic areas and barbecues, and a cafe. A short exploration of the area with its crevices and sharp drops will show you how easy it would be to disappear here. There is little danger staying on the well marked trails though. Take a picnic. $10 car; $8 motorbike; $4 per person without car. 1 Sovereign Hill, Bradshaw St, Golden Point (Train or Western Freeway to Ballarat, then follow C294 south from City Centre.), ☏ +61 353371199. 10AM–5PM. Open air museum showing the early stages of Ballarat during the Gold Rush. Featuring many attractions, like a mine tour and a light show, this is a must see if you're nearby. It has many places to eat and drink, as well as facilities like toilets and gift shops. $39. (updated Dec 2021)
Do
The Ballarat to Skipton Rail Trail is a 46-km route for cycling or horseriding from the city of Ballarat to the town of Skipton along the old Skipton railway line.
Eat
Where you eat and what you eat significantly varies on where you are, but there's not much variety outside of Bendigo and Ballarat.
Drink & nightlife
The Goldfields region has a large number of wineries and vineyards in the region and it's pretty easy to find one.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.