Innisfree is just over an hour's drive from Melbourne, Victoria and is located in picturesque Daylesford; the heart of Victoria's famous spa and healing country.. 

 

The Daylesford area has a spectacular history with many buildings, monuments, the mineral springs, lakes, gardens discovered or built in the 1800s and early 1900s.  Today many of these historic buildings are still standing and are proudly preserved for us to enjoy and marvel at the architecture. Many of the buildings are influenced by Swiss-Italian design as many of the early gold miners who migrated to the region were from Ticino region in Switzerland.witzerland.

 

The commercial centre of Daylesford is located along Vincent Street and retains a collection of historic buildings; galleries dot the township, as do bookshops, cafes and eclectic contemporary stores.

 

Renowned for it natural mineral spring waters; formed over 5 million years ago by volcanic activity, the region is the location of over 80% of Australia's effervescent mineral water reserve.   

 

There are many attractions in the local area to take advantage of the natural waters. Traditional communal bathing in warmed mineral water pools is available in the Hepburn Bathhouse, with a range of hydrotherapies including spa and relaxation pools, spa couches, aroma steam room and salt therapy pool; you can also visit the Mineral Springs Reserve.  Set on 30 hectares, there are many springs that exist for drinking and bathing. 

 

Other local attactions include Lake Dayesford, the Convent Gallery, Lavender farms, Wombat Hill Gardens, Lake Jubilee and many others.  There are nature walks, shopping or just relaxing and taking in the beauty of the region.

 

One of the area's landmarks is Mt Franklin;  a small volcanic crater that offers an ideal place for a a walk or picnic set amongst plantings of huge conifers and deciduous trees that create an exotic atmosphere. Also known as Lalgambook by the Djadja Wurrung people, Mt Franklin offers lovely views on the approach to the summit. 

 

A short distance by car you will find Trentham Falls, one of the longest single drop waterfalls in Victoria. Plunging some 32 metres over basalt columns, Trentham Falls was formed some five million years ago from molten lava rapidly cooling as it flowed along the old Coliban River valley. At the base of the falls, quartz gravel and the former river bed can be seen. The Falls reserve protects one of the best remnants of original vegetation in the area, with stands of manna gum, messmate, stringybark and narrow-leaved peppermint.