Spa Country

After a leisurly awakening at 8:30 on Saturday morning, we packed our picknic basket and headed towards Victoria Spa Country. Having said that, the term 'Spa Country' is an exaggerated optimism, as the latest series of draughts have somewhat transformed the once free-flowing landscape to a network of dry creeks. But enough on the bad points!...

With the excuse of missing some pate, we stopped at Woodend, on the Calder Freeway. It is a lovely spot and a good opportunity to stretch your legs after an hour in the car, along a boring Freeway. While walking down the shopping strip (20 shops or so each side of the road), we popped in the local bakey in search of some fresh bread. We soon realised that this particular bakery is famous for its vanilla slices, for which both Lesley and I have a soft spot for... 15 minutes later we emerged content - especially me, having consumed the coffee I was craving for.

We spotted a deli and looked for some pate but to our disappointment there was nothing to get excited by. A jar of pickled gherkins for almost $7 put us right off the place. Luckily, another deli was to be found on the other side of the road and the so far untouched cracked pepper pate was begging to be bought!

From Woodend, Daylesford is an interesting 20 minutes drive non-stop but one should detour and make a point of visiting Trentham Falls. Don't expect Niagra-style falls, but do attempt to walk down the totally hidden path to the falls and get behind the water, just above the lagoon. We were there 2 years ago - I'll publish some photos soon.

Once at Daylesford, we made sure we know what time the chocolate shop closes (more on this later) and headed for The Blowhole. Incidentally, we picked up a local map from the Information Centre but one of the two assistants, allegedly a local, did not know if The Blowhole was blowing, so to speak. Given that we planned to go up there anyway, I wasn't too fussed about his ignorance.

Around one o'clock at the Blowhole, we decided to follow the 15 minute loop track. We soon realised that the place was lacking water... Despite recent months' rainfall, there was no water flowing along the steams. However as we walked clockwise along the bush track, we came to the lower (and only accessible) of two rockpools. The way the blowhole appears to work is that, once the upper rockpool has filled with water and as water keeps filling the first rockpool, a 3-metre long tunnel and approx 1 metre in diameter empties the its contents into the lower rockpool.

From there we drove back to Daylesford and down to the lake - our favourite spot. Walking around the lake takes 20-30 minutes, depending on whether I stop to take photos or if we stop now and again to admire and take in the beauty of the place. We decided to have lunch first so we occupied the picnic bench closest to the water and got going with our packed delicacies and a bottle of sparking wine (or, as Aussies would say, bubbly - how sad...). We enjoyed the sunshine and, once again, admitted how lucky we were to be out there without any rain. We started to shange our minds as a dark heavy cloud hid the sun for 10 minutes - but the windchill factor kept the wine cool!

We then took a brisk walk round the lake. 20 minutes, a few photos and a few cuddles (to warm each other up) later, we got in the car and headed towards Decadence. To us the big attraction of this place is not so much that they sell their own, handmade chocolate, but their signature Chilli Chocolate. Before some of you start saying "What? Chocolate withChill? eeew!...", watch the movie Chocolat. And google chilli chocolate too.

Decadence use their spicy chocolate to make hot chocolate drink. This is the ultimate indulgence on a coldish day and after a few kilometres of walking!

With our lungs full of fresh, cool air and our bellies equally full with delicacies we started the 90 minute drive back home. We felt relaxed and ready for the week ahead.