> > by Tricia Welsh
Just over an hour from Melbourne, it’s a gorgeous drive through flourishing farmlands to this former gold mining town when some 150 years ago, more than 30,000 miners flocked to this part of Victorian goldfields to seek their fortune. Book a balcony room at the beautifully restored historic Empyre Boutique Hotel so you can enjoy cocktails at sunset overlooking the town.
Enjoy good coffee and breakfast in the hotel’s café, or, weather depending, munch on bacon and egg jaffles at a rooftop table atop Togs Place nearby. Ask the people at Mulberry’s Fine Foods next door to put together a gourmet hamper for two – they’ll even suggest a romantic spot in the countryside. After browsing the town’s vintage and antique shops, head for The Good Table where former MoVida chef Alexander Perry serves terrific tapas on the upstairs balcony and Spanish dishes downstairs. Indulge in a hot chocolate and share a Belgian chocolate torte at Apple Annie’s. Take home a souvenir bottle of local Jessie Star Gazer merlot.