How to spoil your mum in Victoria’s Heartland

START WITH BRUNCH

Start the day right by treating mum to a tasty breakfast or brunch at one of our many welcoming cafés.

Das Kaffeehaus – you’ll want to settle in for the day at this Viennese style café, located within The Mill precinct in Castlemaine. Enjoy the warm European vibe as you tuck into hearty Austrian classics such Hungarian goulash and Viennese frankfurts.

Harcourt Produce & General Store – choosing where to start is the biggest challenge at this food filled oasis in the heart of Harcourt. Chef Annette Larsen creates incredible dishes using produce from her own garden. Top tip: don’t leave without trying the delicious house-made Danishes.

The Station Cafe Restaurant Bar by Whiskey June – tuck into a wholesome breakfast with favourites such as waffles, truffled mushrooms or chilli eggs. Set on the platform of Maryborough’s grand 1870s train station, this café-restaurant is an ideal launching pad for exploring Maryborough’s grand architecture.

Cliffy’s Emporium – a Daylesford institution, make sure you book ahead to nab a table at this local’s favourite. Local produce including cheese, meat, eggs, oil, honey and preserves all star on the menu.

Home Grown on Piper – pull up a seat here before exploring Kyneton’s historical Piper Street, this popular café serves up everything from healthy vegie filled dishes through to bagels, paninis and sweet treats.

FANCY FEASTS & LONG LUNCHES

You are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing where to dine Victoria’s Heartland. Our region is home to an impressive number of chef hatted and award-winning restaurants, all serving incredible cuisine, matched with exceptional service – the perfect way to treat both your mum and yourself. Hot tip: make sure you book ahead, these venues often book out well in advance.

Lake House Restaurant – renowned for putting destination dining on the map, this iconic two hatted restaurant sits on the shores of Lake Daylesford. Offering a seasonal snapshot on every plate, the multi‑course à la carte menu is inspired by produce from its regenerative Dairy Flat Farm, which supplies fruit, vegetables, herbs, flowers, olive oil, cider, honey and wine directly to the table.

Kadota – for an authentic experience of omotenashi (a Japanese concept meaning to wholeheartedly look after guests), head to this two chef hatted restaurant in central Daylesford. Here you can enjoy a kaiseki (multi-course) menu blending delicate Japanese flavours and techniques with local ingredients.

Sault Restaurant – this sustainability-focused venue is set within a breathtakingly beautiful 100-acre property, perfect for a pre or post wander. Flanked by lavender and sunflower fields, Sault’s extensive food garden supplies the kitchen, bringing food miles down to just metres.

The Boathouse Restaurant – the perfect spot for a long lunch with a view, perched the side of Lake Daylesford. Featuring a modern Australian menu, here you can enjoy exquisitely presented and incredibly tasty dishes that capture the seasons.

Boomtown Winery - housed within The Mill precinct in Castlemaine, this lively winery, cellar bar and bistro features a weekly seasonal menu which draws inspiration from the regional cuisine of southern France and northern Italy.

Le Bouchon at Attwoods – you can now enjoy either a shared-style a la carte menu or a chef’s selection menu as this gorgeous Glenlyon based winery. Local produce such as Florian heirloom tomatoes, Wedgetail Farm goat’s curd, Tuki Trout rainbow trout, Western Plains Pork and MS7 Sher Wagyu star on the menu.

Passing Clouds Winery - tuck into a delicious charcoal-fired dining experience at this restaurant and cellar door just outside Daylesford. Choose a generous three-course shared lunch or graze through seasonal à la carte small plates, all enjoyed in the dining room overlooking the vineyard.

Kuzu Izakaya - this much-loved venue is high on the culinary checklist for both locals and visitors to Woodend. Kuzu’s style of food is classic Japanese Izakaya infused with Chef Eriko’s creative genius. Choose from the set or a la carte menu and pair your food with an expertly crafted cocktail.

Mount Monument - a short drive from Romsey, this single vineyard, cellar door and restaurant is as visually stunning as it is delicious. Enjoy a four-course set menu showcasing hyperlocal seasonal produce as you overlook the vineyard. Then wander the sculpture park designed by acclaimed architect and property owner Nonda Katsalidis.

Mount Macedon Winery - for sweeping panoramic views alongside great food and wine, this mountainside destination has it all. Tuck into woodfire oven pizzas and seasonal share plates at UUMM Restaurant, or opt for the more refined Cellar Door Restaurant experience with an à la carte menu and optional wine pairing.

Mount Towrong Vineyard – this charming, family-owned vineyard on the slopes of Mount Macedon celebrates the Cremasco family’s Italian heritage through cool-climate varietals and rustic, homestyle cooking. Make the most of their extended hours with lunch now available from Friday through to Sunday, and dinner service every Friday and Saturday.

Prato – set within Kyneton’s original ice-works building on historic Piper Street, this lively venue specialises in Pinsa Romana – a lighter, crispier Roman-style pizza – alongside Mediterranean-inspired share plates. Pull up a stool at the central European bar for a pre-dinner aperitivo before settling in for a long, leisurely lunch.

Fook Shing - named after an infamous Chinese detective from Victoria's Gold Rush era, this popular Piper Street restaurant brings modern, vibrant south-east Asian cuisine to one of Kyneton's most historic buildings.

Glen Erin at Lancefield – choose from the three-course set menu or opt for a la carte at this welcoming country restaurant and cellar door. Fancy a picnic? Pre-order a chef-prepared gourmet picnic hamper, which can be enjoyed in the surrounding vineyard or at a nearby scenic location.

COSY WINE BARS AND COOL COCKTAILS

If bonding over a cocktail is more your thing, treat Mum to a Mother’s Day outing at one of the region’s welcoming wine bars or cocktail lounges. Settle in with local sparkling wine and a generous grazing platter, or raise a glass with an expertly crafted cocktail featuring locally distilled gin.

Woodend Cellar & Bar – slide into one of the stylish booths at this cosy wine bar in Woodend, which specialises in local drops, creative cocktails and a tapas style menu.

600 Above – nab a spot beside the fireplace at this warm and welcoming wine bar in the heart of Woodend. Choose from the extensive range of local drops before tucking into a tasting platter which heroes local produce.

Botanik – sip on an expertly crafted cocktail surrounded by lush foliage on the balcony of this Piper Street beauty in Kyneton. Afterwards, spend time perusing Kabinett - an eclectic homewares store located in the same building.

Piper Street Wine Company – take mum on a journey to Spain without leaving Victoria's Heartland. Housed in a beautifully preserved 1860s building on Kyneton's Piper Street, this cosy European restaurant and wine bar has a collaboration with MoVida founder Frank Camorra. Expect rustic, charcoal-fired Spanish cooking built around seasonal produce, with a stellar wine list to match.

Daylesford Spirit – this award-winning craft distillery has recently opened a new cellar door on Vincent Street, in the heart of Daylesford. Drop in to sample their range of gin, vodka and whisky, enjoy a craft cocktail, or book in for a hands-on gin masterclass.

Hepburn Distillery - a hidden gem tucked off Daylesford's main street, this family-run operation produces multi award-winning spirits made from scratch on site using local, seasonal and organic ingredients. Pop into their distillery door for tasting flights and expertly crafted cocktails and mocktails.

Moyston Street Wine Bar – with space for only 14 guests, this intimate bottle shop meets wine bar in the heart of Castlemaine is the ideal spot for a glass of local wine paired with a rotating selection of locally sourced snacks, charcuterie and cheeses.

Hero image: Boathouse Daylesford