Blampied

Art and adventure

Not far from Daylesford and Creswick, you’ll find the village of Blampied. Settled in the 1860s, it epitomises the saying ‘blink and you’ll miss it’. Cruising down the highway, it is easy to zoom past, but its attractions are far from forgettable. When people talk about meeting at the Blampied pub, they mean the Swiss Mountain Hotel, one of the oldest continuously licensed weatherboard venues in Victoria. Behind the pretty façade, there’s a seasonal menu that mixes classics with inventive small bites.

Blampied is a great place to bring kids. There’s Maze House, with a fun hedge maze, lawn games and a milk bar. They might also want to saddle up at Hepburn Lagoon Trail Rides, where you can look for wildlife while winding your way through the bush. Maybe, while they’re doing that, you can settle in at Captains Creek Organic Wines. Set in a restored workers’ hut overlooking the vines, it serves organic wines and ciders and grazing platters.

Pop into Overwrought Sculpture and Garden, where artist David Dawson’s work occupies a magical garden. Inside the gallery, paintings, ceramics, jewellery and more by local artists is on display.