Things to do in Kyneton

Creative comeback

Once a gold-rush coach stop, Kyneton has evolved into one of Victoria’s most popular culinary destinations. Lined with bluestone buildings, historical Piper Street is home to lauded Kyneton restaurants and cool cocktail bars, along with antique stores, art galleries, boutiques and artisans’ workshops.

Established in 1850 and named after the English village of Kineton in Warwickshire, the town began as a major stop for Cobb & Co, which used its biggest coach, the Leviathan, pulled by 22 horses and carrying 75 passengers, on its way to and from the goldfields in central Victoria. During that time, businesses providing food, drinks, entertainment, services and supplies flourished. Incredibly, Kyneton Courthouse, famous for trying Aussie bad boy Ned Kelly in 1870, continues to function as a magistrates’ court. 

There are plenty of places to stay in the town, including the retro-cool Kyneton Springs Motel and the historically significant Mollisons boutique hotel (formerly the Bank of New South Wales). Or choose from a range of cottages, designer homes and sprawling estates available for short-term rent through Flophouse.

Things to do in Kyneton

The magnificent Kyneton Botanic Gardens and the walking trail along the Campaspe River are a must for slow morning strolls and leisurely picnics beneath old oaks. Kyneton Mineral Springs Reserve by the river also has picnic facilities and rotunda, as well as an old hand pump where you can sample the artesian water.

Just north of Kyneton is Black Hill Reserve, a hundred hectares of natural bushland. Follow the walking trails to an epic formation of granite rocks called The Monolith. The reserve is home to kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and many species of native birds. Back in town, search out the work of artists and makers.

The Old Auction House is a gallery and creative hub, where you can see the work of emerging and mid-career contemporary artists or take a workshop or class. You could spend hours exploring the work of Stockroom Kyneton, Australia’s largest privately owned contemporary gallery, located in an old butter factory.

The retail experience in Kyneton is sublime. There are no mass-produced products here. Instead, you can browse high-quality and hard-to-find treasures, both vintage and newly created, at stores like Cavaletti Gallery.

Eat and drink

Before settling in for a meal, stop at Botanik Bar, where cocktails are built around amaro, vermouth and other botanical liquors. All along Piper Street is a huge array of Kyneton restaurants. Midnight Starling has been wowing guests with its French-influenced menu for more than a decade. There are more Euro-leaning offerings at Piper Street Wine Co and Prato, while lovers of cucina Italia should make a booking at Marchesa, where all the herbs and vegetables are sourced from a local grower.

Located in a former temperance house, Fook Shing, named after a gold-rush-era Chinese detective, serves up mouthwatering South-east Asian dishes.

One of Victoria’s most influential chefs, Tansy Good, has opened her small bistro Tansy’s in a weatherboard house and garden. It’s only open from Friday to Sunday though, so be sure to book.

Off Piper Street, kick back at the Kyneton Hotel. Have a beer or a glass of Macedon Ranges wine out in the garden or order from the menu of award-winning elevated pub classics. Or for casual café bites, head to the socially conscious Social Foundry.

The best Kyneton events

On the second Saturday of the month, head to the Kyneton Farmers’ Market to stock up on produce, treats and flowers. In September, the town beams yellow for the annual Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival. Stroll the golden mile of these blooming bulbs and enjoy some of the other activities that take place, including photography and art displays, a dog dash, music performances and a grand parade. The Kyneton Agricultural Show comes to town for a weekend in November, with lots of attractions and entertainment for the whole family. The day after the Melbourne Cup, also in November, the Kyneton Cup is run at the local racecourse.

Getting to Kyneton

It’s an easy hour-long drive from Melbourne to Kyneton. You can also catch a V/Line train, which will deliver you on the edge of town in slightly longer than an hour. It’s about a 10-minute walk into Kyneton or there are connecting buses.