Bryn’s Rough Guide to Castlemaine

Just 300m down the road (towards Chewton/Melbourne). You could stock up with local and seasonal fruit and veg, grab a bite to eat and plenty more.

First Sunday of every month are the farmers’ market and artists’ market (at Western Reserve and the IGA car park follow the main road into town and just past the first roundabout you can’t miss them).

On Barker Street, heading out of town towards Bendigo is the town’s best bakery: “Johnny Baker”. It’s hidden behind The New Northern Hotel, and is an odd ‘drive in’ spot so blink and you’ll miss it. But totally worth it. Also great coffee. On the same northern stretch of Barker Street is The North Kitchen which is probably the best of many good spots in town to sit down for coffee or brunch (though I can never really work out when they’re open and when they’re not..)

Try Bruce’s Kitchen (good quality country fare), Nam Plaa (Thai) or Theatre Royal (pizzas at the bar or the adjacent Bistro Lola for something a bit fancy), all of these are on the same stretch of Hargreaves St, up from the diggers roundabout. On Barker Street Phamily Kitchen (Vietnamese) is good while the Bridge Hotel has the best pub food.

Bring your bikes and ride into town: we’re on a hill but there is a bike track most of the way. If you follow Dick Street (across the road from the house) right down to the bottom and then turn left you should find it. Otherwise it’s a pretty easy roll down the hill to town (but a harder climb back up from it!). (If you are into mountain biking send me a message I will give you the local secrets!)

there is a heap great walking tracks around, Mount Alexander (15-20 mins drive) is great for day walks as well as the Goldfields Track and heap of others around Castlemaine (including many that follow the old water races).

On Sunday there is the old steam train to Malden which could be worth checking out - leaves from the main station. After the train, duck up to the Old Gaol on Bowden for a nice view over the town.