For a good mix of relaxation and enjoyment of rich history visit Daylesford in Victoria

New Age fanatics from all over the world instantly recognize the name ìDaylesford,î while other travelers might not know this small town in Victoria from a preceding reputation. Originally one of the boomtowns during Australiaís gold rush, Daylesford has seen its share of good times and hard times, and somehow managed to keep coming out on top. A couple of hours from Melbourne by car, Daylesford can often feel worlds away, with its population of just around 3,000 and buildings left over from when miners tried their luck in the townís mountain streams. Still a laid-back and sleepy town, Daylesford is currently enjoying a different sort of boom: one of spirituality that goes back to the townís second-biggest asset, mineral water.

While gold may have been king during the 1850s, less than a hundred years later, it was water that made Daylesford a big deal. Nearby Hepburn Springs provides Daylesford with some of the richest mineral water in all of Australia, and travelers from all over the world flock to the various spas and natural pools to experience its cleansing and revitalizing powers for themselves. There has been a particularly huge boom for those who are interested in the culture of New Age, with numerous yoga studios and chakra cleansing stations opening around the city. Whether it feels like the Haight of San Franciscoís 1960s or modern-day Sedona is anyoneís guess, but Daylesford has definitely made a huge impression on the New Age scene.

Itís not just crystal-toting hippies who are drawn to the springs, though. Well-to-do Australians and foreigners are also into the mineral water in a big way, with countless numbers of luxury day spas opening up around town to provide a different sort of access to its refreshing and healing powers. With a number of the original gold rush structures still intact, Daylesford definitely has a classic, old-fashioned appeal. Unlike more built up parts of Australia, those visiting and spending the night will find that Daylesford accommodation has more bed and breakfast, mom and pop than big-name chain.

With the foothills of Australiaís Great Dividing Range serving as the townís backdrop, Daylesford provides an incredible opportunity for relaxation and enjoyment of rich history in a beautiful setting. Yoga ashrams and art galleries might be flooding the town, but the spirit of adventure and ruggedness that began with the gold rush still manages to stay alive today, now that Daylesford is seeing more visitors than ever before.

Image from Peter Dunphy – North East Victoria Tourism

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