A glimpse of our weekend getaway to the beautiful, quaint town of Trentham nestled between Woodend and Daylesford.
Trentham is a small, quaint town that’s situated halfway between Woodend and Daylesford and located high on the Great Dividing Range. For a long time, this charming town was just a passing by location for travellers visiting Daylesford, Hepburn Springs, Macedon Ranges etc….
Also known as ‘Spud Country’, Trentham is finally becoming a destination in itself especially for foodies like me. From award winning restaurants, pubs, bakeries, there’s a lot on offer for all kinds of palates.
Our plan was to enjoy a relaxing weekend, soaking in the charming country vibes and exploring good local food so it was just Trentham on our itinerary.
Stay:
The accommodation we chose for this trip was the Wombat Forest Country Retreat, a guest suite in Trentham East.
It was perfect for our small family and the hosts, Sibastian and David were very hospitable. A beautiful home with all amenities and a stone’s throw away from the town centre.
The house is situated on eight acres of land and is also home to Sibastian’s herb, vegetable market garden and mushroom cultivation.
The hosts were very kind to take us on a farm tour and we had a wonderful time exploring, holding the chooks and getting an insight into growing mushrooms. And we also bought back a big box of seasonal herbs, veggies, eggs and assorted gourmet mushrooms.
Trentham Falls:
Part of the Aboriginal cultural landscape in the traditional country of the Dja Dja Wurrung Peoples, Trentham falls is the highest single drop of any waterfall in Central Victoria.
It’s a spectacular waterfall and a very popular destination in winter and spring, when the falls show their true power and presence. Unfortunately we visited during peak summer when there was hardly any rains, so couldn’t experience the grandeur of the falls.
Trentham Historic Railway Station:
A must visit when you are in Trentham – this railway station was once a stop along the Daylesford to Carlsruhe rail line.
Opened in 1880 and closed in 1978, today the station might be closed but the memories are kept alive by the magnanimity of numerous volunteers.
Stepping into this station is like stepping back in time. There are a few restored train carriages and memorabilia but most of the tracks are now overgrown. But this allows you to explore the station at leisure and it is a place to visit if you have young children.
While travelling in trains was a big part of my younger years, Adi hardly knew anything about rail travel except for the modern ones. So we enjoyed the walk around the station, conversations about our childhoods, climbing on carriages and basically having fun.
Domino Rail Trail:
The Domino Rail Trail starts or ends (depending on your starting point) at the old Trentham station; it’s a six km stretch of old railway line that connects to the old Lyonville station. This trail walk can be planned either as a one way trip or return trip depending on your choice.
Since we were short on time, we decided to walk only half the distance from the old Trentham station towards Lyonville. Now that is also an option if you are pressed for time; the walk is still an enjoyable one.
Walk west out of the train station along the tracks, the old sleepers are still visible under your feet. This line will bring you to a main road which needs to be crossed to get to the trail on the other side. The path will lead you on to an area with fir trees and then into the native forest.
We did not walk the entire trail, so I am not the best person to explain the experience. But here’s some useful information if you are planning on this journey.
Trentham has been emerging as a food and wine destination in the recent times. There are so many amazing restaurants, pubs and cafes to explore in the region. Since we were there for only a weekend, there’s just two that we tried out. And both the places are iconic institutions and local favourites.
Pig and Whistle Hotel
An iconic country pub, stepping into Pig and Whistle was experiencing Trentham’s heritage and community spirit first hand.
The charming country vibes of this place is not just in the architecture but also the friendliness and service from the staff. This place is clearly a local favourite and just five minutes was enough to witness the close community spirit of this beautiful town.
The beer garden is a popular hangout space but we opted for the dining room adjoining the pub. Since we were there only for a light meal, ordered the Salumi board (cold cut meats, local cheese, beetroot relish, pickles and bread) and Bourbon glazed sticky pork ribs. The ribs were outstanding; juicy, fall of the bone delicious and served with equally delicious mash, onion rings and coleslaw.
Trentham Farmers’ Market
The Trentham farmers’ market is held on the third Sunday of every month. It’s a small market but you can find a good selection of local food growers and producers. Apart from fresh produce, there’s also a good range of local wines, spirits, baked goods, fresh flowers etc….
I love shopping at farmer’s markets…..you get amazing produce at affordable prices straight from the producers. It’s also a place to discover small businesses or products that often don’t make their way into the supermarkets.
So, as always, I did a bit of shopping here too. And one that I would recommend is Barfold Olives, especially the chilli infused olives.
Red Beard Bakery
Talk of Trentham and you have to talk about Red Beard bakery!
Established in 1891, this is an iconic institution that has stood the test of time. In fact, the wood fired, Scotch oven (that is in use even today) has a historic tale to tell of centuries of baking sourdough loaves.
Walking into Red beard, you will get a glimpse of the Scotch oven; there are group tours and sour dough making workshops that you could sign up for. Since we didn’t plan it ahead, we were here for a brief period purchasing some loaves and baked goods to bring back home.
There is also a café attached to the bakery that is perfect for a relaxed brunch or a quick bite…either way, deliciousness is promised.
The Cosmopolitan Hotel
One of the highlights of our trip to Trentham was the ‘wine and dine’ experience at The Cosmo.
This is another iconic institution that has stood the test of time!
Built in 1866, The Cosmopolitan situated in the heart of Trentham, oozes old world charm. It’s your quintessential small town Aussie pub that has witnessed generations pass by. A tragic fire ravaged this iconic institution in 2005 but the bold vision of the new owners, re-instated the hotel to it’s former glory in 2012.
Stepping into The Cosmo today is like stepping into history, While it has retained the old world charm, the beautiful gardens, wine room and dining spaces are the perfect example of old meets new.
The food’s great and there is something on the menu for everyone, which is really great especially when visiting with family and kids.
The Cosmo is also the place for serious wine lovers…there’s an excellent selection of local wines to try out and purchase. There is a great selection to taste and purchase; the staff are very knowledgeable and can really guide to some delicious drops.
Make sure you ask for a tasting in the newly renovated wine room and do check out the cellar store to bring home some amazing Victorian wines.
The Cosmo also showcases local artists and you can find their work adorning the walls of the restaurant, an added bonus if you are an art lover or collector.
Wombat State Forest
Approximately 70,000 hectares in size, the Wombat State Forest is located between Woodend and Daylesford.
The forest is famous among the adventurers for its many walking, hiking, cycling and four wheel driving trails. Check out this article for more information about these trails.
In spite of not having a four wheel drive, we did get a bit adventurous and drove through a large part of the forest. Not something I would recommend because if the car breaks down, there’s no network or signals and it’s just acres of acres of forest space. So do your research, plan ahead and gets the trail maps before you go exploring.
So that pretty much sums up our rather short visit to Trentham. Have you visited this town before? What was your favourite thing to do or are there other hidden spots to explore?
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