Discover the Kinglake Ranges. Delicious local produce, fine wines, stunning walks and waterfalls - and all only 50 minutes from Melbourne!
The Kinglake Ranges are situated a little more than 50kms north-east of Melbourne. The area is surrounded by some 22,000 hectares of national parkland. Kinglake National Park is the largest, and closest national park to Melbourne, making it an ideal spot for a day trip or a weekend getaway. With stunning waterfalls, an abundance of wildlife, secluded camping spots and plenty of walking tracks to explore, it’s a slice of nature with a sprinkle of serenity.
HIGHLIGHTS
BOLLYGUM ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND
Bollygum Park in Kinglake, is a magical playground based around the award winning children’s book Bollygum by Garry Fleming.This two and a half acre wonderland features a climbing wall, monkey bars, rope bridges, flying fox, wave slide, bird nest swings, dual metal slide and and an architecturally designed skate park, all set within gorgeous bushland.
WIRRAWILLA RAINFOREST WALK
The Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk in the Toolangi State Forest, takes in the sounds and scents of the rainforest. The environment is cool, damp and characterised by Myrtle Beech and Sassafras trees. The boardwalk circuit is approximately 2km in length, so a great one for families with little ones in tow. A grade 2 walk, it’s suitable for most ages and fitness levels. It’s even fur family friendly!
FRANK THOMSON RESERVE
Lady Stonehavens Lookout is located within the Frank Thomson Reserve, northwest of the Kinglake township. The reserve sits on a hill in Victoria and has an elevation of 630 metres, offering wonderful views of Melbourne’s skyline rising from the southern plains and the rolling hills of the Yarra Valley to the east.
EAT & DRINK
Kinglake Distillery
Kinglake Distillery set out to make a single malt that was discernibly different from other Australian whiskies, something where regardless of barrel ageing, the characteristic Kinglake spirit could be picked out in a blind line up.
The most important Kinglake variable that allows us to make a very distinctive spirit is our use of local Spring Water. Chyser Creek rises from a natural spring located on the distillery property. This water has the perfect iron and calcium characteristics for making whisky. It is used directly from the source, completely un-treated.
They are one of only a handful of distilleries using open ferments for their whisky wash. They are surrounded by towering Mountain Ash, Messmate and Peppermint gumtrees and the air in hot weather is pungent with eucalyptus pollens. The open ferments and open-door distilling allows all these natural pollens and yeasts to become part of the fermentation process.
The final piece of the jigsaw in translating these local features into a new-make spirit is their approach to distillation and the final cut runs deep into the tails or feints. This not only means that they harvest the maximum impact from the chocolate and peat in their four-grain mash-bill but that all the richness and depth from foibles of using unfiltered water and open fermentations are given a chance to shine.
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Kinglake Market
The Kinglake Market has a variety of stalls, a great scenic country location and something for all ages.
You will find fresh fruit and vegetables, chutneys, jams, relishes, soaps, candles, hot and cold food, both sweet and savoury, wines, crafts, a variety of handmade giftware, plants, quilts, cheese, meat, breads, great coffee and much more. Children’s activities vary every month.
They do all the research to ensure that only quality products are available for you.
Held at the Kinglake Community Centre, there are stalls indoor, under verandahs and outside. Ample parking is available at the Kinglake Football grounds, just across the road and the venue is close to Kinglake National Park, with its walks and waterfalls, Bollygum Children’s Park and only five minutes from the Kinglake Township with supermarket, bakery, cafes, pub and more. March and December dates may vary due to public holidays.
Visit the website for details.
STAY
Kinglake Forest Adventures Camp
Kinglake Forest Adventures Camp’s key difference is their ability to seamlessly blend wellbeing and personal development outcomes into age appropriate traditional camp experiences. Kinglake Forest Adventure deliver inspirational school camps that develop leadership, well being and resilience.
In a mountain forest setting only 60 minutes from Melbourne, Kinglake Forest Adventures Camp can accommodate up to 120 guests in 23 cabin rooms, all with toilet and showers. There is a main leadership centre containing 37 beds plus three large tipis for up to 39 guests.
A full catering service can be provided, as well as self catering kitchen facilities for guest use if required.
The dining room has full audio visual equipment, sky chairs and bean bags. Other indoor spaces include a leader’s retreat, training room and meeting room. All rooms are heated and cooled.
Other facilities include a treetops course, zip line course, challenge ropes, leap of faith, in-ground pool, volleyball, mountain bike tracks, a licensed wallaby enclosure and the new soft adventure park.
For a relaxed and rustic forest wedding venue quite close to Melbourne, there are few that compare.