Whether you’re into fast paced adrenalin sports, sniffing out the best culinary fare or experiencing a gentler pace, Kinglake Victoria has every intrepid explorer covered. From fresh local produce, fine wines, forest walks, secluded camping spots, picnic spots, horse riding and mountain biking trails, and wildlife at every turn - and all only 50 minutes from Melbourne!
Situated on the majestic slopes of the Great Dividing Range, 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.
Highlights include Bollygum Park Adventure Playground, Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk, Masons Falls and Frank Thomson Reserve.
Kinglake, Victoria: a slice of nature with a sprinkle of serenity.
HIGHLIGHTS
BOLLYGUM ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND
Step into a storybook setting full of wonder, awe and enchantment at Bollygum Park, Kinglake. This two-and-a-half-acre wonderland, based around the award-winning children’s book ‘Bollygum’ by Garry Fleming, features a climbing wall, monkey bars, rope bridges, flying fox, wave slide, bird nest swings, dual metal slide and an architecturally designed skate park, all set within natural bushland.
WIRRAWILLA RAINFOREST WALK
Unleash your inner Tinkerbell and feel right at home here within the fern gullies and sassafras trees in the Toolangi State Forest. This enchanting walking trail takes in the sounds and scents of the cool, temperate rain forests, providing a magical experience for the young at heart. The boardwalk circuit is a gentle easy walk (approximately 2km in length), so a great one for families with little ones in tow, including the four-legged variety. Just beware of those rowdy goblins!
FRANK THOMSON RESERVE
Lady Stonehavens Lookout is located within the Frank Thomson Reserve, and boasts an elevation of 630 metres, offering spectacular 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
Cheeky Fox Retreat
Cheeky Fox Retreat is a place for wellbeing retreats and group getaways for up to 12 people in the Kinglake Ranges.
Nestled on 50 private acres in the beautiful Kinglake Ranges, just over an hour from Melbourne, Cheeky Fox Retreat offers a tranquil escape from the bustling city for groups and retreats of all kinds for up to 12 people.
As a retreat venue, the stunning mountain views and peaceful farm setting make it perfect for hosting yoga, meditation, and wellbeing retreats, and is an inspiring location for business planning and professional development workshops. Your hosts would be delighted to help you create your perfect retreat – be it just for the day, a weekend or even longer. Contact them for an information pack or to arrange a site visit so you can see if Cheeky Fox Retreat is right for your next retreat.
Cheeky Fox Retreat is also a beautiful place to gather with friends and family, to celebrate a milestone occasion or a girl’s weekend away. Whether you want to lounge by the private pool, curl up with a book in the library, enjoy a movie night in the private cinema, cook up gourmet meals in the well-equipped kitchen, or have our private chef do the cooking for you, Cheeky Fox Retreat has everything you need for a stress-free getaway.