News 48 Hours Around Jindivick
48 hours of markets, murals, gardens and country calm.
Surrounded by patchwork hills and leafy gullies, pocket-sized Jindivick offers a taste of authentic country life. Dip through idyllic countryside taking in markets, murals and gardens on this quintessential Sunday Drive.
On your way there
MELBOURNE - JINDIVICK
If you’re coming from Melbourne, drop south of the M1 to the C433 (Nar Nar Goon – Longwarry Rd) running alongside the train line and quaint railway towns. Wander the streetscapes to take in the murals of Nar Nar Goon, adorning cafes, butchers, antique shops and even the CFA.
Next, head to the village of Garfield. If you’re in need of refuelling, Little Miss Hangry is your cosy brunch go-to. This converted cottage is drenched in character. The dining rooms overlook an umbrella-clad courtyard with cottage garden, replete with marigold-filled window boxes.
Wander under the charming verandahs stretching over the footpath as you browse the main street. Ooh and ahh over Impodimo’s floor-to-ceiling displays of homewares, jewellery and gifts (we want one of everything...). Head to SOHL Store for stylish threads at the on-trend boutique clothing shop or hit Lulu’s Lollyshop for a nostalgic sugar rush.
Step through a wormhole into Lady Lavender's Tea Room (Bunyip), bursting with old world charm. The instantly-inviting tea room is heaving with antiques and classic china, overlooking the lavender-hued grounds. Delight in tiered stands of scrumptious baked goods, fluffy scones or homestyle pot pies. Be sure to check out the onsite gift shop and nursery.
Arriving in Jindivick
If you’re in need of a leg stretch, beautiful Nangara Reserve offers a forested oasis, dotted with sculptures and trails that weave around the scenic gully.
A visit to Laurie Collins Sculpture Garden and onsite Red Hill Gallery is a must. Wander around the tranquil garden, laced with surprising and delightful sculptures crafted from recycled metal. Laurie’s studio doors are usually open, bursting with retired bits and bobs, trinkets and gadgets, that are turned into a statement piece with artistic flair.
Just out of town is the dreamy Broughton Hall. The Garden at Broughton Hall is open each spring/ early summer. The garden looks like something that may have inspired a Monet painting, with twisty paths leading past impeccably maintained box hedges, climbing rose walls and roving peacocks. The vibrant flower beds are strewn with the occasional artichoke or fennel bulb. The onsite nursery, Musker’s, excels in rare and unusual plants, as well as many of the species on display in the garden.
In case you’ve got room for more gardens, it’s a relaxing wander through the landscaped grounds of the Jindivick Community Gardens.
The grounds are also the site of the Jindivick Country Market, held on the first Saturday of the month, six months of the year. Talented local producers and makers come together to upcycle, recycle, bake and grow.
On your way back
JINDIVICK – DROUIN - MELBOURNE
Indulge in a treatment at Brandy Creek Estate Day Spa for facials, massage, foot spas and even a Turkish Hammam. We recommend a package that includes tapas and wine from the onsite winery restaurant.
If your getaway happily coincides with the last Sunday of the month, head to the Bunyip Makers Market for craft goods, from crocheted baby clothes and cushions, to quilts and wooden toys.
Swing by Sherwood Park Orchard & Bakery Café. You can pick your own apples from the orchard (in season). The farmhouse café has freshly baked goodies, and shelves lined with juices, jams, sauces, eggs and crisp seasonal fruit from the orchard.
Published on under: Arts, Culture & Heritage