Victorian High Country – A weekend in Mansfield.
Victorian High Country – A weekend in Mansfield.
Victoria’s high country is filled with many adventures, and has something to offer all year ’round. This year we decided to visit in Autumn – and we highly recommend it.
It was Easter weekend and Melbourne had just come out of our 413th lockdown, so the small town was bustling, but Mansfield welcomed us with open arms and breath-taking views.
We stayed at Mansfield Apartments where the rooms were immaculate and the service was equally spot on. We had several apartments next to each other, as we went with family, and they were all spacious and well equipped. Our 2 bedroom apartment had a queen bed in one room, another queen and a single is the second room and a fold out sofa bed. We had 2 TVs, a dining table, kitchenette and bathroom. The only downside we could find was the lack of a dishwasher (call me a princess). The apartments are located just off the main street and conveniently behind George & Al Roy, a café by day and burger shop by night. Fair to say they were our go to for morning coffee and dinners. We were walking distance to a Kmart, IGA and even the botanical gardens.
Here is how we filled our weekend in beautiful Mansfield;
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Mansfield Hotel
Mansfield Mini Golf
1. Mansfield Zoo
Located about 10 minutes outside of town, we decided to stop in before we checked in to our accommodation. They are open 10am – 6pm daily (except Christmas) and entry is $20 for adults and $12 for kids (3-17).
Buy a bucket of animal feed ($2.50 for a small and $15 for a large) and the kids can feed most of the animals. There are a large range of animals to see, from Meerkats to Llamas and Monkeys to Camels. The highlights for us were the up closer encounter during the lion feeding and the dozens of friendly roaming deer and kangaroo.
There isn’t as much walking as the larger zoos, but its definitely big enough and means we could cover it at a cruisy pace.
Bring your own picnic lunch as there is no human food available to purchase. There is a large open space with picnic benches, as well as a shaded gazebo for gatherings. Plenty of space for the kids to run around and even some brave deer that will sit and let the kids pat them.
Toilets and parking are on site. We managed to take the pram through, however there were definitely some rough patches.
2. High Country Gardens, Maze & Gallery
Spend the morning wondering through perfectly manicured gardens, looking for hidden gnomes or appreciating beautiful artwork. The kids are given a scavenger hunt to locate more than a dozen hidden gnomes in the maze – which is one of the biggest we have been to. We don’t recommend letting younger kids get too lost in them. Once you’ve made it out of the central maze, explore the artwork spread across the gardens or play a game of giant chess.
There is a cafe on site selling light lunches, treats and drinks. Locate just next to the cafe is a small studio home to Tony Pridham and his amazing artwork. Specialising in classic realism & hyperrealism of the natural world, these pieces are stunning. Most of the time Tony will be creating a master piece for you to witness live. The gardens are a great spot to spend the afternoon.
3. Mansfield Hotel
All the walking around and exploring will work up an appetite, and the Mansfield Hotel is a few minutes drive, back in to town. The hotel will get busy during peak season, so we recommend an early lunch (or dinner) to beat the crowd – and book ahead. Out the back they’ve got a huge courtyard, shaded from the weather and seats plenty. The best part was the little playground in the back corner. Order your food early, then grab a drink and sit in the sun while the kids have a play. The small playground is enough to keep the little tots occupied until the kids meals come out. They also have some great seasonal cocktails and plenty of options on the menu. If you aren’t done walking for the day – you could also head down the road to the botanic gardens. There is a great little playground and toilet blocks there too.
4. Mansfield Mini Golf
Our final morning we grabbed coffee and had a stroll along the main street. The Mansfield Bakery is a must try – their fresh bread, pastries, pies and sandwiches are well known. It does get busy, but takeaway service moves fast. We then walked down to Mansfield Mini Golf, Coffee & Donuts for a round. The name says it all – this place is a one stop shop! All outdoors, shaded with shade clothes the mini golf course is great fun. The kiosk serves fresh, hot donuts, coffee and ice cream – the perfect combination for an easy Sunday morning.
5. Delatite Winery
It was mummas birthday on our final day, and so of course we had to visit one of the most gorgeous wineries in the area! Delatite is only an 11 minute drive from Mansfield town centre and is just stunning. A beautifully design cellar door with huge glass windows and an outdoor deck overlooking the High Country. We didn’t eat here, but did do a tasting and sat out on the deck while the kids ran around in the large open grassed area. It was definitely this mummas favourite in Mansfield.
6. Goughs Bay
Our final stop on the way home was a picnic afternoon tea overlooking the calm waters of Goughs Bay. The Goughs Bay Picnic areas has benches, a play ground and public toilets, so it was the ideal stopover before the drive home. You won’t be able to swim here as it is above a rocky shore line. We purchased goodies from Mansfield and laid out a picnic, enjoying the quiet little corner of Lake Eildon.
Thank you for sharing our journey with us. We hope to inspire you for your next adventure to Mansfield, tag us on Facebook or Instagram if you do end up visiting any of the above – we’d love to see. Please feel free to reach out to us on socials (@these_girls_andtheworld) with any questions.
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Happy adventures.
