Riddells Creek

It may be one of the villages closest to Melbourne, but the little hamlet of Riddells creek offers skies, historic architecture and the relaxed country attitude city folk only dream of.

Gone are the rocky granite outcrops of other parts of the Macedon Ranges as Mount Macedon descends in long ridges and valleys to the foot of the Riddells Creek township and the land opens up into beautiful livestock grazing country.

Have a picnic lunch in the Lions Park Reserve in the centre of town, or sit down at a local restaurant to take a load off your feet. Featuring a shady parkland with a playground and BBQ facilities, the reserve is bordered by a quaint timber Catholic Church, sports fields and the grand timber Mechanics Institute built in 1875.

For the kids, Dromkeen Homestead would have to be the highlight of the Macedon Ranges. This graceful National Trust classified 19th century homestead set in established gardens, houses the Australian Children’s Literature Collection. Dromkeen boasts the most complete collection of original artwork, manuscripts and other pre-publication material from Australian children’s books.

Sun drenched galleries feature presentations of sketches, models and original books. Workshops are run with authors and experts alike. Dromkeen is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 9am, and from noon on Sunday.

Many quality local wineries can be easily accessed from Riddells Creek. James Halliday, in his latest Australian Wine Companion, gave the Amee Alyce Riesling of Riddells Creek Winery a merit of 5 ‘glasses’, while Mount Charlie and Longview provide untrammelled locations outside of the town.

On the road to Romsey, pass evocations of the indigenous occupants as you cross the Woiwurrung Creek and the Wurundjeri Creek.

Mount Charlie Road will bring you to the Mount Charlie State Forest which offers excellent bush walking and vehicle access to spectacular mountain hamlets of Kerrie and Cherokee.