Kick off the morning with a one hour horse-drawn vintage carriage ride through the historic hamlet of Carlsruhe.

Established in 1837, Carlsruhe is on the old Cobb & Co stage coach route to the Bendigo goldfields. On this ride you’ll pass historic landmarks including a pre-gold rush hotel, school, church and goldfields toll road markers.

You can choose to ride in an authentic 1890s ‘canoe front buggy wagonette’, or a larger wagonette with canopy that seats up to 6 average size adult passengers. Children will love the experience of having Patrick the Horse take them for a ride!

The tour runs any time an day of the week. On cooler days there are plenty of warm blankets to snuggle under, as well as a canopy on the large wagon with sides that can be lowered to make it even more cosy.

The village of Woodend is only 15 minutes from Carlsruhe. In addition to a fantastic children’s adventure playground with excellent undercover BBQ facilities, there are a couple of great pubs for lunch.

The Victoria Hotel has a cracker kiddies menu, a fireplace for cold days and a beer garden for sunny sessions.

Or try nearby Holgate Brewhouse, with sophisticated on-site distillery to brew their own boutique beers, classic pub fare and a popular beer garden.

With lunch under your belt, it’s time to get those legs moving.

Hanging Rock is only a ten minute drive from Woodend and is well-known for its amazing volcanic rock formations and views from the summit.

Depending on how energetic your kids are, you can choose to hike along wide sealed paths to the summit of the rock. If an uphill hike isn’t your cup of tea, there are numerous walking paths and trails weaving through the reserve.

The summit walk is approximately 50 minutes return and is reasonably easy for people of average fitness. May take longer with young children in tow! However, you don’t have to make it all the way to the summit to experience unique rock formations and beautiful scenery.

If you’re lucky, you might spot a koala, kangaroo, wallaby or echidna during your walk. There are over 40 species of birds nesting at the reserve too, including bright rosellas and cockatoos.

Afterwards, pop by the Hanging Rock Cafe for a coffee, baby chino and an afternoon tea snack before making your way home. The cafe boasts a roaring fireplace on chilly days and an al fresco dining area under the gum trees perfect for warmer months.

Note: There is an admission fee to enter Hanging Rock reserve. The reserve is open daily from 9-5pm (except Christmas Day). Incoming gate closes 30 minutes before closing time.

Access to Hanging Rock itself is not permitted on days where winds above 40km/h are forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology. The reserve and picnic areas are still open on these days, and the café hours will be unchanged. The reserve will not be open to the public if a Code Red Fire danger day is declared.