THINGS TO SEE & DO

Downstairs in our Hotel you will find two booklets of the latest brochures and information. Please talk to us about anything that interests you. The following information is merely to whet your appetite for your stay in Castlemaine. The historic Castlemaine Market Building in central Mostyn Street is our Visitor Information Centre and contains a changing art exhibition plus is information-packed with the latest news and details of what’s on in Castlemaine, nearby towns and further afield. It has many detailed walks and tours that can be taken using Castlemaine as your base.

A tiny bit further afield in town, you can walk, ride or drive to Buda Historic Home and Garden, Castlemaine Art Museum, the Theatre Royal, Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park, and many walks exploring the ancient and more recent landscape and its beautiful flora and fauna.

CREATIVE ARTS IN THE REGION

The region has forged a strong reputation in the arts. The wealth of the gold rush days set the pace and inspired a wave of refined artistic pursuits … instrument makers, musicians, craftspeople and artists have shaped the area’s creative identity and continue to this day.

This abundance of art is a boon for visitors; there’s not only one of Victoria’s most prestigious regional galleries, Castlemaine Art Museum, but also many artists’ studios in Castlemaine, Maldon and Newstead that are often open to the public. Cascade and Edge Galleries in Maldon and Falkner Gallery in Castlemaine are highlights!

HISTORY AND HERITAGE

Enjoy recent experiences against a rich historical backdrop of grand gold rush architecture, heritage buildings, wide streets, and verdant European gardens. The days of the gold rush have indelibly shaped the region and provided a background of authenticity and character waiting to be discovered.

Wander the busy streets of Maldon – Australia’s first National Trust listed ‘Notable Town’.  The well preserved main street oozes charm with stories of the golden era alive and well in restored historic buildings that now house accommodation and produce arts and crafts. For a fascinating history lesson, take a stroll through the Mount Alexander Diggings National Heritage Park to view the relics and remains of our gold mining past. In these gullies, thousands of miners yielded their fortunes and misfortunes.

Be sure to explore the nearby towns of Guildford, Chewton and Newstead, each with its rich history and hidden gems that the locals will be all too proud to share with you.

OUTDOORS AND NATURE

Spectacular regional and national parks attract walking, cycling, fishing and outdoor enthusiasts across the seasons. Immerse yourself in stunning landscapes, abundant wildlife, dazzling wildflowers, momentous relics of the past and the numinous sense of the outdoors in all its wonder.

Don’t miss regional Victoria’s world-class mountain bike park at La Larr Ba Gauwa Park in Harcourt, while The Goldfields Track is a highlight not to be missed. Fern gullies, rolling pastoral country, thick woodlands, dramatic granite boulders, open forests, and flora reserves, the track takes in an ever-changing natural landscape.

EXPLORE THE REGION

The Northern Arts Hotel is an excellent base to explore the many riches of the central Victoria region, whether it be Maldon, Harcourt, Newstead or even. Bendigo, Kyneton and Ballarat.