Hanging out in style

AFTER spooking himself at Victoria's Hanging Rock, John Crook settles his nerves with the help of fine food, friendly locals and the charm of country life.

The good life ... a plethora of discoveries await visitors in the Macedon-Kyneton-Daylesford region, including superb food and scenery to die for / AAP

For the past three decades, I have been conned.

Travelling into central Victoria's Hanging Rock, the hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention.

It was here, so a book and the resultant movie would have it, where a group of young ladies disappeared, never to be found again.

There is indeed something scary about this rare volcanic plug of solvsbergite rock, even though there never was a picnic which ended in disaster.

Peter Weirs 1975 film adaptation from the book by Joan Lindsay still haunts me to this very day, however, a night spent in the upmarket Hanging Rock Winery Retreat, overlooking the hillock of rock provided a security blanket.

Even at sunset, when its shadows further added to the mystery, the pinot noir from the cellar door instantly became a great nerve settler.

A plethora of discoveries in this Macedon-Kyneton-Daylesford region await.

Magnificent gardens of the Mount Macedon mansions, restaurant menus with local produce, scenery to die for and some of Victoria's finest wines.

It's almost as if this tiny region is a world unto itself - certainly worthy of an escape for two or three days at least.

Start the journey in the historic township of Kyneton, the town which has a dogleg main street, alive with cafes, restaurants and coffee shops.

Cafe 101, almost hidden in Mollison Street, is as good a place to start as anywhere. Specialising in locally grown produce and great coffee, it's run by Rob Hardy, a thespian of yesteryear.

Thirty to forty minutes off the beaten track is Alan and Nelly Cooper's Cobaw Ridge Winery. Set midst a landscape of forest country and granite boulders, this is one of those super friendly rural estates.

In fact, that seems to be the common thread running through this region, where friendly folk reign supreme. It's quite catchy too.

Another interesting discovery is the number of professionals who have said farewell to city life to take up new careers.

Formerly the main man at Melbourne's Prince Alfred Hospital's orthopaedic unit, these days Barry Elliott is completely at home tending to the family's Chanters Ridge Winery.

Likewise Graham and Jenny Ellender have moved themselves and Graham's dental practice to one of the prettiest settings in the region, just a few kilometres out of picturesque Glenlyon.

The cellar door is on one slope, with the dentist's shingle on another. His label is Ellender Estate Winery.

There's more colour over at Daylesford, a magnet to those who enjoy being colourful.

Add talent with more than a dash of perseverance and most likely you will be drawn to Lake House and Alla Wolf-Tasker, regarded by many as Victoria's ultimate restaurant and restaurateur.

On another hill, at Woodend, Sandra Anderson chose to create her restaurant, Sequoia, so that her Melbourne friends would come and visit her. This they do, and not just because they are her friends, but there's something enticing about having a first class chef on the books.

One of the better known areas of this region is Hepburn Springs. Its popularity has a lot to do with the mineral waters which still flow freely.

From my bedroom window at the recently opened Saltus, it was easy to work out the pathway which led directly to a highly mineralised stream.

This village was once the drawcard for the wealthy. It went into hiatus for more than a few decades, but in this the 21st century it is taking on a new lease of life. Old guest houses which were threatened with the bulldozer have been thrown a lifeline.

Formerly known as the Grande Guesthouse it was saved in the nick of time by Leanne Brown and her partner.

Today its nameplate is The Grande Boutique Hotel with the building undergoing major restoration, as it is returned to its former glory.

Who said a couple of days would suffice. Rubbish! Set aside at least a week.