Where:

Victoria, Australia

110 km from Melbourne along the Hume and Northern Hwys, 45 km form Bendigo.

Last Visited:

July 2006

Why Go:

This small rural township, population approximately 1500, is a good base for bush walking and for us to explore some family history.

Highlights:

• bush walking - there is a great walk through the bush to the top of Mt Ida in part of the Heathcote-Greytown National Park, 6 km north of town. Around this are Box-Ironbark forests. Also, adjacent to the town is viewing rock, which you can either hike up or drive along a dirt road for a view of the town.
• Pink Cliffs - an unusual and interesting colourful rock formation caused by early gold mining activities. The locals call it their mini Grand Canyon.
• galleries - Mona Lisa Galley in an old converted church plus others around town.
• wineries - there are some nearby small wineries in the region

Lowlights:

• cold weather in winter
• Powder Magazine - an English style masonary brick building used in the 1860s for gun powder storage diuring the gold rush times. It is not very interesting to see, mainly as there was no on-site information, and it is roped off so you cannot see inside.

Eating & Drinking:

• the bakery is very popular
• There are a couple of old hotels on the main street that would be great for a quiet ale.
• There is an annual food and wine festival held in October

Other things you should know about:

• Heathcote is reputed to have the longest main street in the southern hemisphere. It certainly is long, but otherwise not that interesting. Nearly everything of interest is along this strip.
• A bush market is held on the 1st Saturday of every month.
• Nearby towns are redesdale, Greytown, Kyneton, and Nagambie.

More information:

• see also photos from around Heathcote

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