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Clunes, VIC

Clunes, one of the most original and intact gold towns in Australia, is nestled in a scenic valley 25 minutes north of Ballarat.

clunes

The discovery of gold in the area in 1851 signalled the beginning of the gold rush in Victoria, and in its heyday Clunes was the fifth largest town in the colony.

Today, Clunes is an attractive centre for artists, authors, historians and photographers. It’s known for an intriguing range of accommodation, cafés, shops, galleries, wineries and old stores offering antiques and collectibles.

Take a walking tour and discover the charming architecture and history of the town. Among the many historical buildings are the 1860s Clunes Museum, the former London Chartered Bank (1871), the grand Town Hall and the former Post Office.

The Clunes Visitor Information Centre, housed in a school dating back to 1881, incorporates the Lee Medlyn Bottle Collection, a collection of more than 3,000 dolls, a display of local mining artefacts, an antique market and a working display of an 1860s soft drink factory.

Clunes has been used as a location for many films, television series and commercials. See if you can figure out where Ned Kelly (2002) and Mad Max were filmed.

Head out of town to Mt Beckworth State Park, a lovely spot year-round for bird watching, bushwalking and picnicking, and particularly beautiful in spring when the wildflowers are out.

Clunes is 148 kilometres north-west of Melbourne or about 90 minutes by car along the Western Freeway.

Where to stay?

About Clunes

  • Locality: Urban locality
  • Clunes Postcode: 3370
  • State: Victoria
  • Region: Daylesford & the Macedon Ranges
  • Latitude: -37.29394
  • Longitude: 143.78734
  • Elevation: 306m
  • Population: 1728
  • Median Income: $23348
  • Area (Sq/km): 150.6
  • Timezone: Australia/Melbourne

Accommodation In Clunes

Discover some of the accommodation in and around Clunes

Explore The Outback

Australia has a vast remote interior, much of it largely untouched. By night, the outback is deathly quiet, with the only light provided by the stars and the moon - a perfect oportunity for stargazing. Explore the isolated heart of the country, meet and connect with Aboriginal people and experience one of the oldest living cultures in the world. Go ‘walk-about’ and immerse yourself with Australia’s endless outback horizons.

Outback Experiences

Luxe Accommodation

Enjoy a distinctly Australian luxury experience, such as the unforgettable reefs, islands, beaches and coast; rugged mountain ranges, rainforests and vast national parks; and the many vibrant food and wine regions. Take a once in a lifetime adventure and discover the sheer indulgence of experiencing the wonders of Australia in style and stay in total luxury.

Australia has wide variety of accommodation options to suit most budgets and travelling preferences. Choose from luxury lodges, boutique hotels, serviced apartments, motels, bed and breakfasts, caravan parks as well as youth and backpacker hostels.

Accommodation

Glasshouse Mountains

The Glasshouse Mountains in the hinterland of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast are actually the cores of 20 million year old volcanoes. The sides of the volcanoes have eroded away leaving only the hardened rock spiremountain cores we see today. Learn more about this awe-inspiring landscape.

Glasshouse Mountains