One day in Mt macedon

There is a famous Chinese poem:


停车坐爱枫林晚，霜叶红于二月花


Stopping in my sedan chair in the evening, I sit admiring the maple grove;
The frost-covered leaves are redder than the flowers of spring.




Chinese people has a kink for red maple,  because red maple can symbolize different things, resolution, friendship, remembrance of ex-lover, eternal love, etc.




Spending one day in Mt macedon is far from enough. We drove 1:30 hours from east of Melbourne, via Bendigo, to Mount Macedon,  then arrived Tieve Tara, a beautiful private garden, many of my fellows were already there, it was really very crowded for car parking.

Hanging Rock Reserve


Visitors from around the world come to Hanging Rock, made famous in the film, Picnic at Hanging Rock.


No visit to the Macedon Ranges is complete without visiting the hauntingly beautiful Hanging Rock.
Hanging Rock (real name Mount Diogenes) is a rare volcanic formation  over 6 million years old located near the townships of Woodend and Mount Macedon in Victoria, Australia.


Hanging Rock Reserve caters for a wide range of activities from the racecourse, ovals and tennis courts to wide expanses of lawns. There are coin operated barbeques and picnic areas provided for visitors’ use throughout the Reserve. Cook on one of the barbeques or spread your picnic lunch on one of the many tables provided, then enjoy your meal while you watch the activities going on around you; or take in the magnificent views of the Rock.


Made famous in Joan Lindsay’s novel, Picnic at Hanging Rock, and Peter Weir’s film of the same title, ‘The Rock’ is home to numerous events throughout the year and is an icon for visitors and locals alike. This is a horriable story in Hanging Rock,  I guess it is a fact,  a group private school students and teachers went to picnic, then some students mysteriously disappeared and be found losing memory, and one student died jumping from a school tower and the headmistress chose suicide.


HANGING ROCK DISCOVERY CENTRE
Visitors can discover the history, mystery and geology of the Rock and surrounding areas at the new Hanging Rock Discovery Centre. Discover how and when the Rocks were formed; learn about the Reserve’s native flora and fauna, and some of it’s history through a sequence of hands-on interpretive displays.


EXPLORING & WALKING

139 S Rock Rd, Newham VIC 3442  


There are numerous walking paths and trails which allow you to explore the Rock and the Reserve at your own pace.


If you follow the walking paths which ascend the Rock, you will pass by many of the interesting rock formations, including Stonehenge, McDonald’s Lookout and The Eagle. If you follow the path to the top of the Rock you will be rewarded with a magnificent panorama which extends across the district from Mt Macedon in the south to the Cobaw Ranges in the north.


HANGING ROCK RESERVE
South Rock Road
 Woodend Victoria [map]
 Australia 3442


Toll Free Telephone           –  1800 244 711
 Hanging Rock Picnic Cafe   –  03 5427 0295
 Ranger on Duty                 –  0418 373 032
OPEN DAILY (Except Christmas Day)
 MONDAY — SUNDAY 9.00 AM TO 5.00 PM
 SUMMER (DAYLIGHT SAVING) HOURS
 MONDAY — SUNDAY 9.00 AM TO 5.30 PM
 (Later if weather permitting.)
 Coaches and large groups are welcome but please book with Ranger prior to arrival.
ENTRY FEES
Reasonable entry fees are applicable as the Reserve receives no state or local government operational funding. For a single car, only $10.

There are some other attractions we did not go due to time restriction:

• Anti-Gravity Hill

Anti-Gravity Hill in Woodend is one of our best kept secrets and most unusual and baffling places,.
Standing near the bottom of a hill facing up hill, if you tip water onto the road it flows ‘up’ the hill not downhill as gravity would normally do.
Place a ball on the road and the same thing happens, it rolls up hill. If you are in a car, stop at the bottom of the hill, place the drive in neutral and it will slowly roll UP the hill.
Another writer describes it as.. magnetic pull | it’s a steep hill and cars appear to roll up the hill. If you run, it feels like you’re running downhill when you’re running up.

Anti-gravity hill is located Straws Ln, Woodend VIC 3442, not far from Hanging Rock

• Forest Glade Gardens

816 Mount Macedon Road,Mount Macedon
10.30am – 5pm Weekends and Public Holidays
Entry Fee: $8 per person
Children 12 and Under Free

• Camels Hump

The Camels Hump is the highest point in the Macedon Ranges, with a lookout offering visitors spectacular views.
This is one of three local rocky outcrops formed by volcanic action millions of years ago.
The Camels Hump is located near the start of Cameron Drive.
Several walking tracks depart from the Camels Hump car park, with the most scenic being the steep 500 metre path that ascends to the peak.
The viewing platform at the peak offers panoramic views to the north and west
Cameron Dr
Cameron Dr, Mount Macedon VIC 3441, Australia

• Memorial Cross

At the summit of Mount Macedon is the Memorial Cross which commemorates those who gave their lives in the 1914 – 1918 war.
macedon-cross1Erected on a vantage point with glorious views, the Cross is 21 metres in height and 1001 metres above sea level, the original structure was unveiled in 1935, but due to storm and fire damage, it was replaced in 1995.
After the Shrine of Remembrance, Mount Macedon Memorial Cross is considered to be the most significant war memorial in Victoria.
The view from the cross takes in the entire southern plain towards Port Philip Bay. It is a view that even locals return to, time and time again.
Located in Mount Macedon Memorial Cross Reserve
Top of the Range Cafe and Gallery
Enjoy a hearty seasonal meal and then take in the sights, wander along the tracks or spot some wildlife. Disabled access and facilities.
Travel 4km along Cameron Drive from the summit of Mount Macedon Road.
The Cross is 200m from the carpark.