Woodend is the gateway to the Macedon Ranges, a country town of old stone and weatherboard buildings, cool-climate gardens and excellent cafés, about an hour north-west of Melbourne. Its clock tower, a memorial to King Edward VII, stands at the main intersection, and the town has the slightly genteel air of a place where city people have long come to escape the summer heat.
The great attraction nearby is Hanging Rock, a volcanic formation of tumbled pinnacles rising out of the plain just north-east of town. It was made famous by the novel and film Picnic at Hanging Rock, and it remains a strange, atmospheric place with walking tracks up through the rocks. To the south, Mount Macedon rises higher, covered in forest and grand gardens, with the Memorial Cross on its summit.
The riding around here is excellent. The roads through the Macedon Ranges climb and wind through tall forest and open farmland, with tight bends on the mountain itself and faster sweepers on the country roads towards Kyneton, Lancefield and Daylesford. Surfaces vary from smooth to rough, and in winter the mountain can be frosty, foggy or even dusted with snow. Wildlife is common at dusk.
For food, Woodend is a strong choice, with bakeries, cafés and pubs along the main street serving everything from a quick pie to a long lunch. Fuel is available in town. The Calder Freeway runs past, making it easy to get here quickly from the city, but take the old roads out of town if you have time.