Fertile volcanic soil, distinct seasons and ample rainfall create prime growing conditions, and farmers’ markets are where to go to try the latest produce to be harvested. Markets are on every weekend, aside from the fifth Saturday of the month. Ethical, biodynamic and organic farms abound in the region and it’s a hotspot for truffles.

Artisan farms have flourished in the region, producing everything from specialty cheeses to olive oil, cured meats and hand-crafted jams, sauces and dressings. Find them in local providores or plan your route through the region using the Tasty Little Touring Map.

The cool-climate region produces a wide range of small-quantity wines with a balance of alcohol, acidity and fruit that make them pair wonderfully with food. There are 40 vineyards, many of them with cellar doors, but if beer is more your thing, try the local boutique beers at Holgate Brewhouse in Woodend.

Genuinely good bread can be hard to find, but not around here. Lancefield Bakery and the Red Beard Historic Bakery make their sourdough bread in wood-fired Scotch ovens more than a hundred years old, and the pies at The Malmsbury Bakery are legendary.

With so much fresh produce on their doorstep, little wonder the restaurants and cafes in and around the villages of the Macedon Ranges have such a scrumptious reputation. Don’t miss Source Dining and Colenso in Kyneton or Village Larder in Woodend.