Summer fun in the Shire

WITH the season of summer well underway, there is plenty of fun to be had in the Golden Plains Shire to escape the heat.

Here are some recommendations for places to visit and things to see this January.

Cool off at the park

Despite the Golden Plains Shire’s lack of beach, people can still cool off and have fun at the Bannockburn Heart.

The area has a water play splash pad, adventure play equipment, barbeques, public toilets, seating and shaded areas.

The site on the corner of Milton and Byron streets will be open from morning to evening throughout summer and has accessible play features.

Try some local wine

Visit Lethbridge Wines and spend the day taste testing a range of locally produced textural and savory wines.

The cellar door, located at 74 Burrows Road Lethbridge, is open daily from 11am until 5pm.

On Friday 26 January they will also be hosting their annual Chardonnay tasting event with tickets available for purchase on the Lethbridge Wines website.

Founders Maree Collis and Ray Nadeson hold PhDs in chemistry and medicine respectively and with their friend Adrian Thomas they decided to open Lethbridge Wines in 1996.

“We’re open for wine tastings and we have a really nice outdoor area where people can enjoy a glass of wine or a cheese and charcuterie platter,” said Ms Collis.

“Lethbridge as a brand is represented in some of the best restaurant in the world including three start Michelin restaurants in London and Singapore.

“However, we really love the interaction with local customers and those who’ve seen us grow.”

Take a ride on the Trail

Cycle, ride or walk through the scenic towns of Smythesdale, Scarsdale, and Linton on the Ballarat to Skipton Rail Trail.

The area, which was previously a train route, was opened in 2008 following major works to the stretch of land.

The trail is 53 kilometres long and there are a range of public access points along the path for users to start or finish their trip.

Eat some comfort food

Thru the Gate Café located on Brooke Street at Smythesdale, will be serving up comfort food from Wednesday to Sunday all summer long.

The eatery is best known for its sausage rolls, Devonshire Tea, homemade cakes and locally roasted coffee.

“We do really simple fair and have a community library so people can come and get a book or drop something off,” said owner Deborah Lewis.

“We also try to support local artists as much as we can.”

The menu changes seasonally with a focus on using local ingredients and there is also local art and produce for sale.

“We’re a small community and it helps everybody if we support local,” said Ms Lewis.

Visit a National Park

There are a range of bushwalking, camping, and picnicking options available at the Brisbane Ranges National Park.

Located in an area surrounding and north of Stiglitz, there is a series of walking tracks which take between one and a half hours and three days to cover.

The area is home to more than 600 native plant species including the rare Brisbane Ranges Grevillea and Velvet Daisy Bush.

Australian wildlife can also be spotted such as kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, possums and gliders.