The 38-acre regenerative farm, set amid rolling hills in the hamlet of Musk, seven kilometres from Daylesford, features an extensive and productive vegetable garden, a vineyard, established olive grove and an orchard of 350 heritage fruit trees. The European-style Lodge, complete with a cellar has been exquisitely decorated with custom-made furniture and offers luxurious accommodation for up to 12 guests.

The acquisition and transformation of Dairy Flat into a productive farm is a case of Culinary Director Alla Wolf-Tasker AM practicing what she has preached for decades. “Having our own productive farm has been a long-held dream for me and the team at Lake House. It means that the vast majority of produce we serve now comes entirely from the local area. It’s also the next step for us and the Lake House family to close the loop on the immersive food-focused experience for all our guests”.

Dairy Flat Farm currently supplements what existing suppliers are unable to provide to Lake House, as well as allowing Alla, the Lake House chefs, and the Farm’s gardeners to experiment with growing rare and interesting vegetables, fruit, and herbs.

One of Dairy Flat Farm’s most exciting features is the bake house that has been created within an existing semi-underground cellar space accessed via a tunnel beneath the Lodge, and which is operated in collaboration with Michael James, formerly of Melbourne’s renowned Tivoli Road Bakery.

There are restaurants, and then there’s Lake House. With almost every national gastronomy award under its belt, this culinary destination is the icon that others look to for inspiration.

Celebrated for its championing of great Australian produce and its bespoke approach to hospitality on lake Daylesford in country Victoria. This ongoing success is due to the ingenuity of the Wolf-Tasker family. Culinary Director Alla and husband Allan (himself a renowned artist) purchased a bare paddock in Daylesford in 1979; a village certainly not known for its culinary pursuits. Dreaming of productive gardens, notable cellar, peerless local produce and menus that provided a real sense of place, they spent years clearing, building and planting, working to make their dream come true, opening in 1984.

More than three decades on, and since joined by daughter Larissa, her husband Robin and a tribe of industry professionals; the Wolf-Tasker’s evolved Lake House to include one of Australia’s most noted country hotels (Australia’s Best Regional Property). Fresh, modern interiors ensue a luxe country house vibe. Guests indulge at the day spa or by the infinity pool, amongst acres of established country gardens, and often partake in the Cooking School. Whilst these alone make it a drawcard for global travellers; the beating heart of the property remains the 2 Chef Hat restaurant.

A Lake House experience more often that not begins with ‘apertivo’ in The Argyle Library or on The Lagoon Deck at sunset. A signature Negroni, Elderberry Spritz or local Vermouth amongst the top picks.

Long before it became a marketing mantra; Alla’s vision was to create a sense of place for diners which meant sourcing seasonal, local ingredients where possible. “As a cook and gardener, I love the anticipation of seasonal windfalls,” Alla has said. “It fuels the imagination like nothing else. The aroma of those first quinces, the earthiness of freshly foraged wild mushrooms, the first white asparagus – how can one fail to be inspired?”.

Dairy Flat is located in the hamlet of Musk within Daylesford & the Macedon Ranges only 80 minutes from Melbourne. It is a place of breathtaking scenery. Fertile agricultural land is home to many acclaimed artisan food and wine producers. The village of Daylesford itself is an eclectic mix of cafes, quaint stores, and galleries. Nearby villages of Kyneton, Trentham, and Woodend speak of similar interesting vibrant communities. Country roads in between are peppered with farm gates, cellar doors, and much more.

Known since the time of the First Nations Peoples as a place of healing, the region boasts the largest number of natural mineral water springs in Australia and the largest concentration of holistic therapists in the southern hemisphere. Whatever the latest in natural therapies, it is already here and probably being practiced by the very best. Nearby Leitches Creek Mineral Spring offers visitors to Dairy Flat the opportunity to taste the waters straight from the source.

Dairy Flat and Daylesford are surrounded by several thousand hectares of the Wombat state forest. Walking tracks through the forest alongside creek beds, lakes and waterfalls yield frequent encounters with an abundance of Australian animals including wallabies, wombats, and koalas. A walk along the old train lines, through the forest or down country lanes is beautiful.