A picturesque spot for a stroll or a picnic anytime of the year, Daylesford Lake was built in 1929 on a former gold-rush site. City worries fade away among the bright yellows, oranges and reds of the autumnal trees, and during winter mornings there’s an eerie fog above the lake’s surface. It’s a 30-minute walk around the perimeter. Start at Wombat Flat Mineral Spring, and follow the path across the Bleakley Street divide to continue around. There are jetties to pause at and barbeques for lunching.