The Yarra Valley Melbourne

The Yarra Valley is blessed with some of the most gorgeous countryside in Victoria. Distant blue ranges, rolling hills strung with vines, towering trees, pristine rivers and green valleys make up the spectacular backdrop around townships such as Marysville and Warburton.

Walk or drive along scenic routes to stunning waterfalls and lookouts. The region is colourful and brilliant offering a perfect escape from the city.

The Yarra Valley is all about producing excellent wines and delicious food, and enjoying them amongst beautiful sceneries.

At just half an hour’s drive from Melbourne, many of Victoria’s best small wineries lie on the road to Healesville, Warburton and Yarra Glen. Pick up a brochure from one of the local visitor information centres and follow their advised winery tour or create your own journey.

The Yarra Valley is acknowledged as one of the world’s great wine growing regions. It is also the place where the Victorian wine industry was born in 1838 when a vineyard was planted at what is now Yering Station.

Today the Yarra Valley is home to over 55 wineries, most of which offer cellar door tasting and sales. It is Australia’s finest region for pinot noir and sparkling wines.

Many wineries are as serious about cuisine as they are about their harvest, matching the wine they make with local produce in restaurants located in picturesque vineyards. In fact, winery restaurants have succeeded in making a name for themselves in serious gourmet circles.

Take the Eastern Freeway to the Springvale Road exit, turn right onto Springvale Road and then left at Maroondah Highway.

Wine country starts in outer suburbia north of the Maroondah highway just before Lilydale (turn-offs are signposted). North of Lilydale, you can check out wineries (again, all signposted) along or near three routes:

• The Warburton Highway to the east
• The Maroondah Highway to Healesville
• The melba Highway heading north past Yarra Glen.

• Winery tour self drive: experience local produce and wines of the Yarra Valley region
• Healesville Sanctuary Wildlife Park: meet the Aussie wildlife. The sanctuary also provides care for injured and orphaned animals
• Marysville: browse around the art and crafts shops for locally made products or sample traditional sweets at the old style Lolly Shop
• Warburton: browse around the work of local woodworkers and craftspeople at the Yarra Valley Showcase or Brittania Creek Glass
• Maroondah Reservoir Loukoot
• Lake Mountain (1400m) near Marysville: very popular area for cross-country skiing and tobogganing.
• Steavensons Falls: one of the highest waterfalls in Victoria at 82m
• Lady Talbot Forest Drive: unsealed road through magnificent eucalyptus forest. Stop for a picnic lunch, a short rainforest walk, and to see waterfalls and panoramic views along the way
• Cathedral Range State Park
• Cumberland Memorial Scenic Reserve: check out Cora Lynn Falls and The Big Tree – the tallest living tree known in Victoria
• Myrtle beech rainforest: stroll to the Ada Tree - at over 300 years old this mountain ash is thought to be one of the largest known flowering trees in the world