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Rolling green hills, rows of ripening grapes on the vine, luscious fruits,
cheeses and wine tasting are what the Yarra Valley promises its visitors.
Around 1 hour from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is the ideal getaway region
for a weekend or a mid-week getaway.
The whole region is a gourmet's delight, with many festivals celebrating
food and wine, including the hugely popular Grape Grazing Festival. If
you wish to do your own thing, there are farm gate outlets to buy direct
and there are seasonal pick-your-own strawberries or cherries - and that's
before you even start on the world-renowned Yarra Valley wineries! With
more than thirty top quality eating places dotted throughout the Yarra
Valley, there's plenty of gourmet experiences to choose from.
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There are at least 23 wineries for you to visit and
sample their produce. They range from the large operations such as
Rochford with its summer music concerts, and Tarra Warra Estate with
its prestigious art galley, to the boutique wineries like Warramate
Wines near Healesville and Ainsworth Estate in Seville. Of the newer
producers, Rob Dolan's "sticks" label was first released
in 2001. If you're a history buff, you won't want to miss Yering Station-Yarrabank
winery near Yarra Glen, an historic winery which claims to be Victoria's
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For a taste of pioneer history, visit Gulf Station,
an early Yarra Valley farm managed by the National Trust. Lovers
of Australian animals will want to pack a picnic and drop into the
famous Healesville Sanctuary to catch up with some native Australians
of the furred, feathered and finned variety. Whatever your interests,
the Yarra Valley is sure to have something for everyone, including
the very best in Bed and Breakfast properties!
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Healesville
Healesville is renowned throughout the world for the famous Healesville
Sanctuary, where visitors can come face to face with Australian fauna
in their natural habitats. Platypuses, snakes and furry friends are among
the wide variety of animals that make Healesville Sanctuary their home.
One a pleasant day it's a great spot for a picnic, although there are
plenty of picnic shelters for use in damp weather. Opposite the sanctuary
is Galeena Beek Living Cultural Centre, where you can experience the cultural
heritage of indigenous Australians. Another place of interest is the Coranderrk
Aboriginal Cemetery off Picaninny Road via the Maroondah Highway.
The area around Healesville has plenty of pleasant picnic spots, including
the Maroondah Reservoir Reserve, which has barbecues and access to bush
walks along Badger Creek.
Visitors of a literary mind should visit "Arden", to see the
Singing Gardens of C.J. Dennis, which are located near Toolangi. Superb
Devonshire teas and light lunches can be enjoyed in a pavilion that is
surrounded by two hectares of magnificent gardens. C.J. Dennis lived here
from 1915 until his death in 1935, and it was here that he wrote The Sentimental
Bloke.
The town of Healesville itself is a haven for lovers of art, crafts and
cafes, making it a delightful place to while away a leisurely day. For
on the spot information, try the Yarra Valley Visitor Information Centre
at the historic Old Courthouse in Harker Street.
The racecourse is the site of the Healesville Racecourse Harvest and
Craft Market. The monthly Sunday market (commencing August 2, 2009)
has hundreds of stalls.
Narbethong
Enjoying a picturesque location in the valleys beyond the Black
Spur, Narbethong is a great place to enjoy the natural bush scenery.
For a pleasant day out, meander along the tourist route of Acheron
Way, which snakes its way through mountain ash forests and manna
gums. The road ends at Warburton, an attractive town founded
in 1864 when gold was discovered in the area. Drop into one of the
delightful cafés for lunch or coffee, before stretching your
legs along part of the Upper Yarra walking track, which starts just
out of Warburton. On the way back to Narbethong, take in the spectacular
views from Mount Donna Buang. To give the children their first taste
of snow, Mt Donna Buang is the perfect place, with tobogganing tracks
and snow activities in the winter months. In the summer, it's an
ideal place for bushwalking. Don't miss the Mantirri Blueberry Farm,
Winery & Cafe, where you can pick your own fruit from January
to March. It's so popular it's advisable to make a U-pick booking
2 weeks ahead. You can also buy berry jams, frozen fruit, plants,
wines and other goodies all year round.
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Taggerty
Sitting close to the Cathedral Ranges, between Marysville and Alexandra,
Taggerty is a great spot for anyone who enjoys a little bushwalking. If
a spot of fishing appeals, Buxton Trout Farm is the place to go for fresh
and smoked rainbow trout and salmon. Catch your own, or buy it ready-caught!
For info on Marysville visit www.marysvilletourism.com
Yarra Glen
Yarra Glen is an ideal base for a wine tour of the Yarra Valley,
as several wineries are within a few kilometres of the town. For
visitors with an interest in history, the historic pioneer farm
of Gulf Station is a "must see" and is found on the edge
of the town. Established in the 1850s, the old homestead is made
of local gum and stringybark, and is open to visitors, as are the
original farmhouse buildings. Today it is managed by the National
Trust and is surrounded by a delightful cottage garden. Yarra Glen
features several antique shops, and has many excellent places for
fine eating. For an elegant meal beside a roaring fire, the historic
Grand Hotel is the place.
For more casual eating, the Yarra Glen Cafe and Store is a popular
spot for breakfast, lunch or coffee & cake. The pretty Yarra
Glen racecourse is home to picnic race meetings, and when the horses
are not running, it hosts the Yarra Valley expo in May, with gourmet
food and wine, jazz, woodchopping, sheepdogs and much more
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Just out of Yarra Glen are wineries galore, including De Bortoli,
Yering Station and Chateau Yering. Many of the wineries have restaurants
attached, featuring gourmet treats that simply must be washed down
by the local product! A great day is assured when you decide to
visit the region's wineries.
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Here are some links to Yarra Valley Wineries with Cellar
Doors:
Ainsworth
Estate
Five Oaks
Sticks
Badgers Brook
Yering Farm
Oakridge Estate
Outlook Hill
TarraWarra Estate
Warramate
Written by Julie Houghton
Photos by Cherryl Houben
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