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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 90 minutes 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 or wine. Raspberry lovers can enjoy the Kinglake Raspberry Fair in
January, while May brings the Kellybrook Cider Festival and the hugely
popular Grape Grazing Festival. November sees the Victoria Strawberry
Festival in Seville and the Country Harvest Festival at the Warratina
Lavender Farm. Round off the epicure year with the Victorian Cherry Festival
held at Wandin in December. If you wish to do your own thing, you can
explore the Yarra Valley Regional Food Trail. This takes you through 14
"farm gate taste and buy" experiences and 11 places where you
pick your own produce - 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's Eyton 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 first vineyard. |
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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.
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 the Wild Thyme
café for lunch or coffee, before stretching your legs along
part of the Upper Yarra walking track, which starts just out of
Warburton. You can pick up some gourmet goodies from Riverside Food
Products, which is at East Warburton. It also has diabetic, kosher
and organic foods. On the way back to Narbethong, take in the spectacular
views from Mount Donna Buang. In the summer, it's an ideal place
for bushwalking. Don't miss the Mantirri Blueberry Farm and Winery,
where you can pick your own fruit from January to March. You can
also buy berry jams, plants, fruit 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. Take
a trip out to Taggerty Herb Farm on Connelly Creek Road. Here you'll find
the "Gingko Gold" health elixir, as well as gourmet herbs, oils,
vinegars sauces and chutneys to spice up your culinary efforts. 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!
Taggerty is a gateway to the beautiful mountain town of Marysville, which
has long been a haven of peace for city folk. Drop into the Fruit Salad
Farm and Gilbert's Restaurant to enjoy lunch based on local seasonal produce
in a lovely garden setting. You can also take home some of their fresh
bread and preserves. There are many bushwalks and reserves near Marysville,
the most famous of which would be the magnificent Steavenson Falls, which
are floodlit at night for visitors.
For more 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, Coombe's of Yarra Glen is famous for its
fine food, including sumptuous Devonshire teas and the famous Dutch
treat poffertjes which have been described as a wonderful combination
of a drop scone and doughnut. Light as a feather, they will have
you coming back for more. 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. In the warmer months,
the racecourse holds a 300-stall market once a month on a Sunday.
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A great day is assured when you decide to visit the region's wineries.
Just out of Yarra Glen are wineries galore, including De Bortoli,
Yering Station, Fergusson's of Yarra Glen and Chateau Yering. Many
of the wineries have restaurants attached, featuring gourmet treats
that simply must be washed down by the local product!
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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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