Yarra Valley of Victoria, great food and wine region.
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Yarra Valley & Ranges

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.

Yarra Valley Vineyards

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.

Outdoor Concert at Eyton
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.
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!
Landscape near Yarra Glen


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.

Maroondah Reservoir
Healesville

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.

Tall Mountain Ash in The Black Spur

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.

Vines under Net

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!

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

Grapes on the Vine

Written by Julie Houghton
Photos by Cherryl Houben




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