Yara Valley / Dandenongs travel destinations

SAVOUR THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE

Just beyond Melbourne’s urban sprawl, the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges provide the first breath of fresh air and a total change of pace, if you let them weave their magic.

For the first-time visitor to Melbourne, a trip out to the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges gives a tantalising taste of regional Victoria and sows the seeds for further exploration. Whatever the season, there’s a rich range of activities to discover, galleries to trawl, wines to taste, balloons to fly, markets to savour and places to eat.

HEALESVILLE SANCTUARY

Don’t wait for that overseas or interstate visitor for an excuse to visit the Healesville Sanctuary in the Yarra Valley. Since the 1930s, the sanctuary has been a haven for rare and endangered Australian wildlife and is internationally regarded as a fine example of animal conservation at work. If you are seeking accommodation in the Yarra Valley there are many options on this website.

Healesville is a truly Australian experience, giving you the chance to immerse yourself in the sounds, scents and sights of the Australian bush, with its unique reptile, mammal and birdlife.

Pride of place is the “Sydney Myer World of the Platypus”, the world’s most comprehensive platypus exhibit, which provides an intimate encounter with one of the most elusive of Australian animals. Healesville has made headlines around the world through its platypus breeding program.

Enjoy an intimate encounter with the mysterious platypus in its nocturnal creek habitat. Living ferns, mosses and lichens grow above waterfalls and rapids, and tangled tree roots shelter little-known animals such as water rats, native fish and eel.

TOUR THE WINELANDS

Looking at www.yarrarangestourism.com reveals a wide selection of food and wine tours operating daily and providing transport, fine local fare for lunch and plenty of tasting – including the renowned Domain Chandon, the prince of Australian sparkling wines. If you’d really like to do it in style, why not hire a 1951 Jaguar, complete with chauffeur/guide, or a Chevrolet convertible – red, of course! Cellar door operations and restaurants featuring produce of the region are dotted throughout the Yarra Valley. You’re spoiled for choice.

Yarra Valley Wine Master Classes are held most months on the same day as the nearby Farmer’s Market. Hosted by winemakers in a relaxed, informal setting, guests are encouraged to ask everything they’ve ever wanted to know about wine. Classes comprise sit-down tastings of up to nine wines with two to three leading Yarra Valley winemakers, followed by coffee. Tasting themes vary each month. It happens at the luxurious Château Yering Historic House, in the heart of the Yarra Valley, on the third Sunday of most months. Wineglasses and coffee are included in the $40 charge.

GARDENS OF THE DANDENONG RANGES

This area is dotted with villages, each with its own peculiarities and interest points, with fine gardens being the common denominator. Six of the Eight Great Melbourne Gardens are to be found in the Dandenongs, so ensure your photographic supplies are fully stocked! Accommodation in the Dandenongs is plentiful and includes guesthouses, bed & breakfasts amongst other accommodation options.

The Alfred Nicholas Gardens, named for the developer of the Aspro formula in 1930s, comprises 13 hectares of immaculate, undulating gardens that blaze into colour during spring with azalea, cherry blossom and viburnum. In autumn, there’s another riot of colour as the foliage turns to reds and golds.

There is a blend of native and exotic trees, including mountain ash, ginkgo, maple and liquidambar. Colour is provided throughout the year by a variety of flowering exotic shrubs, bulbs and trees, and the area is blessed with the presence of many native birds.

PUFFING BILLY

The Puffing Billy steam train service, operating out of Belgrave in the Dandenong Ranges, has long been one of Australia’s favourite tourist attractions, with a ride being a rite of passage for just about every Victorian child.

Operating along a scenic 24 kilometre track, Puffing Billy offers a luncheon service featuring hearty dishes, the pride of which is the Gourmet Hills Platter with roast beef, free-range chicken, smoked trout and tangy relishes. You’ll need to book this one in advance.