The Best Things to Do in the Yarra Valley

Well-loved for its world-class wines, there’s more to the Yarra Valley than meets the eye.

It only takes an hour or so to drive from Melbourne to one of Australia’s best wine regions and while some come for day trips to the cellar door there are many more things to do in the Yarra Valley beyond enjoying a top drop.

1. Let Driven Indulgence be your designated driver on a winery tour

Go on a winery tour with Driven Indulgence.

Your vehicle or theirs, take the stress out of wine tasting by booking a private tour from your Yarra Valley accommodation with Driven Indulgence . Design your own itinerary or choose one of their ‘hidden gems’ tours, then sit back and enjoy a day meandering around Victoria’s first wine region home of more than 90 cellar doors.

2. Wander through inspirational gardens

the Coombe Estate in Yarra Valley — Coombe Yarra Valley, the former estate of operatic legend Dame Nellie Melba, invites you to experience its historic charm. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Alwoyn Gardens in Yarra Glen is the seven wonders of the Yarra Valley’s gardening scene.

With seven distinctive gardens including a formal parterre with its tightly clipped geometrical shape, The French Provincial featuring lavender and sunflowers, and a glorious central archway planted with highly scented wisteria and Pierre de Ronsard roses, it’s a gem for garden lovers. Across at Coombe Yarra Valley , Melba’s garden tour will send your heart singing, literally. As the former home of operatic legend, Dame Nellie Melba, and still under the stewardship of her direct descendants, expect to be wowed by old world trees (including an oak more than 180 years old), terraced lawns and rambling roses.

3. Pick up a treasure from a farmers’ market

the exterior of Punt Road Winery, Yarra Valley — Don’t miss the Yarra Valley Farmers’ Market at Punt Road Winery. (Image: Visit Victoria)

In a region based on growing and making, it stands to reason there are great farmers’ markets. The Yarra Glen Racecourse Market oozing with charm and creativity is held on the first Sunday of the month. Wander around the labyrinth of stalls where everything sold needs to pass muster on the market’s philosophy – ‘fresh, home-made, good value and great quality’. If you’re in the Yarra Valley on the third Sunday of the month, don’t miss the Yarra Valley Farmers’ Market held in the scenic grounds of Punt Road Winery where handmade goodies abound and you’ll have the chance to meet the makers. Additionally, keep your eyes open for honesty boxes where you can pick up fresh produce from farm gates.

4. Step back in time at Gulf Station

the Gulf Station, Yarra Valley — The historic Gulf Station in Yarra Glen is one of the country’s oldest farms.

A self-guided tour around one of the oldest and most intact farms in the country is a snapshot into the life of the pioneers of agriculture. Simply known as the Gulf , the station was built in the 1840s and was owned by one family for over 100 years. Now under the care of the National Trust, you can plan a visit on the first Thursday and last Sunday of the month in addition to one of the special events including ‘lost traditions’ day, where demonstrations include butter churning, sheep shearing and horses working the fields.

5. Drive over the Black Spur

a white car driving along the Black Spur — Winding between dense nature, Black Spur offers a scenic drive in the region. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Starting in Healesville, this classic drive winds along 27.5 kilometres of lush forest linking the Yarra Valley with the mountainous areas of Northern Victoria. Lined with the tallest flowering tree on the planet – mountain ash, towering above iridescent green ferns the road zig-zags its way up the Great Dividing Range. Along the way make a stop at Badger Weir to breathe in the scent of the forest and listen to birdsong. The 1.5km walking trail will take you amongst ancient tree ferns along Coranderrk Creek, or there’s a more difficult 3km loop. At the base of the Black Spur, relax at Fernshaw a spacious picnic area surrounded by forest.

6. Cook up a storm

Seasonal menus with an Italian or French flair are the signature of the Yarra Valley Cooking School hands-on cooking sessions. Gaze across rows of grapes from the purpose-built kitchen as you learn the tricks of the trade during the three-hour class culminating in dining on the fruits of your labour with delicacies like; carrot and mascarpone galette, salt-crusted sea snapper with summer salad, followed by peach clafoutis. Book well ahead and for extra fun, gather a group together and make a day of it.

7. Groove along to one of Rochford Estate’s legendary concerts

If you think most of the action in the Yarra Valley happens during the day, a concert at Rochford Estate will soon have you rocking. Set amidst the family-owned architectural masterpiece, with a capacity of 12,000 people, the Rochford Estate amphitheatre is the home of live music in the Yarra Valley. Over the years, blockbuster names like Elton John, Simple Minds, John Farnham, Cold Chisel and Simple Minds have graced the stage, and fans wait with bated breath (with fingers on speed dial ready to book) when a new concert series is announced. The indoor Rochford Concert Lounge adds another dimension to the music scene with dinner shows featuring local talent playing tribute song lists.

8. Have a berry nice time

a hand holding blueberries, Yarra Valley — The summer season is the best time to pick blueberries. (Image: Getty/Iuliia Pilipeichenko)

Go for the blueberries, and stay for the fun-filled gardens including the super kid-friendly dinosaur trail, and the miniatures garden dedicated to gnomes. Tucked away in Steels Creek, minutes away from Yarra Glen, Oasis Theme Gardens and Blueberry Farm welcomes visitors over the summer season. Once you’ve tasted blueberries straight from the farm, there’s no going back.

9. Take to the skies in a hot air balloon

a hot air balloon over Yarra Valley — Hot air ballooning is a unique experience that is not to be missed when visiting the Yarra Valley. (Image: Visit Victoria)

If you’ve ever dreamt of taking a hot air balloon ride, the Yarra Valley is the place . Protected by the surrounding mountain ranges, stable climatic conditions create the perfect scenario at sunrise to take to the skies float above the valley filled with a patchwork quilt of vineyards, farmland and forests. Make up for the early start by adding in the post-flight breakfast and toast the day with a glass of sparkling.

10. Admire TarraWarra Museum of Art’s fine collection

a man sitting while admiring art inside TarraWarra Museum of Art — TarraWarra Museum of Art presents stimulating and innovative exhibitions. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Designed by acclaimed Australian architect, Allan Powell, to harmonise with the contours and colours of the landscape, the not-for-profit TarraWarra Museum of Art is a work of art in itself. Within the rammed earth walls, the gallery is home to one of the country’s most important collections of Australian art from the 1930s to the present day with pieces by artists including Arthur Boyd, Fred Williams, Charles Blackman, Brett Whitely and Sidney Nolan. The gallery has a robust calendar of exhibitions and with TarraWarra Estate next door, book a table for a lunch where you’ll enjoy an innovative menu featuring local produce.

11. Meet all your favourite Australian animals at Healesville Sanctuary

kangaroos at Healesville Sanctuary — See some of Victoria’s cutest wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Loved by locals and visitors alike, sprawling across 28 hectares of bushland, Healesville Sanctuary is ‘the’ place to connect with around 140 species of Australia’s unique wildlife.

Meander through the various habitats to spot everything from kangaroos to lyrebirds, Tasmanian devils, green-bellied parrots and platypus. Hear from experts about the plight to fight the extinction of native species, book a close-up experience with an animal, go to a keeper talk, or avoid the crowds and take the VIP Sanctuary Tour that includes reserve seating at the ever-popular Spirit of the Skies bird presentation.

12. Connect to Country

Hand in hand with learning about Australian animals, Healesville Sanctuary also focuses on Indigenous history. The Yarra Valley is home to the Wurundjeri people from the Kulin Nation, and the self-guided Wurundjeri Walk was created in consultation with present-day Elders and spiritual custodians of the land. Celebrating the life of revered Elder, and accomplished artist, William Barak, the self-guided walk passes an ancient scar tree and bark canoe in conjunction with soundscapes of four generations of Elders reflecting on family stories. If you go on a Sunday, you can listen to Murrundindi (Wurundjeri Elder) play the didgeridoo, and find out what makes a boomerang come back.

13. Visit a winery and an Indigenous art gallery at the same time

an aerial view of Hubert Estate, Yarra Valley — The Indigenous art gallery is surrounded by vineyards. (Image: Visit Victoria)

One of the stalwarts of the valley, Hubert Estate has been making wine for over 100 years and along the way adding innovative experiences for visitors to enjoy. Initiated by Adam Knight and Gerry Ryan OAM, who share a passion for Australian Indigenous art, the Hubert Gallery of Art houses works from more than 20 Indigenous communities and includes paintings, sculptures and Marebu (woven mats). The gallery is open seven days a week and conveniently located in the same building as the stylish cellar door.

14. Taste cheese straight from the farm at Yarra Valley Dairy

farmhouse cheeses at Yarra Valley Dairy — Sample a range of fresh cow and goat milk cheeses at Yarra Valley Dairy. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Wine and cheese are a winning combination, and in the Yarra Valley, you can taste both directly from the source. At the Yarra Valley Dairy fresh cow milk from resident cows and goat milk from the neighbouring region of Mansfield are used to create a range inspired by the farmhouse cheeses of France and Italy. Take a seat by the window and watch the world (and cows) go by over a cheese plate with local baked bread and charcuterie.

15. Have a Willy Wonka moment in a real chocolate factory

edible art on display at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery — Some of the edible art on offer at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery makes more than 400 different chocolate products, and thanks to the large viewing windows you can watch their chocolatiers at work before enjoying a free chocolate tasting. Learn how to make your own chocolate in one of their hands-on classes, or if you’re travelling with kids, they can lick their fingers in the Junior Chocolatiers class for six-to-12-year-olds. For an off-the-scale chocolatey experience, make it a date for one of the special Chocolaterie High Teas, a decadent twist on a classic.

16. Be-GIN instead of wine

a array of Four Pillars Gin bottles on display — Since its launch in 2013, Four Pillars has become Australia’s most famous spirit. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Wine isn’t the only drink winning awards, as one of Australia’s leading spirit houses, Four Pillars has a long list of international gold and best gin awards to its name. Centrally located in Healesville, the impressive building is a hive of activity seven days a week. Delve into the intricacies of distilling on a behind-the-scenes tour; snag a table in the mezzanine bar for a Four Pillars signature tasting flight, or go all out and book ahead for a distillery gin masterclass and leave with a generous goodie bag to keep the good vibes rolling. And thanks to their Bandwagon range, non-drinkers can enjoy alcohol-free cocktails.

Discover the best restaurants in the Yarra Valley.

Originally written by Amanda Woods and updated by Jocelyn Pride

The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns.

It’s a chilly 16 degrees. My husband pulls on a steamer and jogs – as all seasoned surfers do – into the water. We’re at Bells Beach , the legendary break on Victoria’s Surf Coast that’s home to the Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest-running event in competitive surfing. Each year, over the Easter long weekend, up to 40,000 people descend on the region for the event. Today, though, we have the beach almost to ourselves, and the less-than-favourable temperature doesn’t deter my husband from surfing this famous break.

Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

The red dome of Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The nearby surf town of Torquay marks the starting point for the Great Ocean Road . Unfolding our map, which we have marked out with a highlighted route for our children to follow, we set off for lesser-known Anglesea, a chilled-out town 20 minutes south of here. Its wide, sandy beach is a gentler swimming option for our young family. Groms can learn to surf here with Go Ride a Wave, which also runs stand-up paddle boarding on the Anglesea River.

Split point lookout — The lighthouse overlooks the Shipwreck Coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

After a couple of nights in Anglesea, we hit the road again, first stopping at Aireys Inlet. Here we stretch our legs at Split Point Lighthouse, which was made famous by the 1990s television series Round the Twist, before driving under the Memorial Arch that welcomes us, officially, to the Great Ocean Road.

This 243-kilometre coastal road was built by returned First World War servicemen and serves as a permanent memorial to those who fought and died during the war. Carved into rock using hand tools and horse-drawn carts, it was a huge engineering feat and provided much-needed access to isolated coastal communities.

Lorne to Birregurra

Lorne is a delightful beachside stop for lunch and browsing boutique stores. It’s also the gateway to Great Otway National Park , which comprises a varied landscape of old-growth forests, cool-temperate rainforests, heathy woodlands and rugged coast. With the highest rainfall in Victoria, the region is home to many waterfalls – 10 of which are within 10 kilometres of Lorne.

Turning slightly off the main drag, we wind along a gum-shaded road to Erskine Falls. Here, our son leads the way through the hyper-green rainforest and down 200-plus stairs to the cascade that drops 30 metres into a lush fern gully. We hop over large boulders to get closer to the falls, enjoying the entire place to ourselves; it’s worth the return climb.

From Sheoak Falls Picnic Area, there are walking trails to Henderson Falls, Phantom Falls, Won Wondah Falls and Kalimna Falls, some of which follow an old timber tramway from forest-logging days, which only came to an end in 2008.

You can follow your appetite north to the town of Birregurra, which is part of the Otway Harvest Trail that connects farm gates, markets, wineries, breweries and distilleries. It’s home to three-hatted modern Australian restaurant Brae , helmed by celebrated chef Dan Hunter, set among native gardens and an organic farm, and Otways Distillery, which produces small-batch spirits using local produce and botanicals.

Brae restaurant — Brae is a three-hatted restaurant in Birregurra. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Apollo Bay to The Otways

Back on track, the cliff-hugging stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is breathtaking. At Teddys Lookout, we overlook the winding road ahead and St George River spilling into the ocean. We spend languid days in Apollo Bay, a buzzy seaside town that boasts a three-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped beach with a backdrop of rolling green hills. One evening, as the sun sets, we take the steep 10-minute walk to Marriners Lookout, which affords panoramic views of the ocean, hinterland and town.

A 15-minute drive along the road, Maits Rest is a lush rainforest gully that has been protected since the early 20th century. Wandering along the 800-metre boardwalk, we inspect the delicate moss-covered forest floor and the gnarled roots of 300-year-old myrtle beech trees, then crane our necks to see their canopies, some 50 metres above us. It’s therapy in nature.

Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles

The southernmost tip of Cape Otway is a delightful detour, home to the 1848-built Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. We climb the narrow winding staircase to the gallery deck, explore the keepers’ quarters and telegraph station, and enjoy a coffee and some ‘famous’ scones at the charming onsite cafe.

It’s a pinch-me moment to finally see the Twelve Apostles in person. This unmistakable cluster of limestone stacks rising abruptly from the sea were never 12, however. When coined this in the 1890s as a marketing ploy, there were only nine; today, only seven remain after two collapsed in 2005 and 2009. We admire these Aussie icons from the viewing platform, in awe of Mother Nature’s ever-evolving artwork.

The Grotto is another natural attraction within Port Campbell National Park. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

Edging the wild Southern Ocean, this part of the coast – dubbed Shipwreck Coast – is made up of many sea-carved natural wonders including London Bridge, The Grotto and Gibson Steps. After exploring the lookout trails of Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool – its English name taken from the site of the 1878 shipwreck – we nestle into the sandy beach encircled by towering sandstone cliffs, as our children splash about on the water’s edge, and soak it all in.

Port Campbell to Timboon

Timboon Fine Ice Cream is part of a regional foodie trail. (Image: C McConville)

Just north of Port Campbell National Park, the region of Timboon is part of the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail, filled with purveyors of delicious foodstuffs such as Timboon Fine Ice Cream , Timboon Railway Shed Distillery and Apostle Whey Cheese. As an antidote to the indulgence, the 20-kilometre Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail is a self-guided ride or walk between Port Campbell and Timboon through tall forests, over historic bridges and past sparkling lakes and farmland with grazing cattle.

Warrnambool to Port Fairy

Warrnambool building — A 19th-century building in Warrnambool. (Image: Peter Foster)

In Warrnambool, a town rich in maritime history, we take the four-kilometre Thunder Point Walk that traces the coast. The kids squeal when an echidna shuffles out from beneath the wooden boardwalk, and we stop to admire a seal lazing on a rock at the port.

Further along, the streets of quaint fishing village Port Fairy are lined with 19th-century cottages, old stone churches and Norfolk pines. Follow the historic walking trail to see some of the 60-plus National Trust buildings. Port Fairy is also home to Port Fairy Folk Festival (6-9 March), one of the country’s longest-running music and cultural festivals. You could time your road trip with the event for a fittingly celebratory end to any journey.

The Great Ocean Road can easily be done in three days, but we’ve spent a week on the road. The highlighted line on our now creased and well-worn map doesn’t follow the famous route precisely. It has sprouted branches in many directions, leading us to untouched rainforest and charming rural towns filled with culinary delights, and where we experienced some of our most memorable moments on the Great Ocean Road.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

The Monty is a highly anticipated, newly refurbished motel with a chic Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic set across the road from the Anglesea River. Basalt Winery in Port Fairy grows cool-climate wines such as pinot noir and Riesling in rich volcanic soil. Stay among the vines in its tiny home, complete with a kitchen, lounge area and outdoor firepit.

The Oak & Anchor Hotel has been a Port Fairy institution since 1857. Cosy up by the bar in winter or bask in the sunshine of the Lawn Bar in summer. The rooms are beautifully boutique with considered details, such as luxe baths for sinking into post-road trip.

Eating there

The Coast in Anglesea is a modern Australian restaurant focused on local ingredients. Grand Pacific Hotel has been a local landmark in Lorne since 1879 and recently underwent a restoration. It serves a mix of traditional pub and Italian fare alongside ocean views.

Graze is a cosy 40-seat dining room in Apollo Bay with a modern Australian menu complemented by regional wines. Apollo Bay Distillery offers tasting flights, a gin blending masterclass and serves woodfired pizzas.

16 of the best things to do in the Yarra Valley