Things to Do in Yarra Valley
Yarra Valley is conveniently located an hour from Melbourne making it the perfect day trip or weekend getaway. The region is known for its beautiful scenery, great wineries and good food.
Here are the best things to do in The Yarra Valley:
CherryHill Orchards
Address: 474 Queens Rd, Wandin East VIC 3139
Cherry-picking season is late-November to early Jan. Make sure you book your cherry-picking session online
You won’t find cherries this fresh in the supermarket. At CherryHill Orchards you can pick your own cherries in the beautiful 85-acre cherry orchards. If for some reason you don’t want to pick your own cherries you can buy a punnet of hand-picked cherries. If you want to cool off after cherry-picking make sure you pick up some fresh cherry ice cream.
Just note that cherries don’t grow year-round. If you’d like to go cherry-picking, cherry season is from late November to early January. Just make sure you book in advance. If you’re not into picking your own cherries and would like to see the cherry blossom festival visit in September and October.
Healesville Sanctuary
Badger Creek Road, Healesville, 3777, Australia
9:00 am – 5:00 pm, daily
Healesville Sanctuary is a part of the Zoos Victoria group and is a popular school holiday destination filled with native Australian wildlife. The Healesville Sanctuary is passionate about animal conservation and fighting extinction. The Sanctuary is landscaped to replicate Australian bushland.
It’s a great place to see Australian animals in their natural habitat. Some of the many animals you will see at Healesville Sanctuary include kangaroos, emus, wedgetail eagles, koalas and dingoes.
While you’re there remember to watch The Spirits Of The Sky Show to watch birds of prey in action.
See here for ticket prices.
Cement Creek Redwood Forest
Address: Cement Creek Rd, East Warburton VIC 3799
Open 24 hours
This forest looks like it would be located in the Canadian Rockies or Northern Europe. The forest is filled with tall sequoia trees that tower above you. The trees average 50 metres in height and their height is mesmerising.
The forest is a great family-friendly place to go for a walk and a picnic. While you’re in the forest see how much tree art you can spot!
Yarra Ranges National Park
Address: Lockwood Rd, Reefton VIC 3799
The Yarra Ranges National Park is a beautiful cool climate forest that surrounds 3 towns. ( Marysville, Warburton and Healesville) The national park has plenty of walking tracks to explore. During your visit try to see what wildlife you can spot. The park is home to wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, possums, platypi and over 120 species of birds.
Tesselaar Gardens and Tesselaar Tulip Festival
357 Monbulk Road, Silvan, 3795, Australia
10:00 am – 5:00 pm, daily (seasonal)
If you’re visiting The Yarra Valley in spring make sure to check out the Tesselaar Tulip Festival.
Get your cameras ready as you take a walk and enjoy the glaring beauty around the colourful tulips in Yarra Valley.
The Tesselaar Tulip Festival opens every year and hosts a month-long tulip viewing from September 11 until October. It displays a wide variety of picture-perfect tulips.
See here for ticket prices.
Warratina Lavender Farm
105 Quayle Road, Wandin North, 3139, Australia
9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Wednesdays to Sundays; closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
The Warratina Lavender Farm is a bucket list for lavender lovers, walking around the purple fields and indulging in the mild scent of the flowers. It is situated at the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges and it sure is a wonderful kind of way to start or end your trip with a picturesque view of the 5-acre lavender fields. If you ever get to visit during the harvest season (usually from November to January), you’ll have a look at how the lovely lavenders are farmed and hung to dry in the drying sheds. If perhaps you’re tired of strolling, you can sit back and relax with different meals and get relaxed with the farm’s house teas.
Alowyn Gardens and Nursery
1210 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen, 3775, Australia
10:00 am – 5:00 pm, daily
Alowyn Gardens is a beautiful 7-acre garden made up of several smaller gardens It has a series of big and small gardens, and an edible garden with a variety of fruits and plants to choose from, perfectly landscaped and planted to suit the region’s proportionality with farming. Apart from this, there are also majestic courtyards, which lead you to a sunken garden and mesmerizing classical fountain centrepiece you should not miss.
You’ll not only get to see sunflowers but also wildflowers, daisies, tulips, and even lavenders guiding your path. Get in the enchanting world of delightful flowers for only $9.50.
Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery
35 Old Healesville Road, Corner Melba Highway, Yarra Glen, 3775, Australia
9:00 am – 5:00 pm, daily
If you are in need of some sugar rush after a busy day of exploring The Yarra Valley, you can eat to your heart’s content at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery.
Be mesmerized by the scenery and the breathtaking views of the Yarra Valley while indulging in the creamy goodness of their chocolate ice creams. You’ll be surrounded by an orchard, wetlands. Your tastebuds might burst as you get free chocolate tasting while watching chocolatiers work and showcase 300 different varieties of chocolates from around the world.
Daily tasting sessions are only priced at $3; just your loose change so you’ll get your sweet tooth satisfied in no time!
Visit The Yarra Valley’s Best Wineries
1275 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen, 3775, Australia
10:00 am – 5:00 pm, daily
A Holiday in The Yarra Valley wouldn’t be complete without a glass (or even a bottle) of wine. You can take a self-guided tour of all the wineries The Yarra Valley has to offer. However, if you plan on getting a little tipsy there are plenty of guided winery tours in The Yarra Valley that will take you to the best wineries in the region.
What are your favourite things to do in The Yarra Valley?
If you’re visiting The Yarra Valley you are right near The Dandenongs. See our article here for the best things to do in The Dandenongs.
