The Yarra Valley
Melbourne • Yarra Valley • Mornington Peninsula • Geelong • Ballarat • Bendigo • Gippsland • Western Districts & Shipwreck Coast • Northern & Northeastern Victoria • The Mallee
From Warrandyte to the Great Dividing Range, the Yarra Valley is a delightful place.
In addition to the places listed here the Yarra Valley is also infested with wineries. Many of them let you visit, and the rest look nice as you speed past.
The Yarra River at Wonga Park
Google Maps
Rope swing, fast and slow moving water. Way more fun than the public pool.
Also good at Warrandyte and Warburton, but these places are more likely to be CRAMMED full of other people.
Warrandyte
Google Maps • Wikipedia
Sweet riverside town where we lived for a few months once. Easily can believe you’re in the country, you are very much in suburban Melbourne.
- The Stonehouse Cafe
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- Great place for breakfast.
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- Birds and other assorted creatures will frolic while-you-wait.
Warburton Rail Trail
Website • Google Maps
Once upon a time, there was a railway that ran from Lilydale to Warburton, however during the Dark Times of the 1960s, there was a War on Rail, and they ended up tearing up the railway line. Wankers… On the upside though, now it’s a quite pleasant 38km long bike path — it has lots of sweet trestle bridges!
Glen Harrow Park Trees Adventure
Website • Google Maps
Why walk when you can glide majestically?
The Glen Harrow Park Trees Adventure gives you exactly that opportunity. It’s a high ropes course that includes flying foxes and other excitingly high fun.
Dandenong Ranges Gardens
Website • Google Maps
Puffing Billy Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway and has been running steam trains from Belgrave to Gembrook since shortly after the line closed in the 1960. It’s wildly popular and the second-oldest heritage railway in operation anywhere in the world.
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Tom Says: YOU GET TO HANG OUT OF THE WINDOWS AND RIDE OVER THE SWEET TRESTLE BRIDGES!!! |
O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail
Google Maps • Parks Victoria info page
Linked to the Warburton Rail Trail, the trail follows the path of the O’Shannassy Aqueduct, which once carried drinking water between two reservoirs. Once it’s finished, there will be 70km worth of sweet, sweet trail from Lilydale to East Warburton
Mount St Leonard
Google Maps
Sweet mountain views, highly recommended at night.
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Tom Says: Once, we met an Army Reserve company out on maneuvers here! |
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Brad Says: They were very surprised to have guests... |
Mount Donna Buang
Google Maps • Parks Victoria info page
Sweet mountain views, highly recommended at night. Further away than Mt Saint Leonard, but has a taller tower and is still cool.
Maroondah Reservoir
Google Maps • Parks Victoria info page
Giant lake that stores a small part of Melbourne’s drinking water, so No Swimming.
It does have some fancy english gardens though. Best of all, there is no objection to you trying to run up the dam wall.
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Brad Says: People may, however, laugh at your dam injuries |
Healesville Sanctuary
Website • Google Maps
Basically, a Zoo full of delightful Australian creatures.
Sweet Birds of Prey display/show
Hand-feed Kangaroos, etc
Dandenong Ranges Gardens
Google Maps • Parks Victoria info page
Much of the Dandenong Ranges is covered by the Dandenong Ranges National Park, including the famous 1,000 Steps walk (don’t panic, there’s only around 800 steps — you’ll be fine.)
There are also a number of smaller Parks Victoria properties, which aren’t all that big on native plants but are still very pretty such as the National Rhododendron Garden.
Dandenong Ranges Lookouts
Google Maps
There are two major lookouts that share the best views of the Melbourne suburban area going around.
The first is called Burkes Lookout. It’s popular with people who enjoy pretty lights, photographers, and people who enjoy smoking joints. There’s a short walk through the bush to get to the lookout, but it’s super worthwhile.
The other option is Sky High. It has a fancy restaurant. Otherwise, it’s exactly the same as Burkes lookout, only it costs money and isn’t as fun.