Weekend Wanders: A Guide to the Yarra Valley

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The Yarra Valley is our go-to place to share the wonders of Australia with our overseas guests. It is a fabulous destination only one hour from Melbourne.

‘The Yarra has a charm, a beauty that engulfs you, the wines are worldly‘ Dominique Portet

I partnered with local Travel Writer and Blogger Danielle from The Adventures of Poss and Ruby to experience the very best of the region. In planning our Girls Weekend we are very grateful to Four Pillars Gin, Tarra Lane Cottages, Dominique Portet, and the AmazingCo for sharing our excitement to shine a spotlight on the Yarra Valley region and graciously supporting our visit. 

Here is my guide for the best weekend wanders in the Yarra Valley. There is more to this region than wineries.

Where is the Yarra Valley?

The Yarra Valley is a wine-growing region in Victoria, Australia, approximately 50 kilometres (31 miles) east of Melbourne. It is named after the Yarra River, which flows through the region.

Why visit the Yarra Valley?

The Yarra Valley is known for its beautiful Victorian countryside. Its rolling hills, lovely vineyards, and charming small towns make it a must-visit destination. Visitors can enjoy the mixture of fabulous nature and wildlife, world-class wines and gins, local gourmet food, and friendly locals. 

It’s great for a day trip, perfect for a girl’s dream weekend, and the sort of place you could easily stay a while.

Tell me something new

We found plenty to keep us occupied. The Yarra Valley experience is constantly changing and evolving. New ideas and places to eat and drink appear constantly. If you’re looking for a fun way to explore, then how about a mystery picnic?

AmazingCo Mystery Picnic

The clever idea of an AmazingCo Mystery Picnic, has you solving clues and racing between points collecting various delectable treats. We found it a wonderful way of getting to know the region. 

Our Mystery Picnic in the Yarra Valley included hidden destinations that neither of us had known before, along with some must-see wineries and attractions. To ensure the mystery is maintained, I’m being careful about what I say here… 

Here is the final bounty and our chosen picnic destination. It was the best picnic ever!

Four Pillars Gin Distillery

Aussie Gin for the win!

For most people, a trip to the Yarra Valley is all about the wineries, so it may surprise you that I’m starting with gin! Do find time in your Yarra Valley trip to visit the Four Pillars Australian craft gin distillery in Healesville. They produce 40% of Australia’s gin and won big at the 2023 World Gin Awards.

It’s a lovely and impressive story of the rise of Four Pillars gin. They have kept themselves grounded. I loved that their gin was distilled in large shiny copper stills named after their mums. How sweet is that?

Named 2023 Visitor Attraction of the Year, on offer are gin’tastic tasting and masterclasses. You can book your Distillery drinks with a small menu of made-from-gin snacks. The beautiful copper bar overlooks the Four Pillars Distillery. Everything they do is all about the gin.

For gin lovers, this is a must-see destination. For more see my Four Pillars Instagram post.

Enjoy Fabulous Nature

Time spent in the Yarra Ranges National Park is time well spent amidst beautiful mountain ranges, rainforests, waterfalls, and rivers. The park offers a diverse range of landscapes and ecosystems, making it a great place for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, and those who love to wander in the great outdoors.

Yarra Ranges National Park

The Yarra Ranges offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, fishing, and horse riding. The area has several well-marked trails for all levels of fitness and experience. You can see a short video presentation on our day here @littlewanderingwren.

I found this helpful walking guide for those interested in more Walking Trails in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges.

Badger Weir Picnic Area

Danielle introduced me to one of her favourite places at Badger Creek. It’s a short drive out of Healesville in the Yarra Ranges National Park. Badger Weir Reserve is a popular spot for wildlife watching.

The Badger Weir via Lyrebird Track is a stunning walking area amongst ancient fern trees and towering old Manna Gums. It is fabulous for taking photos of Australia at its best!

See Wonderful Wildlife

You will be accompanied by a symphony of birdsong throughout your stay in the region, from Kookaburras to Rosellas, Lyrebirds, and Cockatoos, amongst others.

The Yarra Ranges is home to a diverse range of wildlife. Many head to Healesville Sanctuary for a sure sighting of all Australia’s favourite animals in their natural habitat.

Healesville Sanctuary 

Healesville Sanctuary never fails to impress those who want to see and learn about Australian native animals. You will see kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, echidnas, wombats, and platypuses.

We often book our guests for their VIP animal encounters. The Koala Close-up is the most popular, despite all these cute koalas ever seem to do is sleep!!

We love Healesville Sanctuary because they lead the way in conservation efforts in the region. You can learn about the challenges facing native animals and what you can do to help.

Experience Indigenous culture

The sanctuary also provides an opportunity to learn about the culture of the area’s indigenous people, the Wurundjeri people. The sanctuary offers an Indigenous cultural experience that includes a smoking ceremony.

Art Galleries

Hubert Gallery of Art

I enjoyed seeing the Australian art at the Hubert Gallery of Art. The staff is super friendly and happy to tell the stories behind the artwork.

I enjoyed admiring their collection of contemporary Australian art, including paintings, sculptures, and mixed media works. The pieces are thoughtfully curated and offer diverse styles and techniques.

Meet the artists: Hubert Estate often hosts artist talks and events where you can meet the artists and learn about their inspiration and creative process.

Tarra Warra Estate

Tarra Warra Estate is also home to an art gallery that features contemporary Australian art. Visitors can view the exhibitions while sipping wine and taking in the beautiful surroundings.

Coombe Yarra Valley

If you stop by Coombe Yarra Valley, you will find they, too, have a small display of artists. Dame Nellie Melba was a keen painter and a great supporter of the visual arts. Hans Heysen was a regular visitor to Coombe Cottage.

Yarra Valley Wineries

Wine – because it’s not good to keep things bottled up!

The Yarra Valley is home to some of the best wineries in Australia, so you don’t want to miss out on this.

There are two ways to explore the wineries: you can either take the Maroondah Highway, which seems to be our preferred route, or you can take the Melba Highway for the more off-the-beaten-track wineries a little deeper into the Yarra Valley.

Below, you’ll find some of my personal favourites. If you’re feeling fancy, book a wine tasting and lunch at Domaine Chandon, or if you want to sing the praises of your lunch, try Dame Nellie Melba’s Coombe Yarra Valley.

Do take their tours. Not only do you get a real sense of the region’s history, but you also gain a greater appreciation of the wine you taste. 

There is a real temptation to see a lot in a Yarra Valley day. Less is definitely more, which is why we recommend staying in the Yarra Valley.

Given the choice, we often select a few and do a moving feast. Here is Little Wren’s top choice:

Hubert Estate –> Dominique Portet –> Soumah –> Domaine Chandon

Hubert Estate 

It always feels like the perfect start to turning off the Moroondah Highway into Hubert Estate which is becoming a destination in itself! I’ve already mentioned the fabulous Hubert Gallery of Art above. They offer various tasting experiences, starting with the Stag Wine Flight at $10 per person for three wines from the range.

I really enjoyed my Ancient grain salad with rocket and goat’s cheese, which was a bargain $14 lunch. Quarters Restaurant is also open for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, which is worth knowing as not many vineyards are open for evening dining.

Dominique Portet – Estate Tour and Wine Tasting 

Dominique Portet wines come from a family of vignerons dating back to 18th Century France but are deeply seated in Australian Yarra Valley soil. We love it here as we always feel Dominique Portet offers us the best new-world wines with old-world family skills. We always took our International guests here for wine tasting and even had (one of our!) Aussie leaving parties here. We have celebrated birthdays here & love that their wine-tasting & lunch gift cards make a fabulous and easy present. 

In short, no visit to the Yarra Valley for us is complete without popping into their Cellar Door & Bistro for wine tasting ($15 per person) and buying some of their award-winning Fontaine Rose (my personal favourite) or Brut Rose, the acclaimed sparkling.

Soumah Wines

Soumah has been one of our preferred lunch favourites in the Yarra Valley for many years. We love the tucked-away feel, just off the Moroondah Highway. Their claim to fame in the region is making wine with the ‘charm of Northern Italy in the Provenance of the Yarra Valley’.

The pretty Ai Fiori dining room looks out onto the vineyard and serves a great lunch. Wine Yarra Valley is known for producing high-quality wines, particularly those made from Italian grape varieties such as Nebbiolo, Brachetto, and Pinot Grigio. Their wines have won numerous awards and accolades, making them a top choice for wine enthusiasts.

The reason we love taking our guests here is the beautiful setting: with a Tuscan-inspired tasting room, a terrace with views of the surrounding countryside, and a tranquil lake.

Food Pairing: The winery also offers food and wine pairing experiences, where you can enjoy a selection of wines paired with locally sourced produce, such as cheese, charcuterie, and chocolate.

Domaine Chandon

Domaine Chandon is a Yarra Valley highlight Their Cellar door and Boutique and the bubbles float and desert are rather special!

There is always something beautifully fancy about a visit to Australia’s leading bubbles producer. Domaine Chandon is known for producing high-quality sparkling and still, wines using traditional French winemaking techniques. Visitors can taste a range of wines in the winery’s tasting room, and enjoy the incredible panoramic Yarra Valley views.

Coombe Yarra Valley

Coombe Yarra Valley, at Coldstream, is only 50 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD and one of the first places you come to, and plenty of us get no further into the Yarra Valley!

The estate-grown single vineyard wines are loved for their style, elegance, and award-winning quality. Add in a dash of International megastar pizzaz as this was once home to one of the world’s greatest opera singers, Dame Nellie Melba.

Dame Nellie’s delightful place and gardens (do book a tour) boast a French rose garden, English herbaceous borders, and an Italian garden with Victoria’s oldest swimming pool. How’s that for a quick European tour?!

Lunch or High Tea offers a menu to be enjoyed with friends using Coombe Yarra Valley’s seasonal produce and preserves which you be found at the Estate’s Providore.

TarraWarra Estate

The TarraWarra Estate comes highly recommended by our hosts Jade and Claire at Tarra Lane Cottages and is on my must-visit list for the stunning views from the hilltop winery. I’m keen to enjoy a wine tasting of their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Tarra Warra Estate restaurant has great reviews and serves delicious food made with local, seasonal ingredients. Noted by James Halliday’s Wine Companion as a 5-star winery “TarraWarra is, and always has been, one of the top-tier wineries in the Yarra Valley” 

Levantine Hill Estate

This winery is one I’m sharing from my must-get-to one-day list. You can’t help but notice the red helicopters offering a Perfection Experience. Fly to Levantine Hill Estate in under 20 minutes by luxury helicopter from Melbourne’s CBD for winetasting and lunch. Very nice!

De Bortoli

I got into De Bortolli wines through their Christmas advent calendar which contains miniature bottles of wine, and a larger bottle of the famous Noble One, so we got to know and enjoy their wines very well.

We really enjoyed our wine tasting at De Bortoli, it is in a gorgeous location, and the exceptional Locale restaurant are well-reviewed and enjoyed.

The De Bortoli wine family goes back three generations to Vittorio De Bortoli who left Italy in 1924 with little but his clothes and optimism for the lucky country. Nice work mate!

Yilenna Park

Yileena Park family-owned Cellar Door, Winery, and Vineyard is off the beaten track but is worth seeking out for its quaint step-back in time charms. It was lovely sitting on their balcony enjoying the rolling hills with a glass of wine and a tasting plate of cheese and olives and choosing from their smoked range of chicken, pork, duck, and kangaroo.

Where to stay?

Tarra Lane Cottages – Acacia Cottage  (Banksia cottage)

Behind a private gate up a long drive, you’ll find Tarra Lane Cottages. This 22-acre property in Tarrawarra is only a 10-minute drive from Healesville. We found a quaint cottage stay that offered privacy on the family farm and vineyard.

I enjoyed staying in both Acacia and Banksia Cottages, which are full of charm and luxurious extras to make our stay so comfortable. both have their own en-suite bathrooms. The vineyard views of the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes are lovely. In the morning some hot air balloons floated gently across the pony paddocks. See the room tour via @littlewanderingwren

Address: 510 Healesville – Yarra Glen Road, Tarrawarra

Where to eat?

A Foodies Paradise

But wait, there’s more! The Yarra Valley is also a foodie’s paradise. If you’re looking for a more substantial meal, head to Healesville for some amazing restaurants like Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander, where you can enjoy wood-fired pizzas and wine by the glass.

Breakfast, Brunch, and Coffee

Sister Mary Louise 

Found inside the Old Salvation Army Church, they have been really clever with their interior design and brunch menu. We really enjoyed breakfast and coffee here. By the time we left, there was quite a queue for a table.

Address: 114 Maroondah Highway Healesville, Victoria 3777

Yarra Glen Bakehouse – excellent country baker 30 Bell Street, Yarra Glen

Beechworth Bakery 316 Maroondah Hwy Healesville

Check out Trip Advisor’s The 10 Best Cafes in the Yarra Valley.

Lunch

Healesville Hotel

If you are looking for an excellent pub menu check out the long-time institution of the Healesville Hotel when it reopens after renovations in July 2023 offering food, drink, and somewhere to stay! Can’t wait to see what they have done here.

Matilda Bay Brewery

Matilda Bay is one of Australia’s leading craft breweries producing some of Australia’s favourite specialty beers like Fat Yak. Book a brewery tour.

Matilda Bay Brew Pub is open for beers, lunch, and dinner from Thursday through Sunday. It offers delicious locally sourced produce to complement its quality craft beers, which are brewed on-site.

Address: 336 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777, Australia

We asked our hosts at Tarra Warra Cottages for their recommendations we think we’ve got a great list here!

Zonzo Estate Yarra Valley – excellent Italian Food in a beautiful setting

TarraWarra Estate Restaurant & Cellar Door

Innocent Bystander, Healesville, Italian Food & great pizza where you can enjoy wood-fired pizzas and wine by the glass.

Our Dinner Choices

No 7 Urban Winery Healesville:

An exploration of contemporary Mexican utilising regional and seasonal Australian produce. Intrigued? So were we it was our choice for dinner and a good one!

We found seasonal share plates either as a la carte or on their Feed Me set menu option at $75 pp, paired with authentic wines in a charming setting amongst the wine barrels.

Jayden Ong Winery and Cellar Bar

It’s clever to make sitting in an industrial road in Healesville seem cool and trendy but the new Jayden Ong Winery achieves this! Their new custom-built Winery & Cellar Bar is open for lunch & dinner in the heart of the Yarra Valley.

‘A free-fall into the world of wine. Visiting the Jayden Ong Winery & Cellar Bar is one of the most captivating food and wine experiences in the Yarra Valley. The excitement and sense of calm should make this an automatic inclusion on your winery ‘hit list.’

Well said, I agree!

Address: 8 Hunter Road, Healesville.

Other Regional and Artisan Foods

Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice-creamery

You certainly have to experience it if you are in the area, and in love of all things sweet! Chocolate tasting and Yarra Valley Bush Tucker and when we were there an ice cream festival. Certainly, a great place to pick up sweet gifts and treats.

Cheesemonger Sophie

Cheesemonger Sophie, found in Healesville is one impressive lady. Hopefully you are lucky enough to meet her in the store. With over 25 years of experience in the industry. There is nothing she doesn’t know about cheeses in her area. A must-visit for all cheese lovers

Gateway Yarra Valley

This is a great place to start or finish a day out in the region. They are on a mission to change the way food is grown and sold. All the produce for sale in their farmgate and cafe has been sourced with the lowest food miles possible. They have year-round pick-your-own strawberries and even an in-store bee hive. The bees come and go via a chimley in the roof!

Address: 667 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream.

Yarra Valley Dairy

Make sure to stop by the Yarra Valley Dairy for some of the best artisanal cheeses you’ll ever taste. They always seem a tad disorganised when we go, the last time the fridge was broken, but we do love their cheese. It certainly makes a nice gift! 

Farmers Market

If your Yarra Valley trip includes a weekend, check out the dates for the local Farmers Market offering both gourmet local produce and an Artisan Market.

We visited Punt Road Winery, 10 St Huberts Road, Coldstream, 3770. This is held on the third Sunday of the month Sunday 9 am -1.30 pm. Free entry and parking.

It was a nice place for breakfast and to purchase local treats.

Charming Yarra Valley Towns

And let’s not forget about the adorable towns you’ll come across during your road trip.

Yarra Glen

Yarra Glen is a charming little town with cute shops and cafes, it tends to be our stop-off point for a coffee on our drive from Melbourne. We recommend Yarra Glen Cafe located in a historic 160-year farmhouse serving homemade breakfast, lunch, and Devonshire tea on the main street of Yarra Glen.

Alowyn Gardens

Alowyn Gardens is 4 acres of landscaped gardens at this nursery with a cafe here in Yarra Glen. BYO picnics may be enjoyed in the gardens

Address: 1210 Melba Highway Yarra Glen Victoria 3775

Healesville

Most people tend to hang out in the popular and ever-growing town of Healesville. Its origins in popularity date back to the 1880s when Healesville became a holiday town for city people wanting to escape to the fresh mountain air. The railway which arrived in 1889 reinforced its position as a popular destination.

Nowadays you’ll find Healesville still remains at the central hub of the Yarra Valley.

How to get to the Yarra Valley

The Yarra Ranges National Park is located just a short drive from Melbourne, making it a popular day trip destination. Personally, I feel it is best enjoyed with your own wheels. However, it is accessible by public transport, with regular train and bus services running to the nearby town of Warburton.

Final thoughts

Overall, a Yarra Valley weekend is a lovely area to explore. Heading along its winding roads we found plenty of vineyards to tempt us to stop along the way. As one of Australia’s leading wine regions, we also found it a gastronomic weekend. The local businesses offer a variety of local produce.

There is something for everyone here from wineries, to historic houses and formal gardens, to great places to dine So sit back, relax, and let the stunning scenery and delicious food and wine do all the talking. Have fun!

For more updates check out What’s On at the Yarra Ranges Tourism Website.

Full Disclosure: The following activities were graciously hosted for us by The Amazing Co Yarra Valley Mystery Picnic, Dominique Portet Estate Tour and Wine Tasting, Four Pillars Gin, Gin tasting tour, and our Weekend’s accommodation with Tara Lane Cottages. All opinions are my own. 

I hope you have enjoyed this mega guide? What would you most like to see and do in the Yarra Valley?

Have you been to the Yarra Valley? if you have and have any other suggestions, let me know in the comments below.  

If you have enjoyed this you might also enjoy our other Australian trips

• A 7-day road trip itinerary in Western Australia for the free Independent Traveller
• Hamelin Bay Stingrays WA
• The Pinnacles Desert, Nambung National Park

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