The Yarra Valley is known for its wines and food, but there’s much more to discover here. From taking a ride on Puffing Billy to exploring Aboriginal art at TarraWarra Museum of Art – history buffs have plenty to see and do here!
Start off your day observing local wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary before embarking on a vineyard tour – full and half day options are available to select.
History
The Yarra Valley is an ancient region rich in history. From Mont de Lancey homestead to Gulf Station’s collection of early settler farm implements that offer insight into everyday life for early settlers, this region provides plenty of opportunity to travel back in time.
Yarra Valley’s significance can also be found through its cultural offerings. At the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum’s ‘Connections: Stories, People Place’ exhibition, visitors are shown how its rich history unfolded over 40,000 years through items that explore landscape and industry in this unique region. It serves as an inspiring display of all that makes up life in Yarra Valley so special.
The Yarra Valley lies only an hour outside Melbourne, boasting centuries of history and culture. Take in regional events such as the Dame Nellie Melba Festival of Music and Opera in October; or visit Tarrawarra Museum of Art to view some fantastic pieces from regional collections. Or head outdoors by walking along Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail or discovering Ada Tree Trail – there’s sure to be something in Yarra Valley worth experiencing.
One of the Yarra Valley’s hallmarks is its world-class wines, famed for their signature diversity and distinct sense of place terroir (French for “sense of place”). Winemaking here has long been known for this quality; known for its seven month growing season with average rainfall between 750mm-950mm per year and vineyard elevations ranging between 50m to 430m above sea level, making Yarra Valley wine unparalleled among others in Australia.
Wine enthusiasts can experience the rich legacy of the Yarra Valley through a winery tour. Specialized tours specialize in particular styles or varieties of wines such as sparkling wines, pinot noir, chardonnay or organic and biodynamic wines – other experiences may also include barrel tastings or blending workshops.
Art
The Yarra Valley is rich with history and cultural attractions such as museums, art galleries and charming towns amidst cascading vineyards. Explore this scenic region on your journey along the Yarra Valley Arts Lives Here trail to uncover an inspiring community of painters, sculptors, potters and jewellers. Marvel at high-profile Australian art at TarraWarra Museum of Art or browse local and indigenous artwork at Burrinja before viewing performances and exhibits at Yarra Ranges Regional Museum!
Wine enthusiasts will delight in exploring a host of boutique cellar doors throughout the region, with Yering Station winery standing out as a premier example, offering world-class vintages as well as featuring two exhibition spaces dedicated to exploring how wine and art interact. Here you can sample world-class vintages! Yering Station also houses an extensive collection of established and emerging artists exhibiting works exploring this relationship between art and wine in two exhibition spaces.
Visit Rochford Wines during autumn months for an experience unlike any other. Their vineyards come alive with lush beauty as you take in their stunning beauty at their lushest. Rochford Wines are famed for producing world-renowned Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that have their own distinct character in Yarra Valley due to cooler temperatures and the unique gravelly clay soils that exist there.
At Soumah of Yarra Valley, you’ll experience personalized seated tasting paired with a delectable three-course lunch at Isabella’s Restaurant or AI FIORI TRATTORIA within the winery. Soumah’s boutique charm will leave an unforgettable Yarra Valley winery experience; founded by acclaimed winemaker and restaurateur Bill Soumah who offers an impressive range of premium wines with its flagship label ‘Terra Firma’ reflecting the essence of Yarra Valley wine country cuisine; in addition to wine tasting experiences there are cooking demonstrations hosted alongside its exceptional range of wines!
Food
Yarra Valley offers a world of wine, spectacular scenery and inspiring arts experiences just outside Melbourne’s doorstep. Pay your respects to Victorian viticulture at cellar doors of celebrated institutions while discovering exciting new gems. Indulge your senses at vineyard restaurants offering everything from fine-dining experiences to casual cafe fare; plus boutique cheese makers, artisan bakers and fruit and vegetable growers!
Yarra Valley offers some of Australia’s top family-friendly attractions, including its Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery and Walking Trails – great opportunities to explore nature while learning about local history and culture.
Healesville Sanctuary wildlife park provides a spectacular backdrop for exploring this area’s breathtaking natural beauty, boasting lakes teeming with fish, placid lakes, Yarra River, platypus, koalas and Tasmanian devils among other native Australian creatures – perfect for bird-watchers!
Discover the region’s rich Aboriginal heritage at Coranderrk and TarraWarra Museum of Art. Located on Wurundjeri land, Coranderrk seeks to strengthen cultural ties between First Nations communities in its valley and this museum. Exhibits may feature visitors’ works or permanent displays designed specifically to connect.
Make an unforgettable journey back in time aboard the world-famous Puffing Billy Railway, an elegant classic steam train experience which weaves its way through local towns, forests and historic trestle bridges. Catch glimpses of farm implements and household items used by early pioneers of Yarra Valley at Gulf Station; its almost unchanged 1850s appearance as a service stop for gold miners has also been preserved here. At Healesville’s Yarra Ranges Museum explore the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through photos, writings, artwork and writings – not forgetting its famed ‘Puffing Billy Railway’ experience!
Wine
Just 30 minutes outside Melbourne lies Yarra Valley: an exquisite wine lover’s oasis. Here, vintage copper fermentation tanks serve up classic chardonnay while boutique cellar doors showcase more experimental offerings – the possibilities here span 170 years of history! Healesville, Nillumbik and Kangaroo Ground boast more than 70 cellar doors, from well-established names like De Bortoli to newcomers such as Oakridge and Innocent Bystander that await visitors.
Yarra Valley is known for producing exceptional chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, but also boasts exceptional Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties. Many tour operators provide full-day winery experiences where visitors can visit several acclaimed estates while sampling premium wines while taking in stunning scenic views.
For an intimate winery tour experience, opt for a small group winery tour where you can benefit from customized tasting and conversation with the guide. These tours typically follow an organized itinerary and group size allowing more time at each winery.
Mont de Lancey will transport you back in time, offering an exquisite experience reminiscent of yesteryear as you explore its historic house and gardens while sipping estate-grown wine. Enjoy dining at its restaurant featuring Modern Australian set menus paired with estate wines or book one of its guest suites for an overnight stay. Don’t miss visiting Coombe Yarra Valley to witness where Australia’s legendary opera singer Dame Nellie Melba and her family once lived; now turned into a five-star hotel featuring 32 rooms over 250 acres of gardens and stunning sweeping views!
Culture
Experience Yarra Valley’s cultural richness through winery tours like De Bortoli and Yering Station; sample regional cuisine at restaurants and cafes; explore its arts scene at TarraWarra Museum of Art or Heidelberg School Artists Trail; attend performances or musical events locally – there’s plenty of ways to immerse yourself in its culture!
Victorian viticulture first took off here in 1838, yet was put on hold due to economic depression and competition from other regions for over 100 years. A revival began during the 1960s thanks to winemakers such as Bailey Carrodus, Reg Egan of Wantirna Estate and Healesville Winery’s team who replanted vines and produced wines that highlighted this region’s distinct vineyard locations and delicate styles.
Embarking upon their journeys through Australia’s vineyards was no simple task for pioneering winemakers; due to its cold environment they had to find their own distinctive styles rather than copy popular European ones. Furthermore, these pioneers experimented with various winemaking methods which laid the groundwork for today’s Australian wine industry.
Yarra Valley is proud of its Aboriginal heritage and provides visitors with opportunities to discover it at places such as Coranderrk Aboriginal Station and Yarra Ranges Historical Museum’s Connections: Stories, People Place exhibition, which covers over four-thousand years through objects and curated displays.
The Yarra Valley boasts a rich artistic culture, which you can discover by visiting places such as TarraWarra Museum of Art, Healesville Studio Gallery, Dame Nellie Melba Exhibition Hall and the Yarra Ranges Literary Festival. Additionally, theaters and arts centers in this region provide internationally acclaimed music performances and showcase.