No matter your occasion – from celebrating weddings in beautiful outdoor locations to finding eco-friendly homesteads with space for children – this region has everything you need.
Wander the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail on historic steam trains or explore sculptural gardens and art galleries along its path. At TarraWarra Museum of Art you can view high-profile Australian works while Healesville Sanctuary hosts various exhibitions that regularly change.
1. Coombe Yarra Valley
Coombe Yarra Valley Vineyard lies right at Melbourne’s doorstep and offers more than just wine; it provides an unforgettable gourmet and cultural experience. Once home to legendary opera singer Dame Nellie Melba, her descendants still own it and host events and weddings here today. Visitors are treated to world-class dining experiences at its cellar door alongside historic picturesque backdrop.
Gardens at Melba offer an exquisite display of colour, fragrance and texture – an intimate view into her lavish lifestyle. She was famous for sending 20,000 daffodils to rivals in NSW’s Blue Mountains as gifts, while Charlie Chaplin famously fell into her swimming pool! A tour provides plenty of interesting tidbits.
Coombe Winery prides itself on sustainable farming practices and producing fruit of superior quality, producing wines which reflect both its cool climate terroir and century-old family legacy. Their flagship wines include Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; in particular, Pinot Noir has become widely respected for being extraordinarily elegant and detailed.
Set just 30 minutes from Melbourne, this exquisite property provides an oasis of beauty and serenity in the middle of city. The vineyard-covered grounds of the winery, with their panoramic views across Yarra Valley and beyond, offer the ideal place to unwind and unwind. Plus, their restaurant celebrates fresh Yarra Valley produce while their cellar door provides an opportunity to sample local wines!
Yarra Valley Dairy offers an exceptional range of artisan and handmade cheeses made with local milk that are sure to satisfy. Or visit nearby Healesville Sanctuary for an experience sure to please the senses: encounter koalas and kangaroos in their natural environments while learning about native wildlife from an expert guide, seeing native birds, reptiles, amphibians – even swimming with platypus!
2. Chateau Yering
Chateau Yering, located just an hour outside Melbourne, is an elegant heritage property that provides a window into Australia’s rich past. Situated on 250 acres bordering the Yarra River and featuring gardens dating back to 1854, guests can sample local wines at Eleonore’s conservatory-style restaurant or stroll through lush rural vistas while admiring lush rural views from within its walls or even take part in antique shopping, bush walking or ride a hot air balloon at dawn to take in Victoria’s premier wine region!
William, Donald and James Ryrie established this property in 1837 as one of Victoria’s largest cattle runs and social centres at that time. Later it became one of Victoria’s first vineyards before its subsequent owner Paul de Castella constructed his current mansion which still retains much of its original decor and layout – featuring doors, joinery, and original fire surrounds from whence it originated.
Today, this property provides dreamy wedding ceremonies on its picturesque grounds overlooking Yarra Valley. Accommodating 20 to 120 guests, its ceremony locations range from vineyards, sunken garden or even against its grand stairway for your big day. Couples looking to tie the knot can also benefit from its 32 luxurious suites that range from hotel-style rooms to exclusive apartments for your use during their celebration.
Stay in a Stable Suite featuring an open log fire and four-poster bed from an antique period or the luxurious Yarra Suite featuring its own private staircase – each offering spacious living areas complete with antique furnishings and spa bath.
HTL Property managing director Andrew Jolliffe noted that Chinese architect Max Zhang acquired it in 2019 with an intent to preserve its history and splendour for years to come. According to HTL Property’s managing director Andrew Zhang plans for diversifying his international business via this transaction were part of why he made this purchase decision.
3. Kinglake National Park
Yarra Valley provides couples an elegant, sophisticated setting in which to celebrate their love. Classic Victorian architecture adds an air of grandeur, with iconic sites like Coombe Yarra Valley and Chateau Yering making for striking photos and dramatic videos. Furthermore, nature provides numerous stunning backdrops including fern gullies and dense forests as well as Alowyn Gardens’s Wisteria Archway offering picturesque backdrops for any special event.
Yarra Valley vineyards are known for producing fresh, zesty wines due to the cool temperatures and short growing season. The region’s diverse topography also plays a huge role, with easternmost areas receiving more acidity and minerality from granitic clay subsoil while westward-facing slopes enjoy richer fruitier wines produced here. Elevations ranges between 50 – 400m above sea level helping preserve freshness and brightness in its wines produced here.
Yarra Valley is an idyllic food and wine haven, with cafes, cellar doors, day spas and gourmet providores galore. Additionally, this region is home to an active community of painters, sculptors and potters; follow the Art Lives Here trail to experience contemporary Australian art — from major exhibitions at TarraWarra Museum of Modern Art to performances and showcases at Yarra Performing Arts Centre and Burrinja Cultural Centre – this region truly lives up to its name!
Get up in the air and experience an unrivaled view of the valley by embarking on a hot air balloon flight. Witness sunrise while floating above vineyards, farmlands, woodlands and vineyards before gently landing in the heart of winemaking region – it’s sure to transform any midweek blues into midweek bliss!
4. Badger Weir
Badger Weir offers an unforgettable Australian experience for visitors of all kinds. Experience nature by exploring its wetlands and walking trails, or relax at its picnic ground with a glass of wine from nearby estates. Designed by owner architect John Denton, its dramatic cantilevering property sits within its own vineyard with breathtaking views of mountains and valleys; its cantilevered steel structure is flanked by native and exotic species; mature mountain ash trees and tree ferns grow alongside dense plantings of other plants that would naturally flourish here – truly an Australian experience you don’t want to miss!
This region is also an inspiration to artists of all kinds, offering ample opportunity for exploration of local arts scenes and meetings with talented individuals at museums, galleries and studios. TarraWarra Museum of Art boasts high-profile Australian artwork from the second half of the 20th century while Burrinja Cultural Centre displays Indigenous and Oceanic artwork collections.
Or if you prefer, take to the skies with a hot air balloon ride and experience the landscape from above! From beautiful scenery and soft morning light, take off into Yarra Valley’s serene valley for an ethereal adventure – perhaps you might even spot some kangaroos grazing on open fields or perhaps an amusing wallaby waddling past!
With an array of boutique cellar doors in the Yarra Valley, tasting some of its best wines is made easy. Visit winemaking institutions such as Domaine Chandon and De Bortoli; discover boutique wines such as Coldstream Brewery or Four Pillars; or sample award-winning gin from Four Pillars or Gin Palace – or all three!
Healesville offers all the comforts of the Yarra Valley’s finer pleasures with its cafes and restaurants, charming galleries and boutique shops, the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery being an ideal family destination, where children can also play on its sprawling grounds. Additionally, Gulf Station – Australia’s oldest pioneer farm precinct – allows visitors to witness sheep shearing, butter making or traditional woodwork!