Yarra Ranges National Park lies at the headwaters of Melbourne’s drinking water supply system and includes major reservoirs that Melbourne draws its water from. Here you’ll find magnificent Mountain Ash forests, lush tree ferns, and Myrtle Beech trees; not forgetting its trails, Puffing Billy steam train rides and Sanctuary wildlife park!
Sample some of the region’s renowned wines and gins on a day trip, during a girls weekend trip or stay longer!
Upper Yarra Reservoir Park
Upper Yarra Reservoir Park is an idyllic forest setting near Warburton that makes an excellent destination for day trips and camping excursions. Boasting majestic sightseing opportunities and picturesque walks, as well as convenient built facilities that enhance experiencing nature, the park provides incredible sightseeing and scenic walks – ideal for day trips and camping trips alike!
Assimilate the natural beauty of this magnificent area with a walk on the Fern Gully Track. This short circuit track passes by towering old growth eucalypt trees with dense understoreys of ferns. Look out for birds and animals zipping amongst the leaves while you take in its tranquil atmosphere.
Dam Wall Lookout of the park provides breathtaking views over Yarra River Valley and reservoir, followed by strolling along Brimbonga Walking Track to a viewing platform for an awe-inspiring water flow from reservoir into an aqueduct on its journey towards Melbourne. Relax while having a picnic along its banks or at either of two barbecue facilities within the park.
At the park, visitors can indulge in various recreational activities, including fishing and water sports. To maintain quality and yield of the reservoir, however, strict catchment controls must be strictly observed; visitors must obey any signs that indicate entry is forbidden into forested catchments.
Spacious campgrounds can be found throughout the park and boast sheltered wood barbecues for use by families or groups alike. Campsites are conveniently situated close to facilities including wet weather hall, large camp kitchen, and hot showers – providing visitors with plenty of amenities.
Healesville Sanctuary
Healesville Sanctuary is home to some of Australia’s iconic wildlife. Situated just an hour outside Melbourne in an idyllic bush setting, Healesville Sanctuary provides animal lovers with an unmatched opportunity to observe rare native animals such as kangaroos, koalas, dingoes, platypus and much more – an educational and enjoyable experience that’s certain to leave you spellbound by nature’s splendour!
Healesville Sanctuary (now Sir Colin MacKenzie Fauna Park), established by Dr Colin MacKenzie in 1920 on 78 acres that once belonged to an Aboriginal reserve called Coranderrk, has become one of the few Australian zoos dedicated solely to Australian wildlife preservation and public education. Additionally, Healesville Sanctuary was first to breed a platypus back in 1943!
Visit this sanctuary’s various habitat areas and get up close with animals such as wallabies, wombats, emus, dingoes, koalas and over 200 types of native birds – wallabies, wombats, wombats, emus, dingoes and dingoes as well as 200 varieties of birds native to Australia! Main Track, Woodlands Track Dingo Country Wetlands Track Kangaroo Forest are popular spots. Other highlights include World of Platypus as well as interactive bird shows devoted solely to birds!
Healesville Sanctuary is dedicated to indigenous culture, offering experiences that highlight this important heritage such as the Wurundjeri Indigenous Walk and traditional customs with Murrundindi (Wurundjeri Elder). You’ll learn to identify native plants, pick up didgeridoo tunes or listen to folktales while spinning yarns; even learn how to throw spears or dance to an authentic drum beat for an immersive cultural experience! A great opportunity for discovering how indigenous people and wildlife interact!
Mount Dandenong National Park
This expansive national park occupies an area of forested hills near Melbourne. Take an adventure into its shady gullies and ancient forests on bushwalking trails!
The park offers many attractions and activities to satisfy every interest, from exploring ornamental lakes with vibrantly hued waters to visiting Yarra Valley Dairy for cheese tasting in its charmingly decayed 100-year-old milking shed.
Mount Dandenong offers many attractions for tourists to experience, with Sherbrooke Falls trail being one of the main ones. Starting from Sherbrooke Picnic Ground, this return hike covers 2.4km (1.5 mi). Along the trail are towering mountain ash trees up to 200 years old as well as cascading waterfalls and cascades. Other notable sights include Olinda Forest Arboretum which contains mature deciduous and conifer trees from around the world.
The park’s landscape is defined by temperate rainforest in deep, sheltered gullies and valleys and dry sclerophyll forest higher on exposed ridges, housing both temperate and sub-tropical species of rainforest. An array of orchids and native trees thrive here as do species such as rosellas, cockatoos and the endangered superb lyrebird – as well as other varieties found throughout their territory.
Dandenong Ranges are easily reached by car and are one of the closest national parks to central Melbourne. As part of the Great Dividing Range, they lie approximately 35km (21.7 mi). At its peak is SkyHigh Mount Dandenong – an restaurant and viewing platform offering panoramic views of Melbourne skyline from its peak location. Likewise, SkyHigh Mount Dandenong serves as a restaurant and viewing platform offering panoramic city skyline views; also home to Kokoda Track Memorial Walk to honor Australian soldiers who served along this iconic wartime trek; Doongalla Forest; Olinda Village; all these parks make for convenient getaways from Melbourne city life!
Rochford Wines Yarra Valley
Rochford Wines Yarra Valley is located only an hour’s drive from Melbourne, and boasts world-class facilities, innovative events, wine, food and cuisine. Renowned for their range of ultra-premium single vineyard wines as well as their world-class facilities such as world class facilities such as world-class facilities, cellar door sales, retail shop sales, wine club membership and art gallery offerings, Rochford Wines Yarra Valley offers something special!
At Rochford Family Estate is an exquisite restaurant featuring floor to ceiling windows with breathtaking views over the lush rolling hills of Yarra Valley and exposed beams and an elm tree, giving an informal vibe while offering guests high quality meals matched with Rochford wines.
Wines produced at this winery are produced using grapes grown sustainably on three vineyard estates spread throughout the Yarra Valley. Each vineyard estate showcases the winery’s commitment to taking advantage of unique microclimates that make the Yarra Valley such an unparalleled wine-growing region.
The Yarra Valley’s distinguished combination of terroir, French for’sense of place’, is the cornerstone of its world-class winemaking reputation. Renowned for its cool climate – colder than Bordeaux but warmer than Burgundy – annual rainfall ranges between 750mm and 950mm with variations in vineyard elevation creating distinct styles and flavours, the valley boasts one of the greatest selections of distinctive and elegant wines anywhere.
Lake Mountain Alpine Resort
Lake Mountain Snow Resort is Melbourne’s nearest snow resort, making it an ideal destination for families wanting to experience winter wonderland. Explore over 35km of cross country ski trails using both skis and snowshoes or race downhill using toboggan (skis can be hired from the resort). Come experience its world of magic for yourself.
Mount Bogong is also an increasingly popular road cycling destination, boasting numerous challenging climbs that will test even experienced cyclists. You can begin your climb from Warburton (40 kilometer Reefton Spur climb) or Marysville.
Every spring and summer, mountains become vibrantly colourful as a variety of wildflowers bloom across their rugged terrain. At the same time, the lake at the base of these mountains fills up with water – providing an ideal picnicking spot.
At the summit, there is a visitor centre offering stunning views over Lake Huron and the surrounding landscape. Their cafe offers delicious sandwiches, wraps, cakes and hot chocolate – not forgetting hot drinks too.
Parks Victoria provides Junior Ranger programs for children at this resort. There are also restaurants, cafes and grocers nearby in Healesville and Marysville townships.
Alpine Resorts Victoria was recently established under government reform in order to make alpine management more efficient. This entity will oversee Falls Creek, Mt Buller, Mt Stirling and Lake Mountain resorts to ensure their long-term viability and will include Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians on its board in order to reflect their local knowledge and ongoing ties to these locations.