Discover a region where pristine forests cascade into vineyards and villages bustle with creative energy. Sample top cool-climate wines while discovering local products at artisan producers.
Nancy’s of the Valley makes you feel good before even tasting their seasonal and, whenever possible, organic menu.
The Yarra Valley Permaculture Group
The Yarra Valley Permaculture Group is a not for profit community organisation which has been championing sustainability in the local region for three decades. They host an annual Permaculture Design Certificate course and host community workshops and events that help people reconnect with food, gardening and sustainability. Their activities enjoy wide support in their region.
This group’s interests span across horticulture, gardening, permaculture design & sustainable land use. They grow plants for sale directly to the public as well as wholesale supply to local garden centres and supply wholesale permaculture & plant propagation services to garden centres locally. Furthermore, they operate a permaculture enterprise providing plant propagation services while running courses on permaculture land management techniques on their property in Castlemaine.
Permaculture is an approach to sustainable development based on some core ethics and design principles, that can be used to design landscapes and land use structures such as urban gardens, farms or food production systems. Permaculture has been successfully utilized as an organic food production method, biodiversity preservation strategy or even for climate adaptation purposes.
Residents in Yarra Valley are making use of permaculture in their daily lives through events like Healesville’s Organic Farmers Market. Open every Saturday between 9am and 1pm, it offers certified organic products from various outlets as well as providing an opportunity to meet local farmers while shopping fresh produce at this market.
At the market, there is an array of products on sale ranging from fruit and veggies to herbs, spices and flowers. Stallholders at this market pride themselves on providing organic produce at competitive prices while supporting Yarra Valley farmers.
Yarra Valley boasts several restaurants that specialize in organic and sustainable cuisine, from destination dining at an 18th-century chateau to pub fare served from converted stables or chalets; something for every diner!
The Yarra Valley Organic Market
Yarra Valley is a food and wine lover’s delight. Discover the area’s delicious organic produce at any of its monthly farmers markets, where stalls brim with freshly harvested seasonal fruit and vegetables as well as homemade delights from around the region, before matching it all off with a glass of local wine! Healesville Organic Farmers Market at Coronation Park on Saturdays offers everything the valley has to offer: honey, eggs, cheese, bread & baked goods, mushrooms seedlings & seedlings as well as coffee & breakfast cereal! And don’t miss picking up Yarra Valley Caviar produced responsibly from wild caught Atlantic Salmon that are harvested without antibiotics or chemicals used and are allowed spawn year after year!
Yarra Valley boasts some of the finest wine varietals in Australia, from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to Shiraz. Experience these and many more while sipping some of Yarra Valley’s top cool climate wines at welcoming farm cafes or regional restaurants.
Experience an immersive adventure on the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges U-Pick Trail or stop off at signposted farm gates to buy produce direct from its grower – enjoy gourmet treats such as pasta, cheese, chilli peppers, capsicums and persimmons grown right there in Yarra Valley by generations of immigrant settlers!
Are you an outdoor enthusiast? Bring along your hiking boots and explore Yarra Valley’s lush national parks and regional forests on foot or by bicycle. Discover waterfalls, native wildlife and scenic vistas while strolling leisurely or challenging hikes can provide ample adventure!
Hot air balloon rides provide an unforgettable experience in Yarra Valley’s vineyard landscapes at sunrise with companies like Global Ballooning. Feel like an iconic character in an action movie as this trip will make memories that last a lifetime! Don’t leave the kids at home as this trip will provide something memorable! Yarra Valley offers something delicious to drink or eat for everyone; don’t leave them behind.
The Yarra Valley Farmers Market
The Yarra Valley is known for its exceptional wines, yet this region also offers an abundance of artisan producers and small farms. Come stroll among stalls packed with fresh produce at monthly markets like the Yarra Valley Regional Farmers Market or Hurstbridge Farmers Market for fresh produce; sample delectable cuisine in charming farm cafes or regional restaurants while pairing it all with the cool-climate wines that define this area!
At the Yarra Valley Farmers Market, there’s always plenty to keep you occupied – chatter and tantalising aromas alike! Enjoy browsing stallholders who are passionate about their produce – look for signs stating “Foodie’s Choice” to quickly locate products deemed worthy of this seal of approval from local foodies!
Crumbs was one of the most acclaimed stalls, known for crafting handmade traditional biscuits using high-quality Australian ingredients and traditional methods. Owner Kerrie takes great pride in employing people with disabilities while teaching her staff the art of biscuit-making. Additionally, their company maintains a strict environmental policy to promote sustainability.
Mary Monica Gin is another popular stall at the show. Their seasonal paddock-to-bottle gin features botanicals such as lemon myrtle, fennel, lavender and juniper that is distilled within 24 hours, guaranteeing freshness in each bottle of their product.
At Yarra Valley Coffee, you can grab a caffeine boost for shopping or lunch on the grassed area surrounding its historic barn. Also on offer at this market are an array of baked goods ranging from croissants to pies and brioche, gozlemes from Nuri’s Kitchen or delicious ricotta and spinach gnocchi from The Natural Pasta House; or finish your meal off right by indulging in six flavours of plant-based ice cream from Super Seed! Yarra Valley Coffee provides plenty of fun activities while visiting local producers at farmers markets – they make for perfect visits!
The Yarra Valley Food Co-op
Yarra Valley Food Co-op (YVFC) is a community owned and operated retail grocery store. Their focus is providing healthy, sustainable alternatives to corporate chain stores. Food co-ops differ from traditional stores in that their democratically controlled membership receives patronage dividends as an acknowledgement for their support, along with voting rights in making decisions regarding how it runs. All food co-ops share one goal in common: offering healthy, delicious local foods at great value prices.
An active local food economy creates jobs and keeps more money within its community, prioritizing business practices that benefit both people and the planet, and honoring farmers as protectors of our future food security. This vision has resulted in the expansion of farmers markets, community-supported agriculture initiatives, and high streets filled with locally and seasonal produce.
Yarra Valley winery cellar doors double as produce stores, so find all your favourite bottles or try something new at Yering Station Produce Store, or shop boutique shops in Tecoma and Belgrave for gourmet souvenirs. Additionally, its village shopping strips boast plenty of vintage finds from op shops to vintage emporiums; shop Sandra V in Tecoma or Red Gum Gallery in Olinda for vintage treasures from various styles!
At Wesburn, ECOSS is a not-for-profit community project which showcases sustainable living solutions through permaculture farm design. Programs and projects at ECOSS include organic food production, earth education, multicultural gardening and food skills development – with an ultimate aim of increasing resilience, building capacity and demonstrating regenerative farming techniques.
The Yarra Valley is home to numerous community groups, associations and groups who collaborate on environmental sustainability issues. One such initiative is The Cardinia Food Circles at Yarra Ranges Sustainability Centre in Healesville – an innovative group of farmers committed to an agricultural economy which values producers while simultaneously improving health and wellbeing of farmers themselves. Established in 2012 and supported by City of Melbourne and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.