There is a wide variety of things to do in the Yarra Valley, Victoria. You can go on a Hot Air Balloon adventure or explore the Redwood Forest. You can also visit the many Cherryhill Orchards.
Hot air balloon adventure
Hot air ballooning is a thrilling experience that’s both romantic and relaxing at the same time. It’s one of the best ways to get a bird’s eye view of Australia’s famed wine region, Yarra Valley.
Yarra Valley is home to world-class wines and award-winning restaurants. The region is also known for its rolling hills, which are perfect for a scenic hot air balloon ride.
Hot air ballooning is the ideal way to take in a day’s worth of views without the stress of driving. While you can do it on your own, you’ll likely want to book a professional excursion. In addition to the thrill of flying in a balloon, you can expect to enjoy a champagne breakfast at a nearby winery, a guided tour of the area, and optional services like wine tasting.
Yarra Valley is a popular destination for weekend getaways and day trips from Melbourne. It’s located just 50 minutes from the city.
You can go hot air ballooning in the Yarra Valley for a couple of hours. During your flight, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the area, fresh air, and a seasoned pilot. Depending on your schedule, you can opt to land in the town of Mount Sugarloaf or the quaint village of Yarra Glen.
One of the most memorable moments of hot air ballooning is the moment you see the sunrise from the vantage point of your balloon. The balloon’s landing location is usually on the property of a friendly farmer.
The Yarra Valley has a storied history. The region was originally settled as a colony of Indigenous Australians. Today, it’s a favorite among food and wine enthusiasts, thanks to its fine dining and award-winning vineyards.
Yarra Valley chocolaterie
Chocolate enthusiasts and foodies alike will want to check out the Yarra Valley chocolaterie and ice creamery. This one-of-a-kind destination in the Yarra Valley is perfect for chocolate fans who love to try new treats. It offers more than 250 chocolate creations, including ice cream, fudge and marshmallows. The store also features a range of meals.
There are lots of activities for families to enjoy at the Yarra Valley chocolaterie. Kids can colour in the colouring pages, play with the pencils, and explore the giant glass windows that overlook the factory. They can also attend a junior chocolatier class. These are held on weekends, and children can take home their own chocolate creations.
Another highlight is the free chocolate tastings. You can sample the many flavours of chocolate and indulge in a delicious rocky road. During the Rocky Road Festival, they offer a matcha-cherry rocky road. A rum and raisin rocky road is available, and there are plenty of other special treats to try out.
If you want to get a better look at the production process, you can visit the working chocolate showroom. There you can see the ice cream machine, the reclaimed wetlands, the chocolate blocks, and the chocolate-making process in action.
You can book a chocolate making workshop at the Yarra Valley chocolaterie. You can attend one on your own or with a group. Some of the workshops are for kids, while others are more advanced.
The Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is set on a 40-acre orchard, with manicured gardens, a working showroom, and reclaimed wetlands. The cafe is also open for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea. Here you can indulge in decadent desserts, savoury goods, and hands-on chocolate-making workshops.
Cherryhill Orchards
Located in the Yarra Valley, Cherryhill Orchards is a family owned business, and offers an idyllic setting for a wedding. The orchards feature a rustic, yet classy atmosphere, and offer couples the opportunity to design their own wedding. Guests can choose from a wide selection of wedding packages, or tailor their own event.
This summer, CherryHill is offering a “Cherries & Wine” package. A two-course lunch at nearby Rochford is included, along with wine tasting. It also includes a cherry picking experience, which is suitable for children.
Located in the heart of Victoria’s famous Yarra Valley, CherryHill Orchards is the largest cherry-picking orchard in Australia. During the cherry season, guests can choose from over 30 varieties of cherries. They can pick cherries in the orchard, and then take them home in pre-paid Grab & Go boxes.
Guests can pick cherries at their leisure, and CherryHill staff will help them find the best ones. In the spring and summer, the orchards are brimming with beautiful blossoms and tasty cherries. As well as cherries, CherryHill offers an array of delicious cherry products, including Cherry Ice Cream, Cherry Vinaigrette, Cherry BBQ Sauce and Cherry Syrup.
The orchard is the perfect destination for cherry lovers. Visitors can enjoy a two-hour cherry-picking session. Afterward, visitors can take their cherries home, or enjoy a picnic. If you’re looking for a special treat, the orchard also sells pre-paid, grab-and-go boxes of 500g.
CherryHill’s Pick Your Own Cherries is a great way to spend a day with friends and family. Guests can choose from over 30 varieties of cherries, and pick cherries directly from the trees. For the true cherry enthusiast, the orchard offers an assortment of 1.5kg cherries.
Warburton’s Redwood Forest
Warburton’s Redwood Forest is a beautiful place to visit. It’s also an exciting place to explore. There are plenty of picnic spots, and walking tracks that are well-marked.
The forest is located within Yarra Ranges National Park. The trees are huge, and can reach heights of over one hundred feet. This makes it a perfect playground for kids. They’re also the perfect spot to read a book or play hide-and-seek.
The park is undergoing some improvements, including an accessible public toilet, improved trails, and boardwalks. However, parking can be difficult. You should plan to get there early. If you’re looking to swim, there’s a swimming spot along Cement Creek. Do note that the swimming spot is only suitable for people with confidence.
While you’re here, check out the Rainforest Gallery, which is a 350-metre walkway. If you’re a nature-lover, you’ll love the ethereal tree art that’s been installed by David Digapony.
Another fun thing to do in the Yarra Valley is to visit the Californian Redwood Forest, which was planted in the 1930s. It is a spectacular site, containing thousands of enormous red-barked trees.
Redwoods are the stuff of fairy tales. They’re tall and shady, making them perfect for kids to run around in. And the trees are littered with woven art.
The Redwood Forest is a great day trip from Melbourne. If you’re looking for a quiet, peaceful, and beautiful place to spend the day, this is it. But you can get to it from almost anywhere in Victoria. Just take the Warburton highway to Woods Point Road, and then you’re there.
A visit to Warburton’s Redwood Forest is the perfect way to unwind and relax. It’s a peaceful and eerie place, with a magical atmosphere.
Yarra Valley sanctuary
Located an hour’s drive from Melbourne, Yarra Valley offers an excellent blend of natural attractions, wineries, and food. Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway or an adventurous holiday, this region is bound to delight.
A great place to visit in Yarra Valley is the Australian Wildlife Experience. You will have the chance to see koalas, dingoes, platypus, and wombats in their natural habitats. The tour also includes a two-course lunch at a local winery.
Another great place to go is the Yarra Ranges National Park. This park is located in Yarra Valley and features scenic lakes and waterfalls. It is also home to mature gumtrees, which are protected.
If you’re looking to relax and spend some time with the native wildlife, then Sanctuary Lodge is a great place to stay. Situated in Healesville, this quaint retreat is ideal for travelers who want to get away from the city. It is set in 2 acres of manicured gardens and offers five individually decorated suites. Each room has free Wi-Fi, heating, and air conditioning.
Guests can also enjoy the in-house spa, outdoor swimming pool, and various treatments. In addition to these amenities, the property has an outdoor parking area and a private balcony/terrace.
For a bit of culture, consider visiting the TarraWarra Museum of Art. Here, you can find work by Australian artists including Jeffrey Smart and Fred Williams. Alternatively, you can visit the Australian Museum to check out the collection of native species.
One of the most popular activities in Yarra Valley is hot air ballooning. The flight gives you a unique perspective of the valley and surrounding areas. Afterwards, you can have a breakfast with sparkling wine and fresh produce.