The wine never runs out in the Yarra Valley which is located right in the bosom of the Dandenong Ranges. With only an hour's drive from Melbourne, you're on your way to the cool regions of the Dandenong Ranges which is recognized for producing the finest chardonnay, pinot noir, and other wines for many years now. Read more...
Refined in the most distinct regional way, Dandenong wines sparkle in the glass and please the standards of the most discriminating taste buds. This explains why this elevated wine region is visited for its wineries and cellars offering tastings and sales. The most critical of food travelers will certainly enjoy it here.
The Yarra Valley refers to the region along the Yarra River about 60 kilometers east of Melbourne, on the way of which you might be welcomed by generous canopy of trees refreshing the country air. The river begins in the Yarra Ranges and ends in the Port Phillip Bay. This area is noted for its land which is made of volcanic soil---a product of volcanic activity millenniums ago. Day trips and short vacations, especially during a weekend, is popular among visitors to the region. Setting the wine aside, Yarra Valley is also visited for its gourmet dishes, which of course, always end up with a good glass or two of Yarra Valley wine.
Yarra Valley is to Australia what Bordeaux or Burgundy is to South of France or the Tuscany region is to Northern Italy. It's a world-renowned wine region having 55 of the best wineries in the world, and dozens of exotic restaurants and romantic retreats.
The climate at the Yarra Valley is so clean, pleasant and inviting that once here, it becomes quite difficult to leave the place any time sooner. It's an ideal place for cycling around and has some extremely good bushwalking trails. You can also enjoy walking along the tracks at the National Parks in the Valley. Some of the best ones include the King Lake National Park, Warrandyte State Park and the Yarra Ranges National Park. Some other place worth visiting in the Yarra Valley are the Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary, Galeena Beek Living Cultural Center (the Aboriginal cultural center) and the Gulf Station (a National Trust farm).
Alongside, you have the mouthwatering temptation of visiting beautiful Dandenong Ranges. The highest point is Mount Dandenong, which stands at 633 meters high. These low mountain ranges play host to some exquisite gardens and forests. These are Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens, Ferntree Gully National Park, Sherbrooke Forest, William Ricketts Sanctuary, National Rhododendron Gardens and Doongalla Forest.
The beauty of forests and parks can be admired only on "Puffing Billy", a steam train that chugs through the forests. If you are an art lover, William Ricketts Sanctuary is the place where you'll find Ricketts' Aboriginal clay sculptures tucked into the landscape.
As the Yarra River runs through this fertile region, it wounds along Lilydale to the Warburton Rail Trail. A ride along the river will allow you to see the valley in an entirely new angle, where vineyards, rivulets, and groves fringe the frame of your vision. From this ride, you'll be able to encounter villages such as Olinda, Emerald, Belgrave, Gembrook, and Sassafras, where you might want to come down because of the craft shops, gardens, and Devorshire teas you might love to taste, touch, and even buy. The country will evoke feelings of stillness, as you ascend in a large basket carried only by a hot-air balloon - another way of looking at the Yarra Valley. Appreciating it from above, you'll see the defined peaks of the blue Dandenong Ranges and its spectacular forest covers. In the Healesville Sanctuary, you'll also get up close with Australian wildlife such as platypuses, kangaroos, and wombats.
The Yarra Valley has a vast pool of tourist spots to choose from. The region also has some accommodation on offer. To make your stay affordable, we offer round the clock cheap Yarra Valley accommodation bookings for some comfy resorts, hotels and guesthouses. Book now to experience the the Valley on your next holiday!
