Located just 50 minutes from Melbourne's city center, the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges feels a million miles apart with its enormous proportions of grapevines, towering mountain ash forests and irresistible culinary delights. Visitors can enjoy locally famous artwork at Tarrawarra Museum of Art, or sample a few of the finest cool climate wines Australia has to offer at one of over 80 vineyards and cellar doors.
In RWLL Coldstream, you will love a distinctive three-course dinner by culinary legends Shannon Bennett and Teage Ezard overlooking the magnificent Levantine Hill Winery, whilst sipping on their famous wines. Instead, enjoy an Argentinian feast by chef Mauro Callegari with roses by Gembrook Hill and Melbourne Gin in RWLL Gembrook, followed with dancing and music at the premier event.
Here are Some suggestions about the best way best to get the most out of your weekend off:
Opened Lately
The Yarra Valley is exploding with fresh things to see and do. The brand new Coombe -The Melba Estate showcases the house of the renowned opera singer Dame Nellie Melba and provides garden tours, wine tasting and a restaurant. Ezard @ Levantine Hillis a Brand-new gastronomic partnership involving hatted chef Teage Ezard and Levantine Hill Estate. Here, people can enjoy classic European cuisine with a spin paired with Levantine Hill wines while overlooking the magnificent vineyard.
Golfers Will enjoy teeing off in the newly established Eastern Golf Club. Produced by golfing-great, Greg Norman, the first 18 holes of this 27-hole class is currently available, while the remaining nine are expected to be complete by mid-2016.
Wineries
The fertile soil of the Yarra Valley is the birthplace of a number of Australia's best cool climate wines. To help people plan their trip, Yarra Valley neighborhood, and famous wine jurisdiction, James Halliday, has chosen some of their favorite cellar doors to produce the James Halliday Handpicked Yarra Valley Trail. The course includes the likes of Rochford Wines, Domaine Chandon and Oakridge and can be best experienced throughout a two-day remain.
Beer and Lemon
The Yarra Valley is home to a leading cider and ale manufacturers, along with the Cider and Ale trail highlights the area's best, such as Coldsteam Brewery, Giverny Estate, Buckleys Brewery, Kellybrook, Hargreaves Hill, St Ronan's Cider and Napoleone Brewery and Ciderhouse.
Wildlife and Nature
Head into Healesville Sanctuary and immerse yourself within the Aussie bush, and get up close and personal to a number of the country's most iconic wildlife. The Spirits of the Sky free series is on daily at 2.30pm and the adventuresome can reserve beforehand to 'wade with all the platypus'.
Accommodation
Yarra Valley accommodation offers many boutique lodging options, such as: Yering Gorge Cottages, Chateau Yering Hotel, Balgownie Estate and Yarra Valley Lodge.
Air Balloon Rides
Rising early is rewarded with a gorgeous birds eye view from the clouds, enjoy a sunrise balloon ride across the vines and ponds of the Yarra Valley with International Ballooning. Follow this with a champagne breakfast in Rochford Estate
Dairy Pleasures
Sweet tooths will adore Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery at which chocolatiers could be viewed making chocolate creations, whilst cheese fiends will love tasting the several vintages in Yarra Valley Dairy, before going into the hills of the Dandies
Quaint Hilltop villages
A sanctuary of hidden pleasures with panoramic winding streets to quaint hilltop villages, like Olinda and Sassafras. Here is plenty of artist studios, craft shops and famous gardens. The Piggery in Burnham Beeches is a wonderful place to refuel, as is Miss Marples tea room to get a conventional Devonshire tea.
Puffing Billy
An icon of the region, and a necessity for households, Puffing Billy Steam Train departs from Belgrave everyday at 2.30pm, as it rolls through the hills, beyond tall trees and magnificent scenery to return shortly after 5pm.
Quick pit stop
En route Into Melbourne (only 45 minutes off), views of the city could be observed by Sky High Mt Dandenong, and people which have another night to Spare will stay at one of Candlelight Mountain Retreats inviting bed and breakfast style cottages.
In RWLL Coldstream, you will love a distinctive three-course dinner by culinary legends Shannon Bennett and Teage Ezard overlooking the magnificent Levantine Hill Winery, whilst sipping on their famous wines. Instead, enjoy an Argentinian feast by chef Mauro Callegari with roses by Gembrook Hill and Melbourne Gin in RWLL Gembrook, followed with dancing and music at the premier event.
Here are Some suggestions about the best way best to get the most out of your weekend off:
Opened Lately
The Yarra Valley is exploding with fresh things to see and do. The brand new Coombe -The Melba Estate showcases the house of the renowned opera singer Dame Nellie Melba and provides garden tours, wine tasting and a restaurant. Ezard @ Levantine Hillis a Brand-new gastronomic partnership involving hatted chef Teage Ezard and Levantine Hill Estate. Here, people can enjoy classic European cuisine with a spin paired with Levantine Hill wines while overlooking the magnificent vineyard.
Golfers Will enjoy teeing off in the newly established Eastern Golf Club. Produced by golfing-great, Greg Norman, the first 18 holes of this 27-hole class is currently available, while the remaining nine are expected to be complete by mid-2016.
Wineries
The fertile soil of the Yarra Valley is the birthplace of a number of Australia's best cool climate wines. To help people plan their trip, Yarra Valley neighborhood, and famous wine jurisdiction, James Halliday, has chosen some of their favorite cellar doors to produce the James Halliday Handpicked Yarra Valley Trail. The course includes the likes of Rochford Wines, Domaine Chandon and Oakridge and can be best experienced throughout a two-day remain.
Beer and Lemon
The Yarra Valley is home to a leading cider and ale manufacturers, along with the Cider and Ale trail highlights the area's best, such as Coldsteam Brewery, Giverny Estate, Buckleys Brewery, Kellybrook, Hargreaves Hill, St Ronan's Cider and Napoleone Brewery and Ciderhouse.
Wildlife and Nature
Head into Healesville Sanctuary and immerse yourself within the Aussie bush, and get up close and personal to a number of the country's most iconic wildlife. The Spirits of the Sky free series is on daily at 2.30pm and the adventuresome can reserve beforehand to 'wade with all the platypus'.
Accommodation
Yarra Valley accommodation offers many boutique lodging options, such as: Yering Gorge Cottages, Chateau Yering Hotel, Balgownie Estate and Yarra Valley Lodge.
Air Balloon Rides
Rising early is rewarded with a gorgeous birds eye view from the clouds, enjoy a sunrise balloon ride across the vines and ponds of the Yarra Valley with International Ballooning. Follow this with a champagne breakfast in Rochford Estate
Dairy Pleasures
Sweet tooths will adore Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery at which chocolatiers could be viewed making chocolate creations, whilst cheese fiends will love tasting the several vintages in Yarra Valley Dairy, before going into the hills of the Dandies
Quaint Hilltop villages
A sanctuary of hidden pleasures with panoramic winding streets to quaint hilltop villages, like Olinda and Sassafras. Here is plenty of artist studios, craft shops and famous gardens. The Piggery in Burnham Beeches is a wonderful place to refuel, as is Miss Marples tea room to get a conventional Devonshire tea.
Puffing Billy
An icon of the region, and a necessity for households, Puffing Billy Steam Train departs from Belgrave everyday at 2.30pm, as it rolls through the hills, beyond tall trees and magnificent scenery to return shortly after 5pm.
Quick pit stop
En route Into Melbourne (only 45 minutes off), views of the city could be observed by Sky High Mt Dandenong, and people which have another night to Spare will stay at one of Candlelight Mountain Retreats inviting bed and breakfast style cottages.