Attractions

Rated number one by TripAdvisor, the Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk should definitely be on your bucket list. The boardwalk circuit takes in the sounds and scents of the rainforest. The environment is cool, damp and characterised by Myrtle Beech and Sassafras trees.

The walk is approximately one kilometer in length, so a great one for families with little ones in tow. It is a grade two walk suitable for most ages and fitness levels and you can even bring along your dog - make sure to keep Rover on a leash though.

Trail starts from the Wirrawilla Carpark off Sylvia Creek Road in Toolangi.

The Edible Forest is a place like no other! Imagine walking through a forest where everything around you is edible or medicinal. Once you step inside the Edible Forest, you will be guided through six specifically designed areas which naturally flow into one another. Be guided by one of the team at Yarra Valley Estate who lovingly created the space, learn the health benefits and reasons why individual plants were selected as you meander through the lush and abundant ‘forest’.  Learn about the benefits Gotu Kola, Moringa and Lemon Verbena and why they should be included in your home garden. 

Masons Falls is located within the stunning Kinglake National Park.

Located close to Masons Falls is the Masons Falls Picnic Area. Enjoy a picnic under the towering gums and beautiful natural surroundings. A large sheltered area, free gas barbeques, plenty of tables and toilet facilities make it the perfect spot for social gatherings. From the Picnic Area there are several short walks, including one that leads to the spectacular Masons Falls lookout.

Content: Murrindindi Shire Council

Only 65 kilometres north of Melbourne, Kinglake National Park lies on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, offering dramatic views of the Melbourne skyline, Port Phillip Bay, the Yarra Valley and across to the You Yangs.

This is a good spot, not far from Melbourne, to go camping, enjoy a bushwalk or have a picnic.

Since the intense 2009 fires in Kinglake National Park, many plants adapted to fire are flourishing. In spring, keep an eye out for wildflowers in bloom, while winter is a good time to discover fungi, mosses and lichens.

Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website.

Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Content: Parks Victoria

Nestled in the rolling hills of Murrindindi near the township of Yea just north of the Great Dividing Range, Sedona Estate has been built from the ground up by owners Paul Evans and Sonja Herges. From its humble beginnings in 1998, Paul and Sonja’s vision has been to produce regionally distinctive wines of impeccable quality. As early pioneers in the region, they planted the Italian variety Sangiovese in 2001; its continuous success has seen a recent vineyard expansion of Sangiovese to the north facing hillside block and new plantings of the old French variety Carmenere. First commercial crops are eagerly awaited!

Come and visit us in the picturesque Yarra Valley where our spectacular Chocolaterie is an indulgent feast for the senses.

Enjoy abundant free chocolate tastings. Watch our European Chocolatiers hand craft over 250 different chocolate products. Be amazed at our showroom choc-filled with thousands of couverture delights. Indulge in a delicious selection of house-made ice creams. Relax in our all day Café serving breakfast, lunch and specialising in decadent sweet treats. When tastings are done, let the children run and play in our expansive lawns, gardens, orchard and wetlands.

We’re under an hour from Melbourne, but a sweet world away!

Explore a bushland haven for Australian wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary, just one hour from Melbourne in the stunning Yarra Valley wine region.

Wander tranquil tracks and see iconic Australian animals including koalas, kangaroos, platypus, dingoes, wombats, emus and more.

Discover majestic birds of prey and magnificent parrots in the spectacular Spirits of The Sky bird show.

Tales from Platypus Creek allows you to see the platypus up close in in the world-first interactive daily platypus show.

Take a visit to the Australian Wildlife Health Centre to meet our vets and nurses as they care for sick, injured or orphaned wildlife in need of care.

Healesville Sanctuary is open 9:00am to 5:00pm every day of the year.

Content: Zoos Victoria

Loved by generations for over 100 years, Puffing Billy is one of the finest preserved steam railways in the world. Kids and adults alike will love the feeling of the wind in their hair as they wind through the lush rainforest and beautiful fern gullies of the magnificent Dandenong Ranges National Park, enjoying the views from the iconic open-sided carriages.

Located one hour east of Melbourne, it makes for the perfect day out for the whole family. This century old steam train is still running on its original 24 kilometre mountain track from Belgrave to Gembrook, and the convenience of catching the train at any of its stations is a great way to experience the region. Puffing Billy Railway is now a major tourist attraction and operates every day (except Christmas Day), thanks to the tireless efforts of more than 900 dedicated volunteers.

Alternatively, the dining and special events trains also add to the overall visitor experience. You can travel first-class in their luxury, fully enclosed dining carriages enjoying the daily Steam and Cuisine Luncheon, or themed evening dining experiences, including Murder on the Puffing Billy Express plus more.

Content: Puffing Billy Steam Railway

TarraWarra Museum of Art is located in the beautiful Yarra Valley wine region, a one hour drive north-east of Melbourne.

Throughout each year it presents seasonally changing exhibitions within an award-winning building set in the rolling hills of the natural Australian landscape.

Since opening in 2003, the Museum has become recognised as a cultural icon in the region, providing visitors with an enjoyable, inspiring experience which combines stunning architecture with the very best of modern and contemporary art. Exhibitions cover a diverse range of stimulating and innovative Australian and international art in group and collection shows and single artist surveys, offering constantly refreshing contexts in which to experience art.

TarraWarra Museum of Art captures the vision of its founders, philanthropists Eva Besen AO and Marc Besen AC, passionate collectors of Australian art from the 1950s to the present day, who gifted both the building, and the public collection featuring many significant Australian artists who were instrumental in the development of modern art in this country, to the public.

Children are always welcome and free activity sheets are available for each exhibition. The Museum provides disabled car parking and easy access to all galleries.

Art at Linden Gate, in the beautiful Yarra Valley, is a complete art experience. Browse through the gallery, perhaps find the perfect piece for your home and spend a weekend relaxing in one of the self-contained, artist designed cottages.

Stainless steel, concrete and glass sculptures by Ernst Fries can be seen along the driveway and throughout the property and the regularly changing exhibitions in the gallery keep visitors returning many times.

The comfortable, self-contained, mud brick cottages are decorated with original art and sculptures (for sale) making a weekend stay a complete art experience. Curl up in front of the fire with a glass of local wine or relax and unwind in the large spa after a busy day exploring the Valley.

After a great nights sleep in the king bed, enjoy the generous breakfast provisions (included with direct bookings only) while gazing at the views of the Yarra Valley and the balloons, if you are up early. On warmer days the terrace overlooking the vines is a great place for breakfast, a sunset drink or barbecue.

Content: Art at Linden Gate

Any excuse will do to bring you to the weather-beaten barn with its unbeatable views over vines. Stones of the Yarra Valley does its best to give you plenty of reasons, with themed lunches celebrating fresh regional produce, intimate concerts in the chapel, weekend and special occasion lunches and Saturday evening dinners beneath the rough-hewn timbers of the heritage Stables.

Content: Visit Victoria

Plenty Gorge Park offers a wide range of natural and cultural experiences only 20km from Melbourne CBD.

With views of the Plenty River and a backdrop of the wooded Plenty Gorge, this is a perfect spot for a quiet picnic or barbecue. Visitors to Yarrambat can enjoy views of the Kinglake Ranges and the Plenty River valley.

Nioka Bush Camp is a great place for group camping, with bunkhouse accommodation available.

Before you go
Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website.

Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Enjoy a heritage railway ride from Healesville Station through the beautiful Yarra Valley to the 150 metre long brick tunnel on the Yarra Valley Railway.

Bring your family on the 40 minute return trip. The kids will love the ride with a tunnel, stunning mountain views and possible kangaroos along the way. Before and after your trip, the kids enjoy themselves on the extensive children's adventure play ground at the front of the station.

Charters for group bookings involve a minimum cost and should be made in advance. One ride can cater for a maximum of 40 passengers. For groups with more than 40 passengers, two trips can be made.

Special events run throughout the year. For all details regarding these events and new events please visit the Yarra Valley Railway website.

Yarra Valley Railway is open on Sundays, public holidays and Wednesdays during school holidays. For more information, please visit the website or contact Yarra Valley Railway.

Content: Yarra Valley Railway

Established in the Riverina region of New South Wales in 1928, De Bortoli Wines is now one of Australia's largest family-owned wine companies.

In 1987 Leanne De Bortoli and her husband, De Bortoli Chief Winemaker, Steve Webber, established the Yarra Valley winery and restaurant. The vision for the Yarra Valley Estate was to produce high quality cool climate wines which express the best the Yarra Valley wine region has to offer.

The award winning Yarra Valley Estate offers wine tastings and private wine experiences, Melba Wine Club memberships and home delivery of wine within Australia and overseas.

De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate has a contemporary Italian style restaurant catering up to 120 guests. The estate has wedding and function facilities, catering for corporate and family functions, small conference facilities and has ample car and bus parking (including disabled parking). De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate has disability access to both cellar door and restaurant.

The estate's gardens are beautifully landscaped with picnic facilities and children's playground. Located only one hour from Melbourne, De Bortoli Winery and Restaurant is well worth a visit.

Content: De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate

Visit Victoria's Biggest Theme Park! Only 26kms from Karma Kinglake. With Awesome Rides & Attractions, including NEW Dragon's Revenge Swing Ride & NEW Mystic Kingdom.  Funfields is also home to Volcano Beach Heated WAVE POOL and 3 ProSlide WORLD RECORD Waterslides; Kraken Racer, Typhoon & Gravity Wave & many other wet & dry rides including Re-Imagined Amazonia Falls, Pirate Ship, Go Karts, Alpine Toboggan Slide, Mini Golf and so much more.