Things to do in the Yarra Valley: Our Ultimate Destination Guide to this Storied Wine Region

The home of Victoria's wine industry, the Yarra Valley encompasses all the offerings of what makes a city escape ideal; great wine, amazing food, and an abundance of boutique businesses — all within a leisurely one-hour drive from Melbourne's CBD.

Whilst the area is known for its award-winning wineries and locally sourced food, the ‘back to nature’ pull of its surrounds is one not to be underestimated. Being a natural amphitheatre, the Yarra Valley offers city dwellers the perfect opportunity to escape the daily grind, and recharge.

Book a table for lunch at one of the many winery restaurants in the area, walk around the picturesque Healesville Village where you’ll discover shopping, cafés and local food producers, or just simply lose yourself in the breathtaking views of mountains that surround the valley. However you decide to spend your time, let the breeze usher you from one corridor of vines to the next with our ultimate guide of things to do in the Yarra Valley. 

Domaine Chandon

The beautifully renovated tasting room is enough of a drawcard in itself! Head along to one of the main attractions of the Yarra Valley, Domaine Chandon. The luxurious pastel-hued venue is only topped by the incredibly vista of Chandon’s vines spreading out to the horizon. Sip you're way to bubbly paradise and forget all of your worries. 

727 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream

St Hubert's Estate 

Another architectural stunner, St Hubert's Estate is a must when visiting the Yarra Valley - for so many reasons! For one, it has a long history of producing outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon and today continues to be lauded for its portfolio of cool climate wines which also include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Roussanne.

Less than an hour’s drive from Melbourne, the cellar door sits at the gateway to the stunning region - the perfect first stop on your journey into wine country.

As one of the pioneers of premium winemaking in the area, we are thrilled to have created an innovative cellar door experience that sets a benchmark for other tasting rooms.

Head on in for a tasting, to buy a bottle or twelve, or simply to enjoy a glass overlooking the vines and picturesque grassy knolls embedded into the design. They also serve a small selection of local cheese and charcuterie to accompany your wine experience.

1-3 St Huberts Road, Coldstream

Panton Hill

The rustic and utterly charming Panton Hill is one of our favourite wineries in the Yarra Valley. It's a family-founded and run boutique vineyard You'll fall instantly in love with the outstanding architecture reminiscent of Southern Europe, and the exceptional estate produced wines and delicious light food provided.

Come in and enjoy an informative and entertaining wine tasting, as much or as little as you’d like! The range is wide, and includes dry, sweet, sparkling and fortified; something to suit every palate.

Set in beautiful rolling country side and bush, you’ll feel a million miles away for the hustle of Melbourne's CBD. The cellar door is open for tastings on weekends only.

145 Manuka Road, Panton Hill 

De Bortoli

Hello, warm Italian hospitality and some of the finest wines in the region. In extremely exciting news, De Bortoli's Yarra Valley Cellar Door is now offering daily wine tastings, from 10.00am to 5.00pm daily. Premium experiences to private wine tastings for two, expect to delight in array of exquisite whites, reds, sparkling and fortifieds. Or take a seat in the sunny dining room at Locale Restaurant, overlooking the vines to enjoy the very best the Yarra Valley has to offer, matched with De Bortoli's quality estate grown drops. 

Sitchu Tip: It is advisable to book in advance to avoid disappointment; De Bortoli is popular, and for good reason. 

58 Pinnacle Lane, Dixons Creek

Balgownie Estate 

Balgownie is a winery and accommodation destination offering classic experiences in two distinctive locations – the Yarra Valley and Bendigo. Its Yarra Valley estate offers up one of the largest hotels in the region, a brand-new restaurant of upscale modern-Australian and seasonal dining, and a 5-star winery as rated by Halliday Wine Companion. It stocks the full range of Balgownie wine produced from 17 acres of Yarra Valley vineyards and 70 acres of grapevines at their Bendigo winery (where Balgownie's wine journey began back in 1969).

When it comes to wine tasting, the Yarra Valley Cellar Door offers a special selection of wine tasting experiences, and a wide selection of Balgownie wines available for purchase. Happy sipping! 

1309 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen 

Rob Dolan Wines

After 25 years of making wine for some of Australia’s most iconic wineries, Yarra Valley legend, Rob Dolan, made the decision to channel his passion and skill into his own label. And so, Rob Dolan Wines was born - and we're so thankful for it! You'll love settling in at this lush location to sample wines boasting elegance, structure and a 'less is more' approach that imbues each style with stunning depth of flavour. These are wines that will make you stop and savour it all. 

21-23 Delaneys Road, Warrandyte South 

Yering Station

Victoria's very first vineyard, Yering Station, was established in 1838. It's here you can learn the language of their wines within a historic cellar door. Taste your way through their full collection or be guided to your individual palate and preferences by the knowledgeable team. The educational nature of Yering Station's tastings and the relaxed and welcoming environment of the large tasting space encourages all visitors to sip at the source and have fun doing so. The signature onsite restaurant is also a must for wining and dining devouts. Luxe and approachable, this is a must-visit winery in the Yarra Valley.

38 Melba Highway, Yering 

Jayden Ong

Head to Healesville to indulge in premium Yarra Valley wine made by Jayden Ong. These drops include Moonlit Forest, One Block and La Maison de Ong, and are detailed, pure, expressive and exciting wines that truly highlight why the Yarra Valley is such a illustrious wine region. It's also one of the best cellar doors in the region for food, for lunches and dinners that pay homage to the very best ingredients, cooked simply. The perfect accompaniment to your glass of wine. 

A free-fall into the world of wine, both local and international drops are available to try here. Visiting Jayden Ong Winery & Cellar Bar is one of the most captivating experiences in the Yarra Valley, which should make it an automatic inclusion on your winery hit-list. 

8 Hunter Road, Healesville 

Giant Steps 

Another Healesville cellar door worth its weight in viniferous gold is Giant Steps. Located upstairs, their tasting room offers a refined dose of regional Yarra Valley and single-vineyard wines. It has its fruit sourcing, and minimalist winemaking, down to a fine art too; expect delicious drops of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Rose and even a blended Grenache to soundly whet your palate. Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays in particular receive their dues here. From complex and perfumed, to confident and structured, Giant Steps have done a splendid job in revealing the distinctive characteristics of these varieties, their vineyards and vintages. You'll love a tasting experience here, trust us. 

314 Maroondah Highway, Healesville

Fin Wines

Love a natty drop? So do we! You'll love a visit to Fin Wines, nestled in the hills of Dixon Creek. It's open for tastings, tipples and nibbles on Saturdays only, but you'll want to sample every drop of their wine. They grow wine with a focus on the health of the soil with minimal impact on the environment.

Here, a wine tasting includes a selection of 6 wines served with smoked almonds - and it's one of our favourite things to do in the Yarra Valley. We love their Le Vin Du Rosier, a celestial wine made from grapes grown off the thorn of a rose, otherwise known as Grenache. It's a delightful and bright red best served with a slight chill to get the most out of it. 

119 Lorimers Lane, Dixons Creek 

Coombe Yarra Valley - Melba Estate 

Indulge in a culturally rich experience at Coombe Yarra Valley. Home of operatic icon, Dame Nellie Melba, this seven acre Coldstream property is the gateway to the perfect weekend in the Yarra Valley. 

Dine in their spectacular restaurant, located in the beautifully restored motor house with historic clock tower. Indulge in exquisite dishes made with fresh, local and estate grown produce. as you sip Coombes' elegant wines which beautifully compliment the menu.

Gaze out the floor to ceiling windows to landscaped gardens, Melba's market-style courtyard, and the main garden avenue with glimpses of the oldest in-ground swimming pool in Victoria.

You might like to relax with a platter, wine or gin in the charming garden terrace. Surrounded by the stunning 100-year-old gardens enveloped in 600 metres of Cyprus hedges, you'll feel like you've landed in a fairytale. 

673-675 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream

Levantine Hill 

The architectural design of Levantine Hill will blow you away even before you've dined your way to something akin to foodie nirvana. 

This is how they do it. You'll start your journey at Levantine Hill with a bespoke food and wine tasting. These wine tastings also unlock the opportunity to try some of the rarest and most expensive wines in the world, as part of a ‘benchmark’ wine tasting experience.

882 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream 

Seville Estate

First planted in 1972, Seville Estate has built a fine reputation for premium estate grown and made wine. But we're even bigger fans of their on-site restaurant, which plays host to a series of visionary chefs who create unique menus that pair perfectly with the estate's wines. The limited time nature of these chefs-in-residence ensure that each meal at Seville Estate is a flavourful and transportative experience. A little like being invited to the best dinner party ever. 

65 Linwood Road, Seville 

1309 at Balgownie Estate 

Offering contemporary dining, seasonal local produce, award winning wine, and breathtaking views combined, Balgownie Estate's 1309 Restaurant, Bar & Deck is one for the books when it comes to dining out in the Yarra Valley. Expect a seasonal set menu with perfectly paired wines. Think confit chicken terrine with black pudding bon bon and pickled shiitake mushrooms, matched with the 2019 Black Label Chardonnay; a 'Roaring Forties' lamb loin with sweet breads, parmesan gnocchi, sugar snaps, baby carrots and garden pea puree made more striking with mint gastrique and the 2018 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from their Bendigo vineyard; and a fun take on a raspberry lamington to finish. All of this is best lead into with a tipple out on the deck as the sun sets, overlooking a golden glimmer of vines. 

1309 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen 

TarraWarra Estate

TarraWarra Estate is best known for two things: producing world-class wines (namely, its pinot noir and chardonnay varieties), and its sophisticated hatted restaurant. A long-time fixture of the Yarra Valley’s foodie scene, gourmands can expect an exceptional dining experience melding fine wine, regional tastes and breath-taking scenery. The set menu consists of four courses including dishes such as Buxton trout escabeche, an asparagus and confit garlic risotto, Aurum duck 'neck sausage' with celeriac, quince and jus, and a macadamia tart to finish, served with jasmine rice cream and koji caramel. 

311 Healesville-Yarra Glen Road, Yarra Glen

Meletos 

From the family who brought you Stones of the Yarra Valley, The Stables at Stones and No.7 Healesville, Meletos encompasses a regional café and restaurant, events space, 23-room boutique hotel, massage retreat and brewery, all housed within converted century-old vignerons quarters with apple orchards and vineyards bordering. Exquisite surroundings notwithstanding, the food to be indulged in here can be summed up simply as 'divine.'

Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, expect locally sourced and seasonally fresh produce that simply speaks for itself. One of our favourite restaurants in the Yarra Valley. 

12 St Huberts Road, Coldstream 

Zonzo Estate

Set amongst green, rolling hills and rows upon rows of vines, Zonzo Estate’s restaurant is the perfect pitstop to enjoy a leisurely lunch of traditional Italian cuisine. Sit inside on one of their wooden tables by the roaring fire, or soak up the sunshine outside overlooking the vines.

FYI, during summer time, there's nothing more delightfully essential than sharing a bottle of their Zoncello with friends. A heady mix of Limoncello and Prosecco, we can't get enough! 

957 Healesville-Yarra Glen Road, Yarra Glen

Quarters at St Hubert's Estate 

From Hubert Estate’s new modern restaurant, enjoy the views of the Yarra Valley landscape as a team of experienced chefs bring together a menu of seasonal plates worthy of being on your must-try in the Yarra Valley bucket list. Think succulent steaks, vibrant local veggies, and delicate, flaky fish, with European and Modern Australian flair found throughout each dish. 

The menu is full of elevated, familiar favourites; Quarters is the perfect spot for foodies, families, and everyone in between.

1-3 St Huberts Road, Coldstream 

Heartswood

Another must for local and travelling foodies alike, Yarra Glen's Heartswood feels a little like stepping into an old friend's place. The vibe is warm and welcoming; made extra atmospheric due to it's housing within the old Colonial Bank building. Settle in with for the perfect lunch or dinner date, to enjoy something relaxed yet soulfully refined in design. 

It's wonderfully casual nature appeals to all, but don't mistake it for anything other than expert when it comes to the use of local produce and culinary leanings. There's a rotating roster of themed menus that change weekly, and if you're interested in visiting, you can keep an eye on their social media to stay up to date with what is currently being offered. 

25 Bell Street, Yarra Glen

Healesville Hotel

This grandiose, old-school and sprawling pub, with its public bar, dining room, and unmissable garden area, has an old-world country charm you need to check out on your next visit to the Yarra Valley. After a rambunctious venture around the region's best vineyards, make way to Healesville Hotel for some of the best pub food around; there's a menu for the public bar room and also a for the bistro room. Think freshly shucked oysters, nduja sausage rolls, broccoli spaghetti and a classic cheeseburger on one side, tuna crudo, burrata and perfectly cooked steaks on the other. 

256 Maroondah Highway, Healesville

Balgownie Estate 

A prime vantage point to explore Melbourne’s Yarra Valley, Balgownie Estate is located just an hours' drive from inner city Melbourne, and 5-minutes from central Yarra Glen.

One of the largest hotels in the region, it features 70 accommodation rooms and suites including intimate queen rooms and king garden terrace rooms, spacious contemporary one and two-bedroom spa suites with private balconies, luxurious deluxe spa suites, and a one apartment-style Directors Suite.

Make sure to book in a wine tasting and dinner reservation at their on-site restaurant - a truly unmissable Yarra Valley experience all round. 

1309 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen 

Yarrawalla Vineyard Cottage

With its relaxed vibe and sensational views, Yarrawalla Vineyard Cottage is a beautiful, private getaway in the Yarra Valley. Cutely, it's been inspired by musicians, writers, teachers, designers, and farmers who have all lived in the cottage over four generations. Surrounded by vineyards and rolling pastures, the cottage is within walking distance of premier wineries, food hubs and concerts, and is just a ten-minute drive to the Healesville township. Indulge in open plan living that includes generous queen bedrooms draped in luxury linen. The open fireplace and welcome hampers will ensure your stay is one of refined, country chic luxury. Be sure to enjoy the back deck and front verandah, to catch the morning and afternoon sun respectively for coffee or a cold ale, G&T or vino. 

Address available upon request

The Burrow at Wombat Bend 

This mudbrick B&B is a total swoon-fest. Solo travellers, couples, writers – everybody falls in love with The Burrow – it invites you to take your foot off the pedal, sink into a chair and breathe. The sense of home, the snuggly rugs and soft pure linen, the permission to lose yourself for an hour in a book, or investigate the treasures throughout. No to-do list here, simply put the kettle on, put your feet up, gaze through the window and let the billabong work its magic. 

200 Beachs Lane, Dixons Creek

Seville Estate 

There are two accommodations on offer at Seville Estate. The Seville Homestead is perfect for larger group gatherings, while the Vineyard Apartments are more suitable for couples or groups of two. 

Nestled into the landscape and within the surrounds of newly established gardens sits the homestead, which has been lovingly restored as the primo place to unwind and celebrate family and friends. The stunning contemporary space will blow you away, overlooking the pool area, native gardens and the distant hills to the west.

65 Linwood Road, Seville 

Gingers on the Hill

Eclectic and stylish, tree ferns hover above the stylish mountain sanctuary that is Gingers on the Hill. It's a perfect Yarra Valley adjacent accommodation for couples, families and small groups. 

Sip wine by the fire, cook, relax on the outdoor balcony overlooking the mountain ranges. They've truly thought of everything, with spaces and gardens for all to connect, explore, relax, enjoy and simply breath deep.

Hand Street, Warburton

The Farmhouse at Meletos

The Farmhouse at Meletos is an exquisite boutique hotel in the Yarra Valley. With uninterrupted views across vines and apple orchards to the blue-tinged Great Divide, it offers up 23 luxury rooms with adjoining ensuite.

No two suites are the same, with each uniquely furnished with luxurious textiles and rare pieces sourced from travels across the world. The ambience is elegant and relaxed, with no attention to detail spared. Tuscan-inspired, it's an absolute dreamscape.

Complete with luxury ensuite, toiletries and free Wi-Fi, there's even complimentary breakfast served at the Meletos Café. What are you waiting for? A stay here is one of the best things to do in the Yarra Valley. 

12 St Huberts Road, Coldstream

Kangaroo Manor

This is one seriously luxurious private paradise, set across 40 acres of land providing a uniquely Australian escape. From the moment you drive up the magnificent drive, this architecturally designed, hexagonal glass house takes draws in all the breathtaking views that surround. High ceilings, glass walls, a huge amazing pool; there's even a river walk on the property!  Private and perfect, it's one of the best stays in the Yarra Valley. 

Yarra Junction, Yarra Valley

Art Galleries

From the stunning Tarrawarra Museum of Art to St Hubert's Estate private art collection to Healesville's eclectic collection of art, the array of galleries and exhibitions in the Yarra Valley is impressive and varied. See here for inspiration. 

Hot Air Ballooning 

The only way to take in the Yarra Valley is via a birds eye perspective. From Go Wild Ballooning to Global Ballooning, no matter who you choose, the early wake up call is completely worth it. Sky bound and sensational, a hot air balloon experience is one of the best things to do in the Yarra Valley. 

Visit a world-famous gin distillery

A short hour's drive outside of Melbourne will take you to charming Healesville, also known as the home of everyone's favourite gin distillery: Four Pillars. Once there, take a seat at the bar, drink in the scenic copper stills and order yourself a tasting paddle to sample this world-class fare. Just don't forget to pick a designated driver.

2A Old Lilydale Road, Healesville

Healesville Organic Farmers Market

Just behind Healesville main street, Coronation Park hosts local organic growers selling their produce every Saturday morning. Head on down to have a chat with the farmers about the ‘real food’ they have on offer and what’s in season. You might also be lucky enough to have the chocolate van For Fudge Sake stop by for a little extra treat.

Coronation Park, River Street, Healesville

Kitchen & Butcher

If you’d prefer to put on a DIY lunch or picnic, head over to Kitchen & Butcher, lovingly known by the locals simply as ‘K&B’. Here you can create your own grazing plate, however big or small, from their large offerings of gourmet cheese, cured meats, and other delicious delicacies.

258 Maroondah Highway, Healesville

Nature

Perhaps the best offering the Yarra Valley serves its locals and visitors is the visual feast and calming presence of its surrounding nature. Take an early morning walk through the many parklands, or simply drive around and watch the heartwarming display of wide open fields play out from your window. Venture a little further and you'll be blindsided by the beauty of Keppel Falls in Marysville and the iconic Black Spur Drive. 

If you've enjoyed our guide to the best things to do in the Yarra Valley and are looking for more viniferous ventures, be sure to check out our other essential guide to Victoria's best wine regions. Looking for inspiration closer to home? Head out to one of Melbourne's best wine bars for a tipple or three.