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| Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges - Victoria | |||||||||
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| Scroll down for details of the Yarra Valley, Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Ranges - all an easy drive from Melbourne | |||||||||
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The Yarra Valley now has
over 50 wineries and the landscape has changed dramatically over the
last 30 years as pastoral land has been progressively planted with
vines. Before the late 1970s, only a very few properties grew grapes but
now the area is established as a world class region for cool climate
wines.
Green countryside and neat vineyards set off by a backdrop of forested
ranges make the Yarra Valley a very appealing destination. Many of the
wineries have spectacular modern architecture and immaculate
landscaping.The Yarra Valley is an easy day trip from central Melbourne and depending upon city traffic, the journey takes about an hour to an hour and a half if you are driving and probably less if you go with one of a growing number of small tour operators who offer Yarra Valley experiences. Cellar doors include:
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Mount Dandenong is only about 15-30 minutes drive from the Yarra Valley,
depending upon where you are. The Dandenong Ranges are quite unique in
their atmosphere. Immensely tall trees, prolific ferns and creepers give
an almost prehistoric feel to the winding roads and since there are many
deciduous trees, autumn colours are lovely. The area is well settled and
punctuated by small, attractive centres. Olinda is one of the best known villages and has a good range of restaurants, bed and breakfasts and small, interesting shops. Others include Sassafras, Emerald, Belgrave, Kalista, Gembrook and Cockatoo. The Dandenongs have long been a favourite picnic spot with the locals and lovely little picnic areas are set just off the road in the trees. On a hot summer’s day in the city, temperatures will be distinctly fresher here. Within the Dandenong Ranges and 40 km east of Melbourne is the Dandenong Ranges National Park www.parkweb.vic.gov.au(Dandenongs). The park is divided into 3 sections: Upper Ferntree Gully; the Sherbrooke section with Sherbrooke Falls and the Doongalla Forest section including Mt Dandenong itself. There are a number of well signed short bush walks and camping is not allowed in this metropolitan park. 
The area is famous for its lovely gardens, including the beautifully
situated 43 hectare National Rhododendron Gardens near Olinda, the
Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens near Sherbrooke, the William Ricketts
Sanctuary (pictured) with its clay sculptures on the Mt Dandenong Tourist Road and
Katandra Gardens at Wandin, an 8 acre garden of Australian native plants
with magnificent views, looked after by TV programme Gardening
Australia’s gardener of the year winner for 2005.The area around Wandin and Silvan has traditionally been a fruit and market gardening area and is well known for its displays of spring bulbs and its plant nurseries. |
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 Yarra Ranges National Park www.parkweb.vic.gov.au(Yarra
Ranges) stretches from Healesville to Warburton (near the headwaters of
the Yarra River) and to Marysville. It is a vital catchment area for
Melbourne's water supply and is home to forests of mountain ash,
rainforest and fern gullies, and the endangered Leadbeater's Possum.Mount Donna Buang and Lake Mountain are snow recreation areas in winter (June-Aug). Healesville is home to a long established and well run native animal sanctuary, the Healesville Sanctuary. There are some very scenic drives between Healesville and Warburton and along the Acheron Way between Warburton and Marysville. |
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| Truly Australia have attempted to give an honest and objective description of the topics covered on this page and have deliberately avoided regurgitating tourist office media releases. The information shown has been compiled from a variety of reputable sources and our own experiences. We check and review this information from time to time, but we assume no responsibility for the absolute accuracy of the details given. |
