Things to Do in Yarra Valley

Things to Do in Yarra Valley

Local or just visiting, there’s always more to discover in the Yarra Valley. East of Melbourne, it’s one of Australia’s most famous wine regions, known for cool climate wine, local produce and quiet green hills that make you want to slow down. On RedBalloon you’ll find Yarra Valley things to do on land, in the air and on the water. Want to turn the trip into a proper escape? Browse our Romantic Getaways in the region, or surprise someone with a trip away and let them tick off the best Yarra Valley attractions in person.

What to Do in the Yarra Valley

Looking for things to do in Yarra Valley this weekend, or planning further ahead? Here’s our pick of Yarra Valley activities, covering the wineries, the attractions and everything in between.

– Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Tour Over Yarra Valley: Watch the sun come up over the Yarra Valley from a hot air balloon, drifting above the river, vineyards and hills for around an hour in the air. You’ll get complimentary photos and video from the flight, and the whole morning runs about four hours door to door, one of the best Yarra Valley activities for an early start.

– White Water Rafting on the Yarra River: Grab a paddle and take on fourteen rapids of the Yarra River in a raft, through gorges and bushland that most visitors never see from the water.

– Ferrari Drive through the Yarra Valley, 60 Minutes: An hour behind the wheel of a Ferrari, winding through the Yarra Valley’s best driving roads. Not bad for a Tuesday.

– High Tea with Champagne at Mary Eats Cake: A vintage inspired tea room just outside the valley in Montrose, on the way in from Melbourne. Bottomless scones, artisan teas, a glass of champagne each and a tea gift to take home, a sweet stop to open or close the day.

Yarra Valley Wineries and Wine Tours

With more than 80 vineyards, Yarra Valley wineries are the main reason most people book the trip in the first place. Chasing the best wineries in the Yarra Valley for a long lunch, or want a full day winery tour sorted for you? RedBalloon has Yarra Valley wine tours for both. Rochford Wines, TarraWarra Estate, De Bortoli and Domaine Chandon are the names locals mention first, and each pairs a cool climate wine list with a proper Yarra Valley winery lunch.

Need a Yarra Valley wine tour from Melbourne? Our day tours leave straight from the CBD, so nobody has to be the designated driver. Want to set your own pace? Premium Yarra Valley Wine Tour with Lunch lets you build your own itinerary and visit as many cellar doors as you like, with private transport and an a la carte lunch thrown in. Prefer someone else to plan it? De Bortoli Behind the Scenes Tour and Tasting takes you behind the cellar door to see how the wine actually gets made, while Rochford Wines Wine Tasting and 2 Course Lunch pairs a tasting with a two course lunch at Isabella’s Restaurant, one of the better restaurants in the Yarra Valley’s wineries.

Staying the night? Yarra Valley winery accommodation ranges from small vineyard cottages to bigger retreats set right among the vines, and it pairs nicely with a Romantic Getaway the next morning. Explore the full range of Yarra Valley Wine Tastings and Tours to find what suits your trip.

Yarra Valley Attractions

There’s more to the Yarra Valley than the cellar door. Attractions in the Yarra Valley stretch to art galleries, chocolate makers and the charming village of Healesville, plus a growing craft beer and spirits scene tucked between the vines. Want to combine a few Yarra Valley attractions Victoria is known for in one day? The Yarra Valley Vintages and Villages Day Tour visits three boutique wineries, includes a two course lunch, and leaves you time to explore Healesville at your own pace, with a world class gin distillery and craft beer sampling on offer if you want it.

Family Friendly Things to Do in the Yarra Valley

Kids in tow? There’s plenty to do in the Yarra Valley beyond the cellar door. For older kids, the Electric Bike Tour along the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail winds through mountain ash forest and tree fern gullies just north of the valley, with an electric assist so little legs don’t have to do all the work. Need an indoor option for a wet day? Pair your trip with a visit to the small wildlife park in nearby Mount Evelyn.

Regions of the Yarra Valley

Heading to the Yarra Ranges? There are a few towns worth building into the trip. This part of Victoria takes in the Yarra Valley itself, Lilydale, Healesville and smaller spots like Badger Creek, Macclesfield and Yarra Junction.

Yarra Valley: home to over 80 vineyards, known for its wineries, its food and its quiet natural surroundings, from sunrise hot air balloon rides to long winery lunches.

Lilydale: the gateway to both the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley, and a good base for a short break or the starting point for a driving day out through the region.

Healesville: just under an hour from Melbourne and right in the centre of the Yarra Valley food and wine district, with getaway packages, wildlife encounters and day tours on offer.

Still deciding what to book? A Gift Voucher covers anything in the Yarra Ranges, accommodation included, so they can choose their own Yarra Valley attractions to tick off.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best Yarra Valley wine tours?

It depends how you like to travel. Premium Yarra Valley Wine Tour with Lunch lets you pick your own wineries and set your own pace, while a small group option like the Yarra Valley vintages and villages day tour covers three boutique wineries, lunch and a wander through Healesville, all planned for you.

When is the best time to visit Yarra Valley?

There’s no bad time, honestly. Autumn (March to May) is the vintage season, with cooler days and the leaves turning. Spring brings green vineyards and mild weather. Summer is made for long lunches on a winery deck, and winter suits a wine tasting by the fire. If you’d rather skip the crowds, weekdays are quieter than weekends.

What are the best restaurants in Yarra Valley?

Most of the best restaurants in the Yarra Valley sit right on the cellar door, so you can go from tasting to lunch without moving the car. Isabella’s Restaurant at Rochford Wines and De Bortoli’s Locale are two of the better known ones, both built around local produce and estate wine.

What are the best things to do in Yarra Valley?

Most people build their day around at least one winery, then add something else on top: hot air ballooning, white water rafting, high tea or a Ferrari drive. Whether you’re there for the day or staying over, wine tasting in the morning and something active in the afternoon is a solid formula.

What are the best places to stay in Yarra Valley?

Yarra Valley winery accommodation ranges from small vineyard cottages to bigger retreats with spa facilities and views over the vines. Browse the RedBalloon Romantic Getaways in the Yarra Valley for stays that come bundled with a wine tasting or breakfast.

What are the top wineries to visit in Yarra Valley?

Rochford Wines, De Bortoli, Domaine Chandon, TarraWarra Estate and Yering Station come up again and again. Yering Station is generally considered the site of Victoria’s first vineyard. Each has a cellar door, and most pair a tasting with a restaurant or lunch on site.

What are the best outdoor activities in Yarra Valley?

Outdoor activities in the Yarra Valley range from white water rafting on the Yarra River and an electric bike ride along the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail, to hot air ballooning at sunrise over the vines.

What are the best Yarra Valley activities for families?

Good family options include the electric bike tour along the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail and a stop at the small wildlife park in nearby Mount Evelyn for younger kids. Older kids and teens will get more out of the bike tour, which covers a scenic, guided trail with an electric assist.

What are the best day trips to Yarra Valley from Melbourne?

The Yarra Valley is around 45 to 60 minutes from Melbourne, so it’s an easy one. Guided small group tours include return transfers from Melbourne CBD, so wine tasting doesn’t have to come with a designated driver problem. Browse the RedBalloon Yarra Valley Wine Tastings and Tours for the full range.

How far is the Yarra Valley from Melbourne?

It’s a short drive, roughly 45 to 60 minutes (around 50km) from Melbourne. You can get there by public transport or taxi too, but a day trip package with return transfers included is the easiest way to do a Yarra Valley wine tour without sorting your own transport.

How many days do you need in the Yarra Valley?

You can do it as a day trip from Melbourne, or stretch it into a 2 to 3 day break. One day covers wine tasting and lunch comfortably. A longer stay leaves room for an electric bike ride, a cooking class, some time behind the wheel of something fast, and animal encounters.

Exploring More of Victoria

These are just the Yarra Valley activities. The RedBalloon range of Things to do in Victoria goes a lot further, with plenty more happening in Melbourne, on the Mornington Peninsula, along the Great Ocean Road and elsewhere around the state.

Things to do in Melbourne: the Yarra Valley is only around an hour from the CBD, so it’s worth tacking on a few things in the capital while you’re in the area, fine dining, helicopter flights, romantic getaways and driving days among them.

Things to do on the Mornington Peninsula: less than an hour from Melbourne in the other direction, with hot springs, wineries and beach horse riding for a different side of Victoria altogether.

Things to do on the Great Ocean Road: swap vineyards for coastline, with the 12 Apostles, skydiving over the water and one of the best road trips in the country.