Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges

  Take in sublime scenery like the Healesville and Yarra Glen vineyards, green valleys and pristine rivers around Marysville and Warburton as you drift over the Yarra Valley in a hot air balloon. Spend the rest of the day calling in at sensational cellar doors at hallowed winemaking institutions or undiscovered gems, picking up gourmet treats at farmers' markets, surveying the work of local artists at TarraWarra Estate in Yarra Glen, and finishing with a delectable dinner at a winery restaurant like Locale at De Bortoli, Stones of the Yarra Valley, or Eleonore's at Chateau Yering.

  Get close to Australian wildlife like dingoes, kangaroos, wombats and the elusive platypus at Healesville Sanctuary. Go green in neighbouring Dandenong Ranges, a verdant realm of fern glades, towering trees and eclectic and artistic villages. Climb aboard Puffing Billy, Australia's oldest steam train, for an alternative perspective of secluded bed and breakfast cottages, sun-kissed gardens and vast national parks. Disembark in Belgrave and explore the neighbouring villages of Sassafras and Olinda with their eclectic shops and blend of contemporary and traditional cafes serving up mean Devonshire teas and more. Meet the fascinating sculptures of Aboriginal figures in William Ricketts Sanctuary and survey all of Melbourne from the Sky High Observatory.

Get in your car and cruise the vine-strung hills and rolling farmland of the Yarra Valley. Drive to the ancient forests and Alice in Wonderland streetscapes of the Dandenong Ranges. Travel by train to Hurstbridge, Lilydale or Belgrave. Various bus companies run services between towns and villages in the region.

  This is an amazing place to visit all year round, with the blooming gardens and quirky nature areas away from the city.   

In the summer and spring months bask in the lovely sunshine or opt for the autumnal months and stroll through the crisp gardens and parks.   The best time for a Yarra Valley drive is autumn, as the yellowing vine leaves and ripening bunches tell you. Winemakers will be busier if you visit during vintage, but someone will always be around to pour you a taste and share the year’s war stories. Stately oaks and elms abound, their blast of rich colour contrasting with the steep, blue-tinged hill-scapes. Finally, there is the autumn ritual: watching a languid sunset from the deck, pulling closed the patio doors, opening a savoury pinot and lighting the fire.   Of course, every season has its customs and rhythms and they, as much as the temperature outside, are your best guide as to when to visit. For foodies, summer means wild Upper Yarra berries; autumn, local chestnuts and wild mushrooms; winter, Meyer lemons; and spring, local asparagus, broad beans and fresh peas.On a practical note, weekday mornings are the best time to avoid coach tours at the larger wineries, unless, of course, you enjoy feeling like an extra from Sideways.