Stuck Indoors? Activities to Enjoy in the Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges

Even lovers of the great outdoors sometimes need to stay inside.

Whether it's raining, too hot, too cold or too spring hayfevery, there is always something to do indoors to keep the kids entertained and you sane.

Try these great indoor destinations next time the elements are on your radar.

Enter a world of wonder at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery

Even on the gloomiest day, the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is a must-visit location in our region. Indulge your love of chocolate with abundant free chocolate tastings, large viewing windows to watch talented European chocolatiers at work and over 300 different varieties of hand-crafted chocolates to purchase.

Make the day even sweeter by taking a class or workshop and enjoying a meal at their stunning café featuring chocolate-inspired sweets, ice cream and delicious savoury dishes.

Wine and dine

It's always a good time to discover our region's amazing wineries and exceptional dining experiences. The below itineraries will help you plan the perfect day out!

Gin experiences you need to try at Four Pillars Distillery

Any day is a good day to experience all that Four Pillars Distillery has to offer. Hugely popular and rightly so, the impressively awarded distillery is a favourite for locals and tourists alike.

There's so much to see and do when you enter their Healesville distillery. From gin drinks and gin tastings to a number of small group masterclasses, including a Maker Session where guests can distil their own gin from scratch, Four Pillars offers a range of experiences that showcase their love for craft distilling.

After your tasting or class, take the time to enjoy a great meal in their restaurant, which is filled with gin-inspired snacks.

Enjoy undercover mini-golf at Maroondah Golf Park

Open every day except for Christmas Day, Maroondah Golf Park has two unique mini golf courses including a fully undercover mini-golf course for all-weather play. Now open until 10:00 pm every night, both courses are beautifully lit at night so the fun doesn't stop when the sun goes down.

Bonus: An on-site café serves great coffee, snacks and treats to keep you fuelled up for the next round.

See a movie and dine in Belgrave

Theatres are cool, quiet, out of the elements and highly entertaining for all ages. There are several cinemas in the region with both children’s and adult programming including Healesville, Warburton, Belgrave and Chirnside Park.

In particular, Cameo Cinemas is one of Victoria's oldest and most beloved cinema destinations. Located in Belgrave, it's been an icon since it opened in 1935. Today, the cinema retains beautiful period architecture, along with decorative flourishes from its post-1970s revival.

With a total of eight screens, Cameo Cinemas hosts an eclectic mix of new release titles, classic films, event screenings and live performances. The main auditorium boasts 309 seats in a classic 1930s cinema.

In summer, check out their beloved Outdoor Cinema. Featuring a 14mm screen, the latest technology headphones, a deckchair and a bean-bag seating area, the experience is simply incomparable.

For fantastic dining experiences before or after your movie, we recommend booking a table at Cognoscenti Food & Wine or Babaji's Kerala Kitchen. Both of these venues are walking distance from the cinemas and offer an exceptional dining experience which will have you coming back time and again.

Discover amazing art

Our region is packed with galleries, exhibitions, museums and more, all with an active program of events.

Wander away some hours exploring the exhibitions at any one of our exciting art galleries including TarraWarra Museum of Art, Montsalvat Arts Centre, Warburton Waterwheel Gallery and many more.

The Memo Healesville and Warburton Arts Centre frequently present a busy program of exhibitions, cultural events and performances for all ages.

The Yarra Ranges Regional Museum has a café onsite, a gift shop and two levels featuring permanent (local history buffs enjoy!) and visiting exhibitions to keep you occupied.