Drive Main Street Wines
Shopping not your thing? Maybe this will change your mind ... the Yarra Valley is home to the Wine Shop. How is this different to a Cellar Door? Well, you're still in town, potentially on foot by this stage as your accommodation is nearby (or you have an excellent driver) and you're meandering up and down laneways and side streets. You're browsing shelves and benches filled with – not shoes and coats – but wine. Yes – you're in heaven.
Point the car in the direction of Healesville. Take the Maroondah Highway at Lilydale and ‘shop’ the best of the Yarra Valley.
Stop on the way
If you love to discover somewhere new try this
Stop off at Lilydale Lake to stretch your legs and enjoy the water. There may even be a little boat or two to watch (there's a boat ramp and sailing for non-powered boats up to 4.5 metres) or let the kids explore the amazing park area. Yarra Ranges Regional Museum is another option (check opening hours first) or have a coffee in at Round Bird and browse their local wine list retail options.
The Cellar Door by the Public Brewery - not your average brewery – 13 Lacey Street, Croydon. A quick 5 minute sidestep from the Maroondah Highway at Croydon will have you front and centre at this abundant bottle shop. More than 100 Yarra Valley wines and 60+ beers make it so worth the visit.
Want to add some food to your Road Trip shenanigans? Take the Melba Highway and head to the Coldstream/St Huberts Precinct. Turn off at St Huberts Rd to visit Yarra Valley Dairy or The Providore at Meletos. You could even purchase a few amazing local flavours and picnic under a cypress tree at Yering Farm Wines - or have a wine in front of their open fire while you decide on the next stop.
Happy in Healesville
There’s no doubt the neighbours are fabulous in this high-quality precinct.
Payten and Jones – 3 Lilydale Rd, Healesville – Wine bar and cellar door. Owners, Behn and Troy grew up around the corner and make the wines they love to drink.
No.7 Healesville – 7 Lilydale Rd, Healesville – From the family behind Stones of the Yarra Valley and Meletos, No.7 is a state-of-the-art communal urban winery and restaurant with a fabulous wine list, that boasts a lively representation of new and emerging winemakers that are being nurtured through their young winemakers program. Courtyard dining here is a must.
Four Pillars Gin Distillery – 2A Old Lilydale Rd, Healesville – Home base for the world’s best gin (yes we’re biased and yes they really did win that very award). Try a gin tasting flight, buy your home supplies (gin, accessories and more) and watch behind the scenes action.
Head up the main street of Healesville for another trio of local grapey brilliance.
Barrique Wine Store – 260 Maroondah Highway, Healesville - This is a constellation of Yarra Valley wines with more than 400 local and imported wines to choose from including small hard to find and iconic local producers. Plus craft beers, local and imported spirits, quality clean skins, cheese, wines by the glass and tastings.
Graceburn Wine Room/Mac Forbes – 11a Green Street, Healesville – Wine flights with a bite to eat and delicious dinners in a ‘not your average wine bar’ setting. Home to Mac Forbes wines and more.
Innocent Bystander – 316-334 Maroondah Highway, Healesville – It’s a cellar door, a café, a restaurant and a bar – modern and comfortable with an extensive range of best loved wines to enjoy or take home. Perfect match!
Across the mountain to Warburton
Slip across the mountains (a 25 min drive) and finish of your day with wine and cheese by the Yarra River
Driving from Healesville to Warburton can be a spectacular immersion in nature if you take the Healesville–Koo Wee Rup Rd (C411) to the Warburton Highway and turn left at Woori Yallock. Regardless of the time of the year you will be immersed in green fields. Pass through open pastures with cows grazing happily, and admire the beauty of symetrically planted vineyards that reach out to touch the mountains and trees that fringe your view.
Take time to relish your arrival. Note the pristine waters of the Yarra River to your left as you approach the township. We suggest you stay the night here and in your own time enjoy a walk along the river, a drive to the Ada Tree, Rainforest Gallery or take an afternoon to explore the Rail Trail on a bike, or if you're feeling adventurous, enjoy some mountainbiking in the forests. And remember to get out of the car, take very deep breaths and lovely long strides. This is your Road Trip to Find Your Self living a delicious life.
Taste Yarra Valley – 3383 Warburton Highway, Warburton – Home to Wild Fire Wines and Mill Grove Dairy cheese, this cosy venue in the village specialises in perfectly matched cheese and wine flights, and has a considered food and beverage list plus buy everything you love to take home.