Find Your Self

Find Yourself spending the day tasting your way through celebrated wineries and farm gates, wandering through spectacular gardens, following forest trails or simply admiring the view from a quiet country road.

From long lunches and local produce to fresh air, tumbling waterfalls and hidden picnic spots, the Yarra Valley, Dandenong Ranges and surrounds offer countless ways to slow down, explore and reconnect with what makes you feel most like yourself. Come see for yourself.

Gardens

The region’s cool climate and rich soils provide the perfect conditions for magnificent ornamental gardens, with more than ten grand-scale gardens to explore.

Wander beneath towering trees, discover seasonal colour around every corner and enjoy landscapes shaped by some of Australia’s most celebrated gardeners and designers. From carpets of spring bulbs and vibrant autumn foliage to rhododendrons, azaleas, ferns and peaceful lakeside walks, each garden offers a different reason to return throughout the year.

Scenic Drives

Love a Sunday drive or a leisurely weekday wander? The winding roads of the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges provide a beautiful way to experience the region at your own pace.

Travel beneath towering mountain ash, pass through fern-filled gullies and rolling farmland, and pause at lookouts, wineries, farm gates and welcoming villages along the way. Whether you have a carefully planned route or simply follow the road that looks most interesting, there is always another view waiting around the bend.

Picnics

From family gatherings, group BBQs or private, romantic spots perfect for two, our region has countless places to spread out a picnic rug.

Pack a basket with local cheese, freshly baked bread, seasonal fruit and something delicious from a nearby providore, then find your place beside a river, beneath the trees or overlooking the surrounding hills. With parks, gardens, reservoirs and forest reserves to choose from, lunch comes with plenty of fresh air and room to roam.

Shopping and Stays

Come for the scenery, then stay to explore a little longer. Across the region, village streets and country townships are filled with independent shops, cosy cafés, restaurants, galleries, antique stores, artisan studios, gourmet food producers and specialist nurseries.

Browse locally made art and crafts, stock up on regional produce or settle in for coffee before continuing your journey. When it is time to call it a day, choose from welcoming bed and breakfasts, boutique hotels, vineyard accommodation, forest cottages and character-filled country stays. A night or two gives you the freedom to slow down, take the scenic route and discover even more.