Healesville & surrounds

Located just over an hour from Melbourne and at the centre of the Yarra Valley food and wine district, Healesville, and the surrounding townships of Badger Creek, Chum Creek, Coldstream and Tarrawarra, are also home to some of the region’s most talented artists. Visit the galleries and studios, or partake in a leisurely lunch at one of the al fresco cafes and popular pubs. Explore the boutique shops, and stock up on fresh regional produce from the huge range of local growers and suppliers.

What you can see and do
Explore the boutique shops and cafés as you meander along the main shopping precinct in Healesville. With so many wonderful shops, studios and cafes, Healesville and surrounds are a 'must do' on your next Yarra Valley trip. Window shop or divulge in some retail therapy – either way, you won’t be disappointed!

Sample local food, wine, beer, gin and cider!
WIth a growing number of makers in the region you will need to plan several trips to sample them all or stay for longer. Healesville offers a restaurants, wine bars, breweries, distilleries, cellar doors, artisan bakery and cheese sales and more.

Healesville Sanctuary
Interact with Australia’s native wildlife at one of Victoria’s premier attractions. Experience the wonder of birds of prey and parrots during the 'Spirits of the Sky' presentations, or get up close and personal with many of the animals as part of the 'Close up encounters' offering.
Badger Creek Road, Healesville.

Maroondah Reservoir Park Walks
Here you'll find a range of short to medium walks at varying degrees of difficulty, including an ascent to the 41m dam wall and the reservoir spillway which regularly overflows during spring. Rotundas, BBQs, picnic tables, playground and toilets available.
Length: 800m to 2.8km Grade: East to Moderate.

Badger Weir Picnic Area Walk
With the prospect of viewing wild lyrebirds, there are three main tracks around the weir. Badger Creek runs parallel with the tracks, ensuring many vantage points to the surrounding tree canopies and fern gullies. Rotundas, BBQs, picnic tables and toilets available. Length: 1.1km to 1.4km Grade: Easy to Moderate.

A train ride on Yarra Valley Railway
Clickety, clack! Originally part of the old railway system, the Yarra Valley Railway offers short tourist rides across the Watts River, under the Donovan’s Road overbridge and through the historic tunnel near TarraWarra Estate.
Trains depart from Healesville Station, Healesville-Kinglake Road.

Exhibitions at TarraWarra Museum of Art
TarraWarra Museum of Art (TWMA) is the only privately funded public arts museum in the region. It displays Australian art from the second half of the twentieth century to the present day. A visit to the region is not complete without a look at TWMA’s ever-changing exhibitions.

Markets
Explore the markets held in the region.

Drive through the Black Spur to Marysville
Stretching from Healesville to Narbethong, the Black Spur is one of the most iconic drives in Victoria and is famous for its tall Mountain Ash trees and fern gullies. Fernshaw and Dom Dom picnic areas are situated at the base of the spur, so you can further enjoy the beautiful scents of the bush. Travel beyond Narbethong to Marysville, which was heavily impacted by the 2009 bushfires. Today it’s thriving again and here you can enjoy a range of walking trails, shops, cafes and majestic scenery.

Perfect for a weekend escape or mid-week getaway, Healesville has so much to offer. Visit our Yarra Valley Accommodation page to find accommodation that suits your needs.

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