Looking for things to do in the Yarra Valley? Famous for its wildlife and vineyards, the Yarra Valley is the perfect place to escape city life. The many attractions in the Yarra Valley are suitable for people of all ages, including families with children.
What to do in the Yarra Valley
Less than an hour’s drive from Melbourne city centre, you’ll find yourself surrounded by the rolling hills of the beautiful Yarra Valley.
The Yarra Valley is one of the closest national parks to Melbourne and offers many activities for kids. We often visit the Yarra Valley with or without our kids, so we’ve included a few options for couples, friends and families!
Below is our list of the top attractions in the Yarra Valley, from nature walks and wildlife encounters to unforgettable Melbourne wine tours through the region’s world-renowned vineyards. We’ve also included our favourite places to stay in the Yarra Valley is ideal for a night away or a weekend retreat.
Stevenson Falls, Marysville
One of the tallest and most beautiful waterfalls near Melbourne is Stevenson Falls, an impressive 84-metre high. If you’re visiting the Yarra Valley, it’s well worth stopping here as it’s pretty easy to get there. The main viewpoint is a 350-metre walk away, and the panoramic views are well worth it.
You can easily add Stevensons to your Yarra Valley wine tours itinerary and plan to visit other attractions!
Whether you’re planning a weekend trip or a day trip to the Yarra Valley, this Yarra Valley guide will help you make the most of your time!
Cherry Hill Gardens
If you’re looking for a family-friendly holiday in the Yarra Valley, then Cherryhill Orchards won’t disappoint. The Riseborough family has been shipping their cherries worldwide since 1940, but visitors are welcome to pick them up themselves!
You can have a picnic while admiring the beautiful views and pick your cherries for dessert from the 85 acres of cherry orchards. If you’re short on time, you can bring a tub of delicious cherry ice cream to enjoy during your trip to the area.
Please note that cherry-picking is seasonal, and you must book your spot online in advance as the orchards have a limited number of cherry-picking tickets daily.
Redwood Forest
Whether it’s one of the Yarra Valley’s best-known attractions or one of Victoria’s hidden gems, visiting Redwood Forest is like stepping into a fairy tale. Located just a few kilometres from Warburton, the forest is home to nearly 1,500 tall California redwoods. These trees are ideally planted in rows, allowing you to hide from the outside world.
You can enjoy the perfect silence, and the forest offers countless picnic and photo spots that the whole family will love. Visiting Redwood Forest on a day trip to the Yarra Valley is an excellent option for an entire family!
Hillsville Sanctuary
Another well-known attraction in the Yarra Valley is Hillsville Sanctuary, one of Melbourne’s zoos, where you can get up close and personal with some of Australia’s most famous icons. You’ll see plenty of native animals: koalas, kangaroos, dingoes, emus, wombats and various native birds.
The Healesville Sanctuary is an ideal day trip for families from Melbourne, with many activities during the holidays that are free for children. Take the kids on a picnic and see them enjoying their time connecting with wildlife.
Yarra Vallery Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery
One of the Yarra Valley’s most famous attractions, the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery, has been delighting visitors young and old with its delicious treats since 2012.
Not only can you get lost in the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie showroom filled with thousands of handcrafted chocolates, but you can also indulge in delicious pastries, desserts, and house-made ice cream. Enjoy daily tastings, take part in chocolate-making workshops, and unwind at the on-site café for a truly indulgent experience in the heart of the Yarra Valley.
You can enjoy these delicacies with a guilt-free conscience, knowing that La Chocolaterie is part of the Cocoa Horizons programme. This programme supports farmers and their communities by ensuring that all the cocoa used is grown and sourced sustainably. If you’re looking for things to do in the Yarra Valley, this Chocolatier and Ice Cream Parlour is guaranteed to please, no matter your age or budget!
Kinglake Forest Adventures
One of the best things adventurous people can do in the Yarra Valley is to visit Kinglake Forest Adventures, where you can climb the treetops. It’s one of the most popular Yarra Valley attractions for families with children, as there’s fun for younger kids, too.
If you like cycling, there are mountain bike trails of varying difficulty levels. Pack a picnic and spend the whole day there.
Hot air balloon ride
Global Ballooning Australia offers hot air balloon rides over the beautiful Yarra Valley. Get up early for an adventure of a lifetime and enjoy the incredible views as the sun rises.
AmazingCo mystery picnic
If you’re looking for a fun day in the Yarra Valley but want to keep things organised, we highly recommend AmazingCo’s Mystery Picnic! You’ll need to solve a series of clues to find the destinations and collect tasty treats before arriving at the final destination for a delicious outdoor picnic.
Mason Falls
Located in the picturesque Kinglake National Park, Mason Falls is one of the best attractions in the Yarra Valley. The picnic area at Mason Falls is ideal for families, with free gas barbecues, tables and toilets, and gorgeous tall gum trees home to over 90 species of native birds and other Australian animals!
The short walk to the falls is suitable for all ages and leads to a viewing platform called the Mason Falls Lookout. The waterfall is most impressive after heavy rain, but walking through the lush forest will be rewarding even in dry weather.
After your walk, head back to the Mason Falls picnic area, which was renovated in 2019 and offers free grills, restrooms, and sheltered seating, perfect for family picnics and enjoying amazing views.
Lake Mountain Alpine Resort
You can spend a day in the snow two hours from Melbourne! You don’t need to pack for a long trip; you can easily take a day trip from Melbourne. Lake Mountain Ski Resort is a family-friendly cross-country ski resort, perfect for first-time snowboarders. Try the three toboggan runs, cross-country skiing or take a ski or snowboard lesson.
Don’t have the equipment? Don’t worry; Lake Mountain has everything you need for rent, including jackets, boots, shoes, sledges and even skis or snowboards for adults and children.
Blue Lotus Water Garden
Step into a colourful new world of lotuses and water lilies at the Blue Lotus Water Garden in the beautiful Yarra Valley.
From December to April, this 14-acre garden is a paradise of Amazonian giants and ancient Japanese flowers. Please sit back and admire the artificial lakes, ponds and lagoons containing more than 70 varieties of water lilies, including Claude Monet’s precious collection of water lilies from his amazing garden in France.
There are plenty of family-friendly activities to keep the kids entertained, and it’s one of the best things to do in the Yarra Valley!
Lilydale Lake
Lake Lilydale is the perfect place for people of all ages to spend a day out. Stroll, walk or jog around the lake, picnic by the water, paddle boarding, canoeing, or kayaking.
The play area is also great for kids, with plenty of space and water games for warmer days.
Edendale Community Environment Farm
If you’re looking for an educational day out, visit Edendale Community Farm – one of the most memorable places in the Yarra Valley. Located in Itama, the farm offers a hands-on understanding of sustainable living.
Visitors can feed the chickens or turkeys, meet the goats, touch a Jersey cow or pet one of the guinea pigs that live on the farm. Edendale is also home to a children’s garden, featuring a spiral garden and orchards and vegetable gardens grown using sustainable farming practices to encourage young and old alike to grow fresh produce.
You’ll find sustainability-themed artwork, such as a copper mural of a butterfly and bee steps, friendly animals, and inspiring nature.
The farm is open daily from 9.30 to 16.30. Entrance is by donation of gold coins.
Seville Water Play Park & Playground
A recommended activity for families with kids in the Yarra Valley is visiting Seville Water Play Park, which is delightful in the warmer seasons.
The water park in Melbourne features powerful water jets. It’s a place where the little ones can explore and the older ones can enjoy. There are plenty of shady areas with picnic benches and barbecues, so it’s a great place to stop in the Yarra Valley for a picnic.
On the other side of the road is the main street of Seville, where there are many restaurants and cafes where you can have a great time.
Big Peninsula Tunnel
Swimming in the Grand Peninsula Tunnel is one of the best ways to cool off in the Yarra Valley in summer. This tunnel was dug by hand in the 1850s to divert water flow and open up kilometres of gold-strewn riverbed for mining.
The tunnel is about 2 metres high and 25 metres long. It is ideal for walks, picnics or swimming in the summer. There is a charming little pool in the tunnel, one of the most relaxing attractions in the Yarra Valley, as the soothing water creates a natural spa.
After a refreshing dip, there are steps across the river. For the more adventurous, you can also embark on the McMahon Creek Gold Mine Walk, a 13km loop that will take around 4 hours to complete.
Camping
Want to go camping without the stress? Try glamping or camping. The Big 4 Yarra Valley Holiday Park has beautiful, comfortable tents with beds, sofas, dining tables and chairs, a fridge, air conditioning, heating and even a TV!
Ideal for a romantic getaway or a weekend with the kids, the Big4 Holiday Park is located in Hillsville and has plenty of activities to entertain you.
The best time to visit Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley has something for families to do all year round, and each season has its benefits!
Autumn (March-May), visitors to the Yarra Valley can enjoy the beautiful sight of leaves turning yellow and red before falling from the trees. Although it can be cold, it’s gorgeous.
Winter (June – August) is perfect to get in the snow. Mountain Lake usually opens in early June and runs until the end of September, leaving plenty of time to plan a trip. If you want to spend the night, find a comfortable hut nearby, light a fire and relax.
Spring (September – November) is a colourful time to visit the Yarra Valley as the flowers bloom. The weather is generally beautiful, sunny and warm. It is also a great time to admire the waterfalls after the winter months of heavy rain.
Summer (December-February) is trendy in the Yarra Valley as there are more sunny days and relatively warm weather. This is the perfect time to go camping, but book in advance as it is high season.
FAQ
How far is the Yarra Valley from Melbourne?
The Yarra Valley is less than an hour’s drive from Melbourne city centre, making it perfect for day trips or weekend getaways.
What are some must-see attractions in the Yarra Valley?
Highlights include Stevenson Falls, CherryHill Orchards, Redwood Forest, Healesville Sanctuary, Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery, and Mason Falls.
Can I visit the Yarra Valley with kids?
Yes – it’s family-friendly with activities like cherry-picking, wildlife encounters, water play parks, nature walks, and farm visits at Edendale Community Environment Farm.
When is the best time to visit the Yarra Valley?
The region offers unique experiences year-round: autumn for colourful foliage, winter for snow at Lake Mountain, spring for wildflowers and waterfalls, and summer for camping and outdoor activities.
Are there adventure activities in the Yarra Valley?
Yes – you can enjoy hot air balloon rides, mountain biking, treetop climbing at Kinglake Forest Adventures, and scenic hikes to waterfalls and forests.
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