Things to do in the Yarra Valley

The valley is wine country, from big names like Yering Station and Domaine Chandon to small family cellar doors. Eating out is what visitors spend the most on here, and plenty of wineries have a restaurant attached, so a long lunch is the classic day. Yarra Glen and Healesville are the two main towns, each with cafes, bakeries and a pub.

Most cellar doors are a short drive from our homes. If more than one of you wants a tasting, book a tour or a driver.

Hot air balloon flights go up over the vineyards early in the morning, on most days when the weather is right. Staying the night before makes the dawn start much easier than driving out from Melbourne. Two of our partners, Go Wild Ballooning and Global Ballooning, fly over the valley.

Healesville Sanctuary is a great morning out with kids, with koalas, platypus and birds of prey. The region's 2023 tourism plan found 64% of holiday visitor nights here included time in nature. In summer, the lotus flower season runs from late December to March.

Most visitors only come for the day. The region's tourism plan counts about ten day trips for every overnight trip, so staying over gets you quiet evenings and an early start before the crowds arrive. Weekends are busy all year, and midweek is much quieter.

Spring and autumn are the prettiest seasons. Summer brings outdoor concerts at some wineries, and Rochford's concert season starts on 7 November 2026. Weddings are common at the wineries, Zonzo Estate among them, so our big Yarra Glen homes suit wedding parties and guests.

Our homes here are large houses for groups, most with six bedrooms, room for 13 to 17 guests, and a spa and sauna. They're for staying, not for parties, so check each home's house rules.