No matter your taste in music or cuisine, Yarra Valley offers something special. Events cater for live music fans, gourmet food enthusiasts and scenic views, plus there is plenty for children and those avoiding alcohol to do.
Be sure to book tickets early for events that are popular, particularly online ticket platforms or venue websites.
1. Yarra Valley Food and Wine Festival
The Yarra Valley, just east of Melbourne, offers a wonderful combination of natural wonders and wildlife, world-class wine and gin production and charming small towns. With rolling green hills, picturesque vineyards and cozy cafes lining its route – it provides the ideal environment for relaxation and rejuvenation.
The Yarra Valley is known for its cool-climate wines. First planted in 1838, today the region has become one of Australia’s premier wine regions and offers numerous exciting activities and attractions from hot air ballooning to enjoying lunch in a winery restaurant.
Are you seeking some of the finest Yarra Valley wines? For an indulgent weekend of vino tasting and fun activities, Shedfest provides the ideal way to do just that – visit 14 family-run wineries located throughout this picturesque region for a visit that won’t break the bank! Wine enthusiasts and families alike are sure to find Shedfest an enjoyable and satisfying experience; 12 wineries even welcome dogs!
Take a tour of Yarra Valley Winery with a professional guide and learn about its distinctive climate, history and culture while sampling award-winning wines and cheese from Yarra Valley Dairy made with cow and goat’s milk from local farms. Additionally, during your tour enjoy lunch featuring sparkling wine at Elmswood Estate where kookaburras and lyrebirds sing as you sip your bubbly.
2. Yarra Valley Wine Show
The Yarra Valley is one of Australia’s renowned wine regions, known for its beautiful landscapes, rich cultural heritage and exceptional cool-climate wines. This makes the area an ideal spot for romantic getaways, girl’s weekends or relaxing wine tasting adventures.
No matter your taste in wine, the region boasts world-class vineyards. Visit Punt Road Wines for wine tasting paired with cheese and charcuterie, while Healesville Sanctuary allows visitors to get close with koalas and kangaroos while sampling local cheeses.
Yarra Valley, with its wide-ranging soils and climate, provides the ideal setting to discover diverse cuisine and produce. Visit one of the region’s farm gates and meet those responsible for growing, harvesting and producing its popular food and wine offerings – then learn its history while sampling freshly picked grapes or apples at U-Pick orchards or picking your own fruit at U-Pick orchards!
Yarra Valley is home to some of Melbourne’s most breathtaking gardens, from Alowyn Gardens and Coombe Yarra Valley – once graced by legendary soprano Dame Nellie Melba herself – to immersing yourself in nature with breathtaking mountain and forest views at Dandenong Ranges National Park.
3. Healesville Music Festival
The Healesville Music Festival is an eco-friendly event with a difference. Established by local Healesville musicians (and more than a few bottles of wine!) who were frustrated at a lack of gig opportunities in their hometown, this festival has since grown into one of Victoria’s must-visit music events – something all music enthusiasts should experience first-hand!
Festival is an unforgettable musical experience with local legends such as Mick Thomas of Weddings, Parties and Anything joining Kerryn Fields, Rich Davies & the Low Road and Grim Fawkner to give an unforgettable musical experience.
At the festival, there’s more than live music to do besides just listening – from cooking workshops and art exhibitions, there’s sure to be something enjoyable for all at this festival. Additionally, it provides an ideal chance to sample local produce and wines; try your luck at Shedfest or stop into winery restaurants for long lunches that last all week long!
Rochford Wines Yarra Valley is an incredible venue that plays host to an abundance of concerts and events, including tours by some of your favorite artists – be sure to use Bandsintown to secure tickets and stay informed about upcoming shows! Discover new music that may appeal to you through personalized recommendations based on your tastes!
4. Yarra Valley Harvest Festival
The Yarra Valley is home to an inspiring community of passionate growers, makers and distillers. Situated approximately an hour outside of Melbourne, this scenic destination boasts an extensive cultural legacy with great food and wine offerings.
Yarra Valley is an idyllic destination for wine enthusiasts, offering wine tastings, cellar doors and meals at various restaurants, cafes, farms, farms and farms in the region. Cheese, yoghurt and honey production is also prolific; check out Yarra Valley Chocolaterie to sample sweet treats and stock up on locally-made goodies.
If you want a refreshing stroll and need a break, visit Healesville Sanctuary for animal encounters including kangaroos, wombats, platypus and more! Alternatively book a flight with Global Ballooning and enjoy floating above vineyards for an unparalleled bird’s-eye view experience!
Yarra Valley offers an abundance of boutique accommodation options. Stay in a luxurious hotel like Chateau Yering or Raynella’s Alpaca Farmstay Cottage for an unforgettable stay. Healesville serves as a hub for dining and shopping with great op shops, Matilda Bay Brewing, Watts River Brewing, Innocent Bystander Cider and Coldstream Cider all offering standard and specialty brews to choose from.
5. Yarra Valley Longest Lunch
Yarra Valley offers more than wine; it also boasts some of Australia’s finest cuisine. Day trips from Melbourne or weekend getaways alike can enjoy dining at one of Yarra Valley’s many winery restaurants for an incredible culinary experience.
The Yarra Valley Longest Lunch is an annual dining event featuring some of Australia’s premier chefs and wines. Each location hosts their own version, so your experience may differ depending on which location you attend; Coombe Yarra Valley (formerly home of opera icon Dame Nellie Melba) will offer an Asian-influenced lunch, while Gembrook and Mount Dandenong’s lunch will offer authentic Argentinian flavors.
As well as winery restaurants, Oasis Berry Farms and Yarra Valley Dairy provide casual cafes and bars offering quick meals. Oasis Berry Farms attracts many visitors who come here from December through March to pick buckets of premium berries while the latter attracts fans of artisan cheeses.
Yarra Valley wineries set the international benchmark for premium cool climate wines. You can take a tour, learn about its history and terroir while sampling its trademark pinot noir as well as sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, and shiraz drops. Furthermore, its lush farmlands yield freshwater fisheries, artisan dairy production and organic fruits and vegetables to complete your experience in this magnificent region.
6. Yarra Valley Wine Show
Wine tasting is one of the most beloved experiences in Yarra Valley and an excellent way to familiarise oneself with this wine-growing region, renowned for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Methode traditionnelle sparkling wines. Explore Yarra Valley yourself or let someone else do it all on an organised wine tour!
The Yarra Valley Wine Show is an annual regional wine exhibition which aims to support Victoria’s wine industry. It provides an opportunity to showcase some of the region’s best wines and highlight some emerging styles; held each year at the Yarra Valley Exhibition Centre it is Victoria’s premier wine event.
Yarra Valley is known as one of Australia’s premier wine regions, boasting some of the country’s most sought-after wines that have gained global recognition. At the Yarra Valley Wine Show, wineries and growers from Yarra Valley come together in support of one another and strive to expand and promote the value of Yarra Valley wines globally.
The Yarra Valley Wine Show, the region’s sole dedicated wine show, takes place annually in September. An integral part of its rich wine history and celebrated by national events alike, this high-quality national event is supported by Wine Yarra Valley (WYV). Wine Yarra Valley brings together wine producers, growers and winery owners in order to collaborate towards success.