Best things to do in Yarra Valley

Yarra Valley's Unmissable Gems

This collection highlights the diverse natural and industrial heritage of the Yarra Valley and surrounding regions. It features world-renowned wildlife encounters on Phillip Island, including the Penguin Parade and Seal Rocks lookout. The list also preserves Victoria’s colonial history through various cultural reserves, showcasing 19th-century railway architecture, abandoned gold mines at Woods Point, and historic timber sawmills. Visitors can explore unique landscapes ranging from rolling hills to the rugged coastal views of Point Grant.

Yarra Valley's Unmissable Gems — Map

A

Seal Rocks Lookout

Lookout point providing views of Australia's largest colony of Australian Fur Seals at Seal Rocks and the rugged coastline of Point Grant.

Wildvik / CC BY-SA 4.0

B

Penguin Parade

Nightly viewing area where Little Penguins return to their burrows across Summerland Beach at sunset.

Marcus Wong / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Nobbies Centre

The Nobbies Centre is an ecotourism destination located at Point Grant, on the western tip of Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia.

Chensiyuan / GFDL

D

Koala Conservation Centre

Features elevated boardwalks through eucalyptus trees for viewing koalas in their natural habitat and an interactive education center.

Andrea guerrerov / CC BY-SA 4.0

E

Chocolate Factory

Have you ever had a dream about a fantasy land where everything was made out of chocolate?

Fsqtfn / CC BY-SA 4.0

F

Maru Koala & Animal Park

Wildlife park featuring native Australian animals, sheep shearing demonstrations, and close-up encounters with koalas and kangaroos.

G

Minne Ha Ha Falls

A secluded waterfall located on the Albert River within the Hiawatha region.

H

Cheviot Railway Tunnel Historic and Cultural Features Reserve

Features a 201-metre long brick railway tunnel completed in 1889, part of the Great Victorian Rail Trail.

I

Eildon Water Reserve

Protected area surrounding Lake Eildon, serving as a catchment for water storage and a site for regional recreation.

J

Tallangallook-Dry Creek Historic Area

Preserves the remains of mid-19th century gold mining operations and alluvial workings in the Dry Creek region.

K

Woodfield Trestle Bridge Historic and Cultural Features Reserve

Site of a historic timber trestle bridge that once served the railway line between Tallarook and Mansfield.

L

Matlock Hill Historic and Cultural Features Reserve

Marks the site of the former gold mining township of Matlock, situated at an elevation of 1,210 metres.

M

Coopers Ck Copper Mine Historic and Cultural Features Res.

Site of historic copper, platinum, and palladium mining operations dating back to the 1860s near the Thomson River.

N

Gisborne Court House Historic Reserve

Features a bluestone courthouse built in 1858, serving as an example of mid-19th century civic architecture.

O

Woods Point Gold-mines Historic and Cultural Features Reserve

Historic gold mining district including the Morning Star mine, which operated from the 1860s until the mid-20th century.

P

Yarra Junction Railway Station Historic and Cultural Features Reserve

Home to the Upper Yarra Museum, housed in a relocated 1888 railway station building.

Q

Toombullup Historic Area

Forested historic site associated with the Kelly Gang and early 20th-century logging operations.

R

Mississippi No. 1 Mill Historic and Cultural Features Reserve

Preserves the site of a 1920s timber mill and former settlement within the Yarra State Forest.

S

Comet Sawmill Historic and Cultural Features Reserve

Features remnants of steam-powered sawmill infrastructure used during the region's early 20th-century timber harvesting era.

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Scenic Viewpoints and Peaks Victoria's Parks and Gardens Victoria's Wine Estates Australia's Top Golf Courses