Wine, Wildlife & Wilderness
When venturing east of the city, be sure to check out the Yarra Valley, staying amongst 4.5 hectares of natural bushland at Nightcap at York on Lilydale. You’ll be surrounded by the sounds of bellbirds, lush gardens, an on-site swimming pool and friendly staff to welcome you.
Nightcap at York on Lilydale, Mount Evelyn VIC
Day 1: Yarra Valley Wineries
At the gateway to the Yarra Valley, you’ll have access to some of Victoria’s premium, award winning vineyards, cellar doors and wineries. Have your choice of how you want to explore wine country, with tours of every kind available (seriously, if you want to ride a horse or cycle your way around, you can).
Yarra Valley Vineyard VIC
If you only have time for one or two, we recommend making a stop at Yering Station and Zonzo Estate. The wine is delicious, the service is phenomenal and the vineyards are stunning.
Day 2: Dandenong Ranges & Healesville
Take a short drive to the Dandenong Ranges, acquainting yourself with roads curving around steep mountain sides. It would be un-Victorian of us not to mention stopping in at Sky High, the peak of Mount Dandenong, to observe Melbourne’s sprawling city in all its glory (just make sure you catch it on a good day, otherwise you’ll be looking at the tops of clouds).
If you’re in the mood for an adventure, there are many trail walks to choose from at varying difficulties, all providing opportunities for you to disconnect from technology and breathe in the fresh mountain air.
Healesville Sanctuary VIC
Stop by the town of Healesville to check out Healesville Sanctuary with an enormous range of animals, and spend your afternoon learning about the fight to prevent wildlife extinction. Take a trip through the main strip; just make sure you pull into Four Pillars where this award winning distillery will serve you some of the best gin you’ve ever tasted (promise!).
Top it off with Nightcap!
At the end of each day, rest your weary legs by the pool or sample some great local drops in front of our fireplace. Just be sure to leave some room for the delicious food and drinks on offer at your homebase: Nightcap at York on Lilydale, ideal country accommodation in Victoria.
