Creature close-ups and action thrills Answer the call of the wild with creature close-ups on land, under water and in the treetops. Satisfy your sense of adventure with outdoor action, aerial challenges and guided tours into nature’s hidden gems. Overnight in nature, in luxury and in style. Melbourne DAY ONE: YARRA VALLEY & DANDENONG RANGES Rochford Wines (p50) Take a break from adventuring for a total wine and food experience. Lunch in the restaurant or pizzeria, try a wine flight tasting with cheese or charcuterie, visit the cellar door, shop at the grocer. Kangaroo Ridge Retreat (p76) Pure bliss… adults only. Retro, rustic mudbrick cabins secluded in the Yarra Valley bush amid wildlife. Spa bath for two, glorious mountain views from your balcony, all-inclusive locally stocked larder. Puffing Billy Railway (p49) is a thrilling experience. Board the heritage steam train and journey the Dandenong Ranges, through winding forests and fern gullies. Peer from opensided carriages in search of wildlife glimpses. BIG4 Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park (p76) Close to famous Healesville Sanctuary, set in 60 acres of glorious bushland. See prolific wildlife on walking trails or take a golf buggy. Cosy cabins, luxe villas and glamping. Edible Forest (p47) offers hosted ‘tour & taste’ experiences through the food forest where everything is either edible or medicinal. This permacultureinspired garden includes 350 species of edible and medicinal plants. Healesville Sanctuary (p48) is a bushland haven for Australian wildlife. Encounter a host of native creatures – kangaroos, dingoes, emus and more. Zero in on unique experiences: getting close-up with koalas and kangaroos. Alpine Hotel Warburton (p75) Lovingly restored 1885 hotel in the peaceful upper Yarra Valley. Eat, stay and sip superbly in this 4-star boutique rural gem. Continental breakfast, high tea and dinner feature fresh, hyperlocal produce. Yering Gorge Cottages (p78) overlooks the Greg Norman designed Eastern Golf Club. Trail walk a 120 acre private nature reserve with resident kangaroos and wildlife, and relax in a luxurious selfcontained cottage, Babaji’s Kerala Kitchen Warburton (p45)) Set in a fabulous 1930s cabaret dance hall. Open fires, mountain views, riverside setting. South Indian menu includes Kerala specialties. Holds a coveted Good Food Guide Chef’s Hat. MORNING ACTIVITIES (select from) AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES (select from) STAY OVERNIGHT (select from) 5 Day Itinerary W I L D L I F E & A D V E N T U R E Olinda Tea House (p49) A gorgeous spot for high tea, Devonshire tea, lunch or dinner in the heart of the lush Dandenong Ranges. Their friendly alpacas, wildlife and peaceful Japanese-inspired gardens are an absolute delight. Warburton Adventure Co (p51) Find your wild in Warburton! Epic outdoor experiences. Professional guides for river sledding, river tubing, abseiling, hiking, food foraging, mountain biking and Wurundjeri cultural practices. 26
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDk4Njk=