This regional town sure knows how to pack a punch. Just north of the Great Dividing Range and only a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, Yea offers a relaxed country experience but with a progressive twist.
Boasting modern street art, award winning wineries, restaurants, historic buildings, a thriving main street and a strong arts culture, Yea Victoria is a key town on the Great Victorian Rail Trail.
HIGHLIGHTS
RAIL TRAIL
The Great Victorian Rail Trail winds through Yea, making it a great stop to wet the whistle, indulge the palate and inspire your inner creative, as cyclists can explore the fabulous range of welcoming country pubs, great eateries, local art galleries and quirky stores.
YEA WETLANDS DISCOVERY CENTRE
A trip to Yea, Victoria, isn’t complete without a wander through the Yea wetlands and the Yea Wetlands Discovery Centre
Situated on a 32-hectare floodplain the wetlands are home to platypus, koalas and many native and migratory waterbirds that watch over the billabongs. While the YWDC is an environmental learning and accredited visitor information centre, where you can also learn about the traditional owners, the Taungurung people.
The Yea Wetlands may be small on a world scale, but they provide inspiration in spades, opening your eyes to an abundance of bird life and fauna throughout the seasons.
MURRINDINDI SCENIC RESERVE
Pack a picnic, throw a line in, or even pitch a tent at the Murrindindi Scenic Reserve. Situated at the northern end of Toolangi State Forest, this large green oasis is less than 2 hours from Melbourne.
It includes tumbling waterfalls, Mountain Ash, fern-filled gullies and is the perfect place for bushwalking, bird watching, fishing and paddling in the shallows of the Murrindindi River.
EAT & DRINK
Sedona Estate
From Sedona Estate’s humble beginnings in 1998, Paul and Sonja’s vision has been to produce fine cool-climate wines from their vineyard north of the Great Divide in the Yea Valley. Their passion and dedication is reflected in the Sedona Estate range. Varietal purity makes each bottle of wine a true experience.
Tucked away in the rolling hills of Murrindindi, Sedona Estate offers a true country experience with stunning views and plenty of Australian wildlife around. The stylish cellar door and hillside terrace is a great place to enjoy a relaxing afternoon with fine wines and delicious artisan platters to share.
Winemaker Paul Evans employs a very hands-on approach to capture the essence of this emerging wine region. It is cool climate viticulture, but plenty of sunshine at the right times provides the perfect conditions for producing complex Shiraz and delightful Sangiovese. Their outstanding quality is reflected in many national and international awards at esteemed wine shows.
Paul and Sonja pride themselves in offering friendly country hospitality and authentic wine tasting experiences. Looking behind the scenes and experiencing the real winemaking world is one of many offerings at Sedona Estate.
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Cycle Dindi 25
CycleDindi24 is a joint project by the Rotary Clubs of Alexandra and Yea, together with Friends of the Great Victorian Rail Trail and is a charity bicycle ride along the trail on the last Saturday before the April Victorian school holidays.
It is centred on the lovely townships of Yea and Alexandra and includes those towns plus Merton as starting locations. Riders have a number of distances and options to choose from. This year the prices are again linked to the rider, not the distance. Included in your entry ticket is Billy tea and damper, a barbecue lunch at Cathkin and free admission to Nutfield; a working farm with Devonshire tea in the shearing shed, a sheepdog demonstration and a trailer ride. The ride includes cycling through the historic Cheviot Tunnel.
Monies raised will be used to support Rotary Youth Projects.
STAY
Flowerdale Estate
Located in a picturesque area known as the Valley of a Thousand Hills, Flowerdale Estate is a stunning wedding, conference, wellness retreat, dining and accommodation venue.
Nestled between the Yarra Valley and Kilmore, Flowerdale Estate is located just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne and a million miles from the stresses of city life with its landscaped gardens and rolling hills.
The Estate offers on site accommodation including 26 Estate King rooms, two luxury homestead suites, four newly constructed luxury glamping eco tents and a four-bedroom Guesthouse.
Gracie’s Restaurant is located within their historic 1842 homestead and is led by Executive Chef Executive Chef, Dominic Grundy , who has worked in Michelin star and rosette awarded restaurants throughout the UK. With his kitchen team, seasonally led menus featuring the finest regional produce are presented.
Recreational activities abound with an indoor pool that looks out onto the hills, an undercover tennis court, a gym and a billiard room. Immerse yourself in nature with a walk along King Parrot Creek and mingle with the farm animals.
You’ll fall in love with this pocket of regional Victoria.