Tours in Yarra Valley are a good Way to Relax and Explore not only the Vineyards

Making Perth, Sydney or Adelaide a base for exploring along Australia’s southern coastal stretch is easy with charter coach and minibus hire.

The Yarra Valley is a particularly popular tour destination using a charter bus Sydney or a mini bus charter from Adelaide for a leisurely exploration of Victoria’s best known wine growing district, whose history goes back for more than 160 years. Vines were first planted in 1838, and viticulture spread rapidly through the 1860s and 1870s.

The Valley's western boundary begins just 45 kilometres east of Melbourne. This large wine region is bordered by the towns of Gembrook in the south, Kinglake in the north, Wantirna in the west and Mount Gregory in the east. Major towns include Lilydale, Healesville, Yarra Glen and St Andrews.

Its varied terrain makes it possible to produce a range of classic wine styles.  The Yarra Valley is also home to many young winemakers creative cutting edge style wines. Over eighty wineries represent the full range of the region's international reputation for quality wine. Wine labelled "Yarra Valley" must consist of at least 85% Yarra Valley fruit.

However, there is more to the Yarra Valley than wine, including Australia’s oldest steam train, Puffing Billy, and colonies of artists as well as the city of Melbourne nearby.

Puffing Billy is Australia's oldest steam railway and one of the best preserved steam railways in the world. The train is the last of the experimental narrow-gauge railway lines built at the turn of the 20th century, and easily accessible from Melbourne. Its open-sided carriages are a great way to see the stunning views. It is also possible to catch the train at any of the stations along the way or watch the train go by from one of the stations' refreshment rooms.

Also in the region for those there in springtime the National Rhododendron Gardens, which contain thousands of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and daffodils, are a riot of colour and well worth a visit. 

During hot summer days there is the shade of the woodlands of the RJ Hamer Arboretum or visit the feature waterfalls in the Alfred Nicholas Gardens.  In winter experience the dripping tree ferns hiding clay sculptures in the tranquil William Ricketts Sanctuary. 

Dandenong Ranges National Park contains forests of mountain ash and plunging fern gullies. It is home to the lyrebird and the thundering Sherbrooke Falls.

Art and artists are also features of the region, which is home of the famous Heidelberg School, including Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton and Frederick McCubbin. Visitors can see where they lived and painted along the Heidelberg School Artists Trail or visit Montsalvat, Australia's oldest artists' colony. Then take in mid-twentieth century artworks from Albert Tucker, Brett Whiteley and more in TarraWarra Museum of Art's sleek galleries. 

It is also possible to get a glimpse of the studios of working wood carvers, painters, digital artists, sculptors, jewellery designers and other artists, when they throw open their doors through the annual Open Studios program.

Transport Network Provides:  minibus charter Adelaide & coach hire Perth