We ventured out of soulful Melbourne for a taste of its eastern suburbs. It was a great day trip with a pleasant mix of nature, wildlife and winery.
Blue Dandenong Ranges
We drove to the Blue Dandenong Ranges, a set of low mountain ranges located about 32 km from Melbourne. It was a rainy spring day so we didn’t get to explore much of it, but we were content with just driving through its rolling roads and admiring the dramatic forest from our windows.
Healesville Sanctuary
Nestled in the foothills of Yarra Valley and about an hour drive from Melbourne, Healesville Sanctuary is a 70-acre bushland that is home to 200 species of native Australian wildlife. Healesville is renowed for saving endangered indigeneous animals. Its Wildlife Health Centre treats over 2000 orphaned, ill or injured wildlife every year.
A shy emu.
What we enjoyed about Healesville was the opportunities it gave us for close encounters with Australian wildlife in their natural habitat. We were beyond delighted to see these animals for the very first time.
A Cuddly Koala checking out a meal
A handsome dingo
A Laughing Bird
Wedge-tailed Eagle
A Red Kangaroo
Keith making friends with Kangaroos.
Yarra Valley Wine Region
After a delightful time with Australian wildflife, we headed to the wine region of Yarra Valley and were greeted with spectacular panorama of vineyards and rolling hills. Yarra Valley is a home to thrving wine industry with over 100 vineyards and 50 wineries, thanks to its cool climate and fertile land.
We visited Fergusson Winery, one of Yarra Valley’s award winning wineries.
The vineyard of Fergusson Winery.
We enjoyed wine-tasting in Fergusson Winery. We really liked their wines and we thought that it was too bad that they were not sold back home in the U.S.
Despite some burst of rain, it was a fun and beautiful day trip from Melbourne. We recommend this trip if you have at least 3 days in Melbourne.
- For more info about Healesville Sanctuary, click here.
- For more about wineries in Yarra Valley, click here.
- For more ideas about day trips from Melbourne, click here.
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Linking to Travel Photo Thursday, Oh, the Places I’ve Been and Travel Photo Monday.
Great “dramatic forest” shots. Blurry parts of those came out very arty.
Bokeh on “A Laughing Bird” photo looks interesting.
Love wine testings!
You two look great! and your friend Kangaroo looks good too 😉
memographer recently posted..EuroTrip 2013: Czech Republic and Belarus
Hi Alex, thanks! Glad you enjoyed the photos. I’m sure you and your camera will enjoy those places, too! Yes, those kangaroos were pretty adorable.
Marisol recently posted..Beyond Melbourne: Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley
gorgeous country side, I love this place with all the wildlife, it must have been fun to be so up close to all these indigenous animals at this sanctuary…I must visit Melbourne some day soon!
noel recently posted..Filoli Gardens in Summer time
Hi Noel, I hope you get to visit it soon. There are so many photogenic places around Melbourne that you and your camera will love to capture.
These photos are BEAUTIFUL! Your adjective “dramatic” describes those forests perfectly, and the animals are so sweet!
Erica recently posted..Week recap: uh, where’d it go?
Thanks Erica! Glad you enjoyed them.
Wow, these photos are spectacular and its huge size make them even more powerful. The wildlife is so incredible there. The first few photos make me feel like I was watching the Twilight movie – the scenery is so mysterious. I really really love it!
Agness recently posted..5 Free Things To Do in Santa Fe, North America
Hi Agness, great to see you back! Glad you enjoyed the photos and their new size. It was really amazing driving through the mysterious forest and seeing the native wildlife.
Beautiful shots, Marisol! Love the way you presented your Blue Dandenong Ranges pictures. One of my favorite memories from Australia was visiting Yarra Valley. My husband and I agree that we loved that wine region even more so than Napa Valley. It’s a blur on how many wineries we visited on that day trip
But, I do remember bringing back a couple of those Fergusson wines. Keith’s picture with the kangaroos is a classic. Love it!
Mary {The World Is A Book} recently posted..A Step Back In Time at the Roman Baths England
Ha! Ha! I can totally imagine what a blur it was and I don’t blame you! Sounded like a great honeymoon:) Yes, we loved Yarra Valley much better, too. I guess because the wineries are of boutique types and/or family-owned and nothing huge that are into mass production.
I love the mystery of a foggy forest scene, like out there somewhere evil is lurking. . .of course you balanced that with that cute little Koala and then washed the fear away with those lovely wines!
Jackie Smith recently posted..When the Sun Shines on Amsterdam. . .
Hi Jackie, I like how you summarized our balancing act:)
Great photos – especially your pics of the Dandenong Ranges. And your wildlife photos remind me of my visit to Featherdale Wildlife Sanctuary when I was in Oz. I remember that the dingos were jumping so high behind their cages. They’re very deceptive looking because they look like normal house dogs, but they can be fierce!
Dana Carmel @ Time Travel Plans recently posted..Out & About in Istanbul
Hi Dana, thanks! It’s great that you also got to enjoy one of Australia’s wildlife sanctuary. I know that dingos can be aggressive so I was surprised that the one we saw were actually tamed.
I know these places! Glad to see you got some Victorian winter sunshine – ie rain!
Cheers – Stewart M – Melbourne
Stewart Monckton recently posted..A golden bough
Oh, is that what you call it? We really didn’t mind the Victoria winter sunshine. It was still beautiful everywhere.
Love those rain photos, Marisol. Good thing you didn’t let the rain stop your exploration of soulful Melbourne. Visiting wineries is the perfect way to end a day (or a post). I didn’t realize kangaroos were so tame.
HI Marcia, yes we tried to make the most out of it. Besides, there’s always a beauty in the rain. Those Roos we encountered were really tamed and friendly.
Its great to see such nice view of Australian wildlife. I especially like the photo with Kangaroos. 😉
HI Alex, glad you enjoyed the view and the kangaroos. They were adorable creatures.
I love how the mist hovered around the trees in the forest, creating a mystical ambiance. It’s always a fun experience to encounter wildlife. I’m sure we share the same feeling as we both live in big cities.
That dingo looks really tame and doesn’t live up to its rather infamous reputation.
Bama recently posted..Nusa Lembongan: Small Island, Big Allure
Hi Bama,
Yes, it was we a fun encounter with the wildlife, especially because it was the very first time we saw Australian native animals. We were really excited to see the koalas and kangaroos in particular. I was a bit wary of the dingoes at first but the ones we encountered were really tamed.
What an amazing daytrip! I love how spooky those fog-laced roads look–like something straight out of a Tim Burton movie. I would love to visit that sanctuary. You guys are such lucky ducks
Amy | Club Narwhal recently posted..CHICAGO | THREE FUN THINGS TO DO
Hi Amy, you guys are such lucky ducks, too! I’m sure you would enjoy this sanctuary. There’s something special about seeing the wildlife in their natural habitat.
oh my gosh…incredible photographs! I have been to Melbourne, but could not manage to visit Yarra valley…maybe next time!
Renuka recently posted..Jodhpur – From The Rooftop
Hi Renuka, thannks! Definitely check out Yarra Valley next time you’re in Melbourne. I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy it.
Marisol recently posted..Beyond Melbourne: Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley
What a beautiful pictures!
Muza-chan recently posted..A Japanese Song per Day: Blu-BiLLioN – Hito Kakera
Thanks Muza-chan.
The fog and mist in the trees is my favorite but all of your photos are great.
Ruth recently posted..Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon
Hi Ruth, thanks. Glad you enjoyed the photos.
Marisol recently posted..Beyond Melbourne: Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley
I am enjoying following your Australia adventures. This looks like an excellent daytrip. Were you as excited to be up close to a kangaroo? My oldest boy got a little too close to one and it hit him in the face.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders} recently posted..Kids and Nintendos at The Louvre
Hi Michelle, it really was a great day trip. Yes, we were excited to see kangaroos for the very first time and to get upclose and personal with them. Fortunately, the ones we met were really tame.
Marisol recently posted..Beyond Melbourne: Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley
I love what you did here, Great shots!
Mo recently posted..Photo: Fly in Nature
Hi Mo, thanks. Glad you like the photos.
Koalas are so cute and adorable. It’s nice you got to see quite a lot of animals. Great photos!
Salika Jay recently posted..Tenerife For Families: Top Attractions
Thanks Salika. It was really delightful to see all these Australian animals for the first time.
What beautiful photos, especially the soulful forest and the animals. I love the Dandenongs, so much to experience there, unique wildlife, peace and quiet. My daughter (then 12) loved the colourful crimson rosella birds and the kangaroos.
Sophie recently posted..Helsinki by Instagram
Hi Sophie, I’m so pleased you found them soulful! That’s one of my favorite wold “soulful.”
Dandenongs truly has so much to offer. I’m glad you and your family enjoyed it as well.
Looks like a wonderful day trip – and very scenic even with the rain.
I would love to spend a day wine tasting in the Yarra Valley – though I hate to waste good wine by spitting.
Leigh recently posted..A Visit to Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick
Hi Leigh,
It truly was wonderful. Hey, you don’t have to spit:) Just make sure you have a designated driver!
What a great day! What more could you ask for? Forests, animals and wine! Love the tree shots.
Nancie recently posted..Travel Photo Thursday — September 12, 2013 — Postcard Perfect Beaches
Thanks Nancie! It certainly was a great day.
I love the sanctuary you’ve visited, and found the Yarra valley spectacular on a sunny day. Unfortunately, it does rain a lot in the region!
Denise recently posted..Kyoto deserves a million posts
HI Denise, it was still beautiful even with the rain, so it didn’t really bother us much.
I especially loved the pictures of trees! They are gorgeous!
Flora recently posted..The Popsicle
Thanks Fiona!
Those forest shots are so spooky! Looks like a wet day. Maybe I should think about venturing out of Melbourne the next time I am down there. Great pics.
Peggy recently posted..Moving Abroad: Build a social network
Thanks Peggy! You should definitely venture out Melbourne next time. There’s so much to see around.
zomg. look at that emu. He’s emO. I don’t think I’ve met a shy emu. They always run up to people and get in their face. =D Your photos are very pretty. =)
nicole recently posted..A Patio Rocking Chair Memory of Prague
Great set once again Marisol! I’m especially drawn to the second photo – it’s so textural I could almost feel the droplets!
Dennis recently posted..Anchorage Once More
The emu looks so cute! I wouldn’t enjoy going out in the rain, but it seems you two had a good time. Lovely photos, as usual. Those B&Ws are so dramatic.
Freya Renders recently posted..Private Italian Cooking Class in Rome
Love the trees in mist photos! I wish I can appreciate going out when it’s raining. I usually just stay indoors when it’s wet wet wet outside.
Aleah | SolitaryWanderer.com recently posted..Saying Goodbye to Kunsthaus Tacheles in Berlin