For the intrepid
Explore Healesville
Fancy a day trip out of Melbourne or a couple of days for a mini-break? Healesville is calling your name! Situated 1 hour out of Melbourne via the M3 tollway and the Maroondah Highway. V-Line trains also go to Lilydale with connecting buses to Healesville. Healesville is an easy drive to enjoy some great food and a variety of attractions to attract all tastes and interests. There are many options for day tours and accommodation for longer stays.
Here are our top picks for Healesville.
Healesville Sanctuary:
Healesville Sanctuary, formally known as the Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary, is a zoo specialising in native Australian animals. The zoo is set in a natural bushland environment where paths wind through different habitat areas showcasing wallabies, wombats, dingoes, kangaroos, and over 200 native bird varieties. Guided tours, bird shows, and information areas are available to visitors.
Four Pillars Distillery
This former timber yard has been transformed into a fully functioning gin distillery over 700 square metres, featuring our two German sister-stills Wilma and Jude, (and soon their miniature sister Eileen) At the Distillery Door you'll find all styles of Four Pillars Gins for tasting and sale, a variety of food, great coffee and even beer and wine. Four Pillars Gin launched in 2013 and has gone on to win a swag of awards at home and around the globe.
TarraWarra Museum of Art
For the ‘culture vultures’ throughout each year it presents seasonally changing exhibitions within an award-winning building set in the rolling hills of the natural landscape.
Since opening in 2003, the Museum has become recognised as the cultural jewel of the Yarra Valley, providing visitors with an enjoyable and inspiring experience which combines stunning architecture with the very best of modern and contemporary art. Over 70 temporary themed exhibitions have been presented at the Museum to date, covering a diverse range of stimulating and innovative Australian and international art in group and collection shows and single artist surveys, providing the opportunity to experience fresh contexts in which to view Australian art today.
Maroondah Reservoir Park
Maroondah Reservoir Park is a stunning location for a picnic and a walk. The park, which is more commonly known as the Maroondah Dam, is home to a huge dam wall holding back about 22,000 megalitres of water (one of several catchments supplying Melbournians with water). A stroll along the dramatic dam wall is the feature of this walk but lovely Edna Walling style landscaping is another feature of Maroondah Reservoir Park. The loop of the dam is rated an easy 3km and should take about 45 minutes.