Australia Retreat: Yarra Valley

Welcome to your Yarra Valley getaway. From 3 pm today you can check in to your accommodation, a character-filled, restored heritage building full of history and stories. You’ll be staying right in the heart of Healesville, which sits on the traditional land of the Wurundjeri people on the edge of the Yarra Ranges National Park and is just a few minutes away from the countless wineries that dot the landscape of the Yarra Valley. After you’ve settled in and unpacked for the next few days, there will be a welcome meeting at 6 pm. Your host will outline the upcoming itinerary and will touch on the story of the local area, from its First Nations history, through its time as a goldrush-era miners’ settlement. Afterward you’ll get a true taste of the Yarra Valley with a five-course meal for dinner. The chef crafts a menu with the changing seasons, with a strong focus on sustainability and local produce.

Enjoy breakfast at your accommodation this morning to fuel up for an exploration of your beautiful surroundings from the saddle. Transfer to the nearby beginning of your bike ride, a trail that winds its way past vineyards, farmland and forest along the historic route of the railway that once ran through the area. Station houses and platforms dot its length, hills surround in the distance, and you might spot kangaroos, birdlife and wildflowers along the way. Stop for morning tea at a cafe along the way, tasting local produce and getting a sense of the railway history of the place. Jump back on the saddle and continue the ride to leafy Mount Evelyn. Hop off the bike and into the van and refresh after your ride with lunch and a drink at a nearby boutique winery. Return to your accommodation in the afternoon for a chance to relax before heading to an award-winning, world-leading gin distillery. In a special space overlooking the distillery floor, you’ll experience a gin masterclass, with history and tasting of signature distils led by a gin expert. Afterward, you're free to explore the town’s food options for dinner – maybe try one of the cellar door style restaurants.

The Valley is known as a haven for creatives so, after breakfast this morning, take a wander down the main street, grab a coffee, poke your head into the galleries and creative spaces, and drop into a glass blowing studio to see the experts show off their skills. Afterwards the wine will surely be calling again, so head to a communal urban winery for lunch. Enjoy a tasting while you learn about their program that fosters the next generation of Australian winemakers, a first in Australia. After a fitting local flavour-filled lunch, this Intrepid Retreat experience in the Yarra Valley comes to an end.