Just north of the Great Dividing Range the township of Yea is nestled in a beautiful valley at the meeting of the Yea and Goulburn Rivers. Only a 90 minute drive from Melbourne, Yea offers a relaxed country experience.
The Yea township boasts historic buildings, a thriving main street and a strong arts culture. It's also a key town on the Great Victorian Rail Trail. With a range of award-winning wineries, restaurants and accommodation options on offer, Yea is the perfect base to explore the area’s surrounding scenic and historic sites.
HIGHLIGHTS
RAIL TRAIL
The Great Victorian Rail Trail winds through much of this area making these townships a great stopping off point for cyclists wishing to explore the fabulous range of welcoming country pubs, great eateries, local art galleries and quirky stores.
YEA WETLANDS DISCOVERY CENTRE
Drop into the Alexandra Timber Tramway and Museum for a ride on one of the historic locomotives and learn more about the early history of rail in the area.
MURRINDINDI SCENIC RESERVE
One of the lesser known gems of our region, the Murrindindi Scenic Reserve, is a great spot offering a bit of everything. There's a range of bushwalking, multiple camping areas, waterfalls, a picturesque river for water play as well as bird watching and fishing opportunities.
EAT & DRINK
Sedona Estate
Nestled in the rolling hills of Murrindindi near Yea, Sedona Estate is a boutique winery producing fine cool-climate wines with true provenance. Established in 1998, owners Paul and Sonja focus on growing and crafting classic French and Italian varieties producing regionally distinctive wines. Their passion and dedication make each bottle of wine a true experience.
Sonja and Paul pride themselves in offering an authentic and welcoming cellar door experience at Sedona Estate. A visit to this boutique winery offers warm country hospitality, with the vignerons sharing the story and offering interesting and engaging wine tastings.
With stunning views over the Murrindindi Valley, it is easy to spend a leisurely afternoon grazing on Sedona’s artisan boards sipping the wines grown at the Estate.
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Gather and Bloom Twilight Pick at Bloom Into You Flower Farm
Gather and Bloom is the pick-your-own flower season at Bloom Into You Flower Farm in Flowerdale, Victoria, 80 minutes north of Melbourne. Each summer the farm opens its rows on Saturdays for two sessions: a Morning Pick, and a Twilight Pick as the light turns gold over the valley.
Guests collect a harvest bucket and snips, then wander grassy pathways lined with dahlias, zinnias, cosmos and seasonal blooms, picking an armful to take home. Twilight Pick guests are welcomed with a complimentary glass of Prosecco on arrival.
Bring a rug and a picnic, or pre-order The Bloom Graze for Two. A private Bloom Table for up to eight can be booked for one group each evening.
In spring the farm opens for a short ranunculus season, with morning and afternoon sessions.
Children under 16 attend free with a ticket-holding adult. Numbers are kept small each session.
Pair the visit with a stay at Villa Minto, the architecturally designed villa overlooking the flower fields.
STAY
Villa Minto at Bloom Into You Flower Farm
Villa Minto is an architecturally designed luxury villa set within Bloom Into You Flower Farm in Flowerdale, Victoria, an 80-minute scenic drive north of Melbourne. Built for two, it is a private space to slow down in the rolling hills.
Floor-to-ceiling windows blur the line between the landscape and your living space. Inside is a king bed dressed in premium linens, a full kitchen, fast Wi-Fi, and a dark, moody micro-cement bathroom with a generous double shower. Solar-powered and quietly off-grid, the villa runs without compromise. The sweeping private deck, set above the flower fields, is made for sunset and stargazing over the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Complimentary gourmet breakfast provisions are included, with gluten-free options.
The villa is private and adults-only, booked as the whole property. On Saturday evenings from January to April, as part of the A Summer in Bloom season, guests receive complimentary access to the Gather and Bloom Twilight Pick (valued at $150 per person), stepping straight from the villa into the food and the sunset.
Near the Yarra Valley, Villa Minto is also a luxury base for weddings at Flowerdale Estate and Trawool Estate.