This regional town sure knows how to pack a punch. Just north of the Great Dividing Range and only a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, Yea offers a relaxed country experience but with a progressive twist.
Boasting modern street art, award winning wineries, restaurants, historic buildings, a thriving main street and a strong arts culture, Yea Victoria is a key town on the Great Victorian Rail Trail.
HIGHLIGHTS
RAIL TRAIL
The Great Victorian Rail Trail winds through Yea, making it a great stop to wet the whistle, indulge the palate and inspire your inner creative, as cyclists can explore the fabulous range of welcoming country pubs, great eateries, local art galleries and quirky stores.
YEA WETLANDS DISCOVERY CENTRE
A trip to Yea, Victoria, isn’t complete without a wander through the Yea wetlands and the Yea Wetlands Discovery Centre
Situated on a 32-hectare floodplain the wetlands are home to platypus, koalas and many native and migratory waterbirds that watch over the billabongs. While the YWDC is an environmental learning and accredited visitor information centre, where you can also learn about the traditional owners, the Taungurung people.
The Yea Wetlands may be small on a world scale, but they provide inspiration in spades, opening your eyes to an abundance of bird life and fauna throughout the seasons.
MURRINDINDI SCENIC RESERVE
Pack a picnic, throw a line in, or even pitch a tent at the Murrindindi Scenic Reserve. Situated at the northern end of Toolangi State Forest, this large green oasis is less than 2 hours from Melbourne.
It includes tumbling waterfalls, Mountain Ash, fern-filled gullies and is the perfect place for bushwalking, bird watching, fishing and paddling in the shallows of the Murrindindi River.
EAT & DRINK
Yea Peppercorn Hotel
The Yea Peppercorn Hotel caters to many travellers passing through to Lake Eildon in the Summer and Mt Buller during Winter.
It is also a welcome overnight venue for cyclists exploring the 134 kilometre Great Victorian Rail Trail which passes through Yea, just across the road from the hotel at the old railway station.
Being only 1.5 hours out of Melbourne it is the perfect distance for a day trip or overnight stop. Serving delicious Indian food from 5.30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and more traditional pub fare from Thursday to Sunday, with lunch available on weekends only.
With boutique accommodation available as part of the premises, why not make the most of your visit and stay a night or two? With five queen rooms onsite and a two bedroom apartment nearby, Yea Peppercorn caters for couples and small groups.
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Strath Creek Country Market
The Strath Creek Country Market is situated at the gorgeous Pioneer Reserve. It’s a great day out with a fabulous mix of local makers, bakers and growers, hot food and coffee, live music and some great spots to relax and enjoy the country atmosphere. Visitors will be able to stock up their pantry and support some of the best producers in the region. There’s even a playground for the kids.
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.