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
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
A Growling Grass Frog and a Crackle of Cockatoos
Hop into the Yea Wetlands these school holidays for some frog and cockatoo stories and activities.
With its bushland setting and frog lagoons the Yea Wetlands is an ideal place for learning about frogs and cockatoos. Sitting in the Yea Wetlands Discovery Centre story circle, a fun experience in itself, children will be delighted by the story of Litoria and her Wetland friends read to them by the author, Teisha Sloane-Lay, and the illustrator Katie Howard, or the story of Carl the Cockatoo and the Magic Seed Bell read to them by the author and illustrator, and local volunteer at the Yea Wetlands, Chris Brennan. Following the reading, children will participate in some frog activities or cockatoo-themed activities.
Children can learn about Litoria and the frog-themed activities on the Wednesday, and engage in cockatoo fun on Friday. Holiday activities at Yea Wetlands are popular so jump right in and book your spot now.
STAY
House of Mi-Rin
House of Mi-Rin is a boutique farm-to-table retreat in Yea, where seasonal dining, wellness and slow living come together.
Guests can enjoy luxury accommodation, seasonal dining, farm experiences and spaces designed for rest, connection and stillness.
Each of their five spacious rooms have been thoughtfully designed with a zen-inspired aesthetic, blending minimalism, natural materials, and grounding tones to create an atmosphere of serene elegance.
Set on a working farm, the House of Mi-Rin experience is shaped by ingredients grown, harvested and fermented on-site, with Korean-inspired traditions influencing both the food and the guest experience.