There are few people in the world who can’t be won over by a cute little koala or an equally cute, if slightly odd looking duck-billed platypus. Theseare just two of the fantastic animals for which Australia is known – and justifiably proud. They are also just two of the animals that you will see when you visit Healesville Sanctuary, which is in the Yarra Valley near Melbourne, Victoria.
Cute overload
Healesville Sanctuary is probably the place to go if you want to get truly up close and personal with Australia’s famous wildlife – at least 25 of the most famous types of animals, at any rate. It’s frequented by foreign and local tourists, who flock to see the animals, it’s true; but they also come for the chance to combine unique animal experiences with some of the best wine that Australia has to offer.
Once you’ve had your fill of koalas and platypuses, you can wend your way around the sanctuary to see characterful emus, teeny-tiny Leadbeater’s possums, expressive tree kangaroos, majestic wedge-tailed eagles, colourful spotted tree frogs, and the not-really blue-eyed long-billed corella.
And after you’ve spent some quality time with all the animals, you can pop into some of the other attractions at the sanctuary, including the Australian Wildlife Health Centre, which rescues, treats, and releases orphaned and injured animals. It’s not for the squeamish, however, as some of the stories are heartbreaking, and there are also opportunities to watch surgical procedures.
Kids are edutained at Lunar’s Secret Forest, where Lunar the Leadbeater’s Possum takes children on an enchanted journey through a secret forest, where they can explore the possums’ habitat and find out more about the wondrous and, unfortunately, endangered creatures in an entertaining and interactive way.
Raise your glass
You can drink a toast to all the animals at the sanctuary with some of the best wines from some of the best wineries in Australia. The Yarra Valley is one of the most famous wine regions in the world. According to Wikipedia, the climate is best suited to chardonnay, pinot noir and sparkling wines. It has become a hub for enotourism (wine tourism), which is itself becoming an increasingly common reason for travel.
Its wines have been winning awards since 1861, so you can be reasonably sure that no matter what you buy, your palette is going to thank you.
New heights
You can leave animals and wines behind you, or below you, if you will, and take a trip to the Dandenong Ranges. They aren’t exactly known for their altitude, but they do provide visitors with plenty of beautiful walks through hills, valleys and gullies. In the late 1870s, some forward thinkers realised that the burgeoning timber industry was going to do the region irreparable damage, and so several protected parklands were established. These have now been combined to form the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
Some of the highlights in the area include a trip up an extinct volcano, a journey into a rainforest, several creeks and waterfalls, and, according to Wikipedia, the Puffing Billy Railway. The Puffing Billy Railway harks back to the days when the steam train was the ultimate in travel. It’s a great way to pass through the Dandenongs, especially if you get tickets for the Dinner Train, which opens its doors on Friday or Saturday nights. Guests don’t, as you might suppose, eat dinner on the train; instead Puffing Billy takes to them to a converted shed at the old Nobelius Nursery. You will, however, be served drinks and snacks on the train.
What are you waiting for?
The Yarra Valley has something for everyone, which is fantastic for families with diverse interests. The kids will love the Healesville Sanctuary, mom will thoroughly enjoy the wine tasting, and dad will enjoy the steam train (as most dads are still little boys at heart).
So, pack your bags and get yourself down to the valley as soon as possible.
Jemima Winslow loves learning about all the interesting wildlife tourist destinations in the world; even though she knows she’ll never visit them all. If you’re really into tourism, you can search Now Learning’s Course Finder for TAFE in Victoria. There are plenty of online tourism courses that cater to local and international students.
The post Yarra Valley Provides A Wealth Of Wine, Wombats, And Wallabies appeared first on Cooking, Drinking, Shopping, Eating, Travel | Two Guys And Wine.