Nestled in the picturesque Yarra Valley, Healesville is a charming town that beckons visitors with its scenic landscapes, rich cultural experiences, and a touch of luxury at the RACV Healesville Resort.
Victoria
Best things to do along the Yarra River, from Melbourne to the Yarra Valley
Follow the Yarra River from Melbourne to the Yarra Valley with this guide to the best walks, attractions, wineries, wildlife, cruises and scenic stops along the way.
The Yarra River, known to the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People as Birrarung, has sustained communities for thousands of years and remains one of Victoria's most important natural landmarks.
Flowing for around 242km from the Yarra Ranges through the Yarra Valley and into the heart of Melbourne before reaching Port Phillip Bay, the Yarra River connects world-class sporting venues and arts precincts, leafy parklands, historic villages, native bushland, acclaimed wineries, and gourmet food destinations.
Recognising its cultural significance and deep First Nations connections, plans are underway for a 13-day, 220km trail that would give Victorians and visitors the chance to experience a long-distance walk along the river comparable to Spain’s legendary Camino pilgrimage. But you don’t need to wait for the Birrarung Valley Walk to be completed to experience the Yarra’s many sides.
Whether you're planning a riverside walk in the CBD, cycling the Main Yarra Trail, paddling beneath Melbourne's skyline, discovering wildlife in Yarra Bend Park or enjoying a weekend escape to the Yarra Valley, the Yarra River is far more than a city landmark. It's a destination in its own right, offering experiences for every type of traveller from Melbourne to one of Australia's premier wine regions.
Here's how to explore the Yarra River from the city to the Yarra Valley.
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At a glance: activities along the Yarra River
| Where to go | |
|---|---|
|
Hidden gem |
Herring Island |
|
Heritage and gardens |
Royal Botanic Gardens, Como House and Garden |
|
Arts, food and culture |
Abbotsford Convent; Heide Museum of Modern Art |
|
Families |
Collingwood Children's Farm; Eltham Lower Park and Daimond Valley Minature Railway, Healesville Sanctuary |
|
Boating and riverside dining |
Southgate, Studley Park Boathouse, Fairfield Park Boathouse & Tea Gardens |
|
Bushland and walks |
Yarra Bend Park; Westerfolds Park; Warburton |
|
Food and wine escape |
The Yarra River is full of fun experiences. Image: Emily Godfrey, Visit Victoria
Walks, bike rides and river experiences
The Yarra River is a wonderland for those who value an active lifestyle. Whether you're after a leisurely riverside stroll, a scenic bike ride or a full-day outdoor adventure, the Yarra River offers countless ways to experience Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Main Yarra Trail
The Main Yarra Trail is Melbourne's premier riverside walking and cycling route, following the Yarra for more than 30 kilometres through the city's eastern suburbs.
The largely sealed trail links Southbank with Richmond, Abbotsford, Kew, Fairfield, Yarra Bend Park and beyond, passing parklands, wetlands, cafés and scenic lookouts along the way. It even recently enjoyed an upgrade: the steep steps that used to connect the river to Gipps Street have been replaced with a sweeping elevated platform that provides stunning views of the river.
Walk or cycle a short section, or spend a full day exploring one of Melbourne's most popular shared-use trails.
Yarra Bend Park
Just a few kilometres from Melbourne's CBD, Yarra Bend Park is Melbourne's largest area of natural bushland. Walking tracks wind through forests and along the river, while cyclists can connect to the Main Yarra Trail. The Dights Fall Loop Walk highlights Melbourne's history, including a spooky former asylum.
The park is also a great place to spot native wildlife, including flying foxes, waterbirds and, with a little luck, a platypus.
Westerfolds Park
Further upstream, Westerfolds Park in Templestowe offers wide riverside trails, open parklands and peaceful picnic areas beside the Yarra. Popular with walkers, cyclists and birdwatchers, it's an excellent place for families to enjoy shorter walks or connect with longer sections of the Yarra Trail network.
Warburton and the Upper Yarra
The character of the river changes dramatically as it reaches the Upper Yarra. Around Warburton, the Yarra becomes a tranquil mountain stream surrounded by forests and rolling hills.
Enjoy riverside walks through the township or venture into nearby parks for longer bushwalks, cycling and nature-based adventures. You can go rock climbing at Ben Cairn, explore the O'Shannassy Aqueduct or join cyclists on the Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail.
A future Yarra/Birrarung hiking trail
For keen hikers, the future looks even more exciting. A proposed Yarra/Birrarung Trail aims to create a continuous 13-day walking experience following the river from Williamstown Beach at its mouth to the Upper Yarra Dam near its source. Once completed, the long-distance trail will connect existing tracks with new sections, allowing walkers to experience the river's remarkable transformation from urban waterfront to mountain forest over its entire length.
On the water
Seeing the river from the water offers another perspective. Guided sightseeing cruises depart from Southbank, while kayaking tours allow visitors to paddle beneath Melbourne's bridges and past its iconic skyline. Further upstream around Warrandyte, the calmer waters are popular for canoeing and recreational paddling. Even further, up in Warburton, you can enjoy a river tubing or river sledding adventure around bends and over gentle rapids.
You'll see people river tubing and sledding on the Yarra River near Warburton, but conditions can change quickly, so check current advice and local conditions before you go. Image: Visit Victoria
Arts, culture, gardens and heritage stops
Many of Victoria's leading galleries, heritage properties and public spaces can be found along the Yarra River's banks. Following the river from the CBD into the Yarra Valley offers a journey through art, history and beautifully landscaped gardens.
Federation Square and Melbourne's arts precinct
Federation Square is packed with arts and culture. Here, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) has two dedicated screen showing new and classic movies, as well as hosting exhibitions about film, TV and computer games. You can also visit the Koorie Heritage Trust at Fed Square to learn about the history and living cultures of Aboriginal Victoria.
Federation Square connects directly to Birrarung Marr: a riverside park that celebrates the river's cultural significance and hosts fun festivals throughout the year.
You can also cross the river from Fed Square to the massive brutalist National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) International for a stunning collection of artworks and special exhibits. Next door is Arts Centre Melbourne and Hamer Hall, if you want to catch a live performance - whether that's music, opera, dance or theatre.
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
A short walk away, the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne showcases thousands of plant species across beautifully landscaped gardens, while neighbouring Alexandra Gardens provides picnic lawns and walking paths overlooking the river.
Como House and Garden
Set on the banks of the Yarra in South Yarra, Como House and Garden offers a glimpse into Melbourne's colonial history. The beautifully preserved 19th-century mansion is surrounded by elegant gardens and provides guided tours that explore the lives of the families who once lived there.
Abbotsford Convent
Further upstream, Abbotsford Convent combines heritage architecture with galleries, artists' studios, cafés and markets. The historic precinct offers a relaxed place to spend an afternoon while overlooking one of the Yarra's most scenic bends.
Herring Island
Hidden in the middle of the Yarra River, Herring Island is one of Melbourne's lesser-known cultural attractions. Accessible by a seasonal punt service, the island combines native bushland with outdoor sculpture installations, walking tracks and peaceful picnic areas, making it a unique escape from the city.
Heide Museum of Modern Art
Further upstream in Bulleen, the Heide Museum of Modern Art blends contemporary Australian art with sculpture gardens, heritage buildings and riverside parkland. Visitors can explore changing exhibitions before wandering through the landscaped grounds overlooking the Yarra River.
TarraWarra Museum of Art
As the Yarra River reaches wine country, the TarraWarra Museum of Art offers one of regional Victoria's leading cultural experiences. Set among vineyards in the Yarra Valley, the museum showcases modern and contemporary Australian art through a program of changing exhibitions. Its striking architecture and picturesque setting make it an ideal stop alongside nearby cellar doors and winery restaurants.
The Heide Museum of Modern Art is impressive with its outdoor sculptures and indoor galleries. Image: Visit Victoria
Best family-friendly things to do along the Yarra River
The Yarra River offers plenty of family-friendly attractions, from hands-on farm experiences in Melbourne to wildlife encounters in the Yarra Valley.
There are also plenty of opportunities to play, explore and enjoy the outdoors along the Yarra River. Many sections of the Main Yarra Trail are suitable for cycling, while riverside parks throughout Melbourne provide playgrounds, picnic facilities and open spaces for children to explore.
Collingwood Children's Farm
Collingwood Children's Farm remains one of Melbourne's most unique attractions, allowing children to meet farm animals beside the river while enjoying open green spaces. It's just minutes from Melbourne's CBD, and gives families the chance to meet cows, sheep, goats, chickens and other farm animals in a unique riverside setting. This working community farm also has walking paths, picnic areas and easy access to neighbouring Abbotsford Convent.
Studley Park Boathouse
One of Melbourne's most iconic riverside destinations, Studley Park Boathouse has been welcoming visitors for more than a century. Families can enjoy breakfast or lunch overlooking the river before hiring a rowboat or canoe, spotting ducks and waterbirds, or exploring the surrounding walking tracks through Yarra Bend Park.
Yarra Bend Park
Melbourne's largest natural bushland reserve feels a world away from the city, despite being only a few kilometres from the CBD. Families can enjoy walking and cycling trails, picnic areas, open green spaces and scenic river views while keeping an eye out for native wildlife, including kangaroos, flying foxes, waterbirds and (if you're very lucky) a platypus.
Healesville Sanctuary
A visit to Healesville Sanctuary is one of the highlights of any trip to the Yarra Valley. Home to koalas, kangaroos, wombats, platypus, birds of prey and many other native species, the sanctuary offers interactive keeper talks and presentations that make learning about Australian wildlife engaging for visitors of all ages. Combined with nearby cafés, parks and wineries, it's an easy family day trip or stop on a Yarra Valley weekend escape.
Healesville Sanctuary allows the whole family to see lots of native wildlife. Image: Visit Victoria
Where to eat and drink by the Yarra
Following the Yarra River is as much about great food and drink as it is about the scenery. From Melbourne's bustling waterfront to country cafés and acclaimed winery restaurants, there are plenty of places to stop for a meal along the way.
Southbank and South Wharf
Melbourne's best-known riverside dining precincts offer everything from casual cafés and family-friendly restaurants to rooftop bars and fine dining overlooking the Yarra. Whether you're stopping for breakfast before a walk, a leisurely lunch or dinner with city skyline views, Southbank and neighbouring South Wharf provide plenty of visitor-friendly options within easy walking distance of many major attractions.
Try fine dining destinations like French fusion cuisine at Bistro Guillaume, or a contemporary Australian twist at Rockpool Bar & Grill. For a more relaxed feel, Riverland Bar, overlooking the Botanic Gardens and boating clubs, offers pub grub. Or grab a cocktail on the river itself, with Ponyfish Island bar perched on a pylon of the Evan Walker Bridge. The pontoon-planted bars of Afloat and Yarra Botanica are delightful.
Fairfield Boathouse & Studley Park Boathouse
A Melbourne institution, Fairfield Boathouse is one of the city's most picturesque riverside cafés. Set beside the Yarra in Fairfield Park, it's a popular spot for breakfast, lunch or coffee before hiring a rowboat, enjoying a riverside walk or simply relaxing beneath the trees.
The historic surrounds of Studley Park Boathouse also offers lunch and a glass of wine by the Yarra River, as well as the opportunity to hire a rowboat.
Warrandyte
On the northern fringe of Melbourne, Warrandyte's village atmosphere makes it an enjoyable lunch stop. The historic town is home to welcoming riverside pubs, cosy cafés, bakeries and takeaway food options that are perfect for enjoying in one of the nearby picnic areas overlooking the river.
Warburton
At the edge of the Upper Yarra, Warburton offers a relaxed country dining scene. Refuel after exploring the river or the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail with a stop at one of the town's cafés, bakeries or traditional pubs, or pick up supplies for a picnic beside the Yarra. Sip on and then take a bottle to go at Yarra Valley Wine Co, stock up on cheese at Mill Grove Dairy, or settle into the 41-year-old Alpine Hotel.
Yarra Valley wineries
The Yarra Valley is one of Australia's premier food and wine destinations. Its renowned cellar doors offer tastings of cool-climate wines, while many wineries feature acclaimed restaurants serving seasonal regional produce with vineyard views. From long lunches to the champagne tastes of Chandon, the region's wineries are a highlight of any journey along the Yarra River.
Beyond wine, visitors can also discover artisan cheesemakers, chocolatiers, craft breweries, distilleries and farm gates showcasing the region's local produce.
More: The best wineries and cellar doors to visit in the Yarra Valley
Melbourne's Southbank precinct offers multiple dining options. Image: Visit Victoria
Yarra Valley day trips and weekend escapes
The upper reaches of the Yarra River are ideal for a day trip or weekend away, with experiences ranging from gourmet food and wine to wildlife encounters and peaceful forest escapes.
Food and wine in the Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley is one of Australia's best-known cool-climate wine regions, making it a favourite destination for long lunches and leisurely touring. Spend the day visiting cellar doors, sampling Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and sparkling wines, and enjoying seasonal menus at winery restaurants overlooking vineyards.
Scenic drives connect towns such as Coldstream, Yarra Glen and Dixons Creek, while the TarraWarra Museum of Art adds a cultural stop with its collection of modern and contemporary Australian art set among rolling vineyards.
Healesville for wildlife and relaxed regional touring
Healesville combines wildlife, food and wine with the charm of a country town. Visit Healesville Sanctuary to see iconic Australian animals in natural bushland settings, then browse the town's boutique shops, cafés and galleries before exploring nearby wineries and local produce.
If you're planning an overnight stay, the RACV Healesville Country Club & Resort provides a convenient base with family-friendly facilities, an 18-hole golf course, day spa and easy access to the region's attractions.
More: The best things to do in Healesville
Warburton and the Upper Yarra for nature
For those seeking fresh air and outdoor adventure, head further east to Warburton and the Upper Yarra. The picturesque town sits beside the Yarra River and is surrounded by mountain forests, making it an excellent destination for riverside walks, picnics and scenic drives.
Cyclists and walkers can explore sections of the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail, while nearby parks and reserves offer opportunities for bushwalking, camping and enjoying the tranquil scenery before stopping at one of Warburton's cafés.
The Yarra Valley boasts many award-winning wineries. Image: Visit Victoria
How to plan your visit to the Yarra River
The Yarra River offers something different at every stage of its journey, so choose the stretch that best suits your plans:
- Melbourne's CBD and inner-city riverfront - ideal for dining, galleries, gardens, river cruises and easy riverside walks.
- Middle Yarra around Kew, Abbotsford, Yarra Bend Park and Warrandyte - perfect for family outings, bushwalks, boathouses, cycling and picnics.
- Upper Yarra and Yarra Valley - check off cellar doors, Healesville Sanctuary, Warburton, scenic drives and relaxing weekend escapes.
Walking or cycling is the easiest way to explore the city and Main Yarra Trail, while public transport provides convenient access to many inner-Melbourne attractions. RACV Bike Assist can help get you and your bike home safely if you cycle into trouble.
For Warrandyte, Healesville, Warburton and Yarra Valley wineries, driving is generally the most practical option - or consider joining a guided winery tour. When driving, make sure your car is road trip ready, pack a car emergency kit, and keep your roadside assistance plan up-to-date.
Before you go, check opening hours and book ahead for popular restaurants, wineries, galleries, and other activities.
Responsible ways to enjoy the Yarra River
The Yarra River (Birrarung) is both an important environmental corridor and a place of deep cultural significance for the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People.
When walking or cycling, stay on designated tracks and shared paths, keep left where required, and be mindful of other users, including pedestrians, cyclists and people using mobility devices. Slow down around busy areas and follow any local signage.
If you're spending time on or near the water, remember that river conditions can change quickly due to rainfall, currents and submerged hazards. Always supervise children closely, wear a lifejacket when appropriate if you're boating or paddling, and only swim where it is safe and permitted.
Many parks along the Yarra River provide picnic shelters and barbecue facilities. Help protect the environment by using designated picnic and barbecue areas, disposing of waste correctly or taking your rubbish home if bins are full.
During summer, be aware of fire danger ratings and any Total Fire Bans before heading into parks or bushland, particularly in the Yarra Valley and Yarra Ranges. If you're planning a walk, picnic or day trip, check conditions before you leave and download the VicEmergency app to receive bushfire, flood and other emergency warnings.
Finally, take time to learn about the cultural significance of Birrarung and its connection with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People. Respect culturally significant places, preserve native plants and wildlife, and support local businesses.
