Warburton

We drove from Marysville to Warburton over the hills past Lake Mountain. It was the long way and quite a narrow and windy road, but the forests were just beautiful. It was windy, and the last 5 km into Warburton it started to lightly rain and just as we got to our accommodation there was quite a down pour.  My first impression of Warburton was that it was a bit run down and disappointing, but after our two days there I could easily go back, it was a good base and there was plenty to do and an excellent visitors centre. Just 100 meters from our little cottage there was a lovely walk along the Yarra River which was very pretty. We did several walks along the river.

There was a lovely mural painted on the steps up to the Visitor's Centre, where the staff were very helpful and lots of information.

There were a series of about 40 murals at the back of the Visitor's Centre depicting various scenes from around the area.

We headed up to the Rainforest Gallery, which was a lovely metal board walk along the floor of the rainforest. Magnificent Mountain Ash and Myrtle Beech trees.

We then headed to Cement Creek and eventually managed to find the Redwood Forest Plantation, about 1400 trees planted back in the 1950's, pretty magnificent trees and a lovely place to wander through.

We then headed back into Warburton and across to Healsville and then the outskirts of Yarra Glen.- took about an hour, mum thought it was a long way to go for a hot chocolate at the Chocalitier, but after we got there and shared a quinoa and roasted vegetable salad, followed by a hot chocolate each and a wander through the shop, she could see why Amy and I like calling in here! It was a lovely sunny afternoon and very pleasant temperature.

After the chocolate place we checked out the Yarra Valley Dairy which was about 15 minutes away at Yering, where we got to sample some lovely goat and cow cheese, we had a gourmet afternoon! We then headed back to Warburton for the night.

After a bit of a rest at home, mum and I went for a walk along the Yarra River again, upstream this time.

Wednesday morning we packed up and drove back to mum's, it was just over and hours drive through Cockatoo and Upper Beaconsfield. It was a pretty drive through the forests. Dropped mum and home and spent and hour or two there before heading to the airport, dropping off the car and flying home to Canberra. It was a lovely trip and a nice break away.