Healesville
Healesville is a small town at the eastern end of Victoria's Yarra Valley near Melbourne.
Get in
By car
The town is only about half an hour from the outer eastern suburbs by the Maroondah Highway. Because of its proximity to the city, many people live in the area and drive into the suburbs for work, this makes the road very busy during rush hours, and there is a bottleneck around Lilydale. Outside of peak hours, it's an easy drive from the city to the peaceful bushland setting of the town.
By bus
If you don't want to drive, you can take a train from the centre of Melbourne to Lilydale, and then there is a regular (McKenzies) bus service which runs to Healesville via Yarra Glen. Although it is not directly connected to Melbourne, for public transport purposes Healesville is considered part of 'Zone Two' formerly Zone Three until zone reorganization, the outer-eastern transport zone, and it only costs around $10 for an all-day zone 1 and 2 rail and bus ticket.
Get around
By car
While theoretically you can take the car, often the distances are very short, and you wouldn't really need to take your car out.
By walking
It is possible to walk within the town if you don't mind small hills.
See
In Healesville
- Healesville Sanctuary, Badger Creek Rd., 10 minute drive from Healesville; no public transportation, ☏ +61 3 59572800. 9AM–5PM. A world-renowned wildlife park. The sanctuary is run under the auspices of the Melbourne Zoo, and provides rehabilitation facilities for injured wildlife, breeding programs for several endangered species, and aims to educate the public about the unique and beautiful wildlife of Australia. Adult $42, child 4–15 $21.
- Badger Weir.
- 🌍 Yarra Valley Railway, 20 Healesville-Kinglake Rd, ☏ +61 3 5962 2490. A tourist railway operates from the town on weekends and public holidays..
Just outside Healesville
- Maroondah Reservoir. just a short drive further down the highway.
Do
- TarraWarra Museum of Art, 311 Healesville-Yarra Glen Rd., ☏ +61 3 59573100. The museum has a wonderful collection of early Modernist Australian paintings in a location with sweeping views of the adjoining TarraWarra vineyards..
- Beers, Burgers & Gin Tour by Helicopter, ☏ +61 3 7065 1888. Take a helicopter ride to Healesville for an authentic tour in pursuit of the best beers, burgers and gin the Yarra Valley. Tour includes a helicopter ride to Healesville and stops at Watts River Brewery, Monroe’s Burgers & Four Pillars Distillery.
Eat
There are many cafes along the main street, so there is no shortage of places to eat.
- Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander Winery, 336-364 Maroondah Hwy, ☏ +61 3 5962 6111. This is a very interesting boutique winery and cafe that serves a range of food including wood-fired pizza, cakes and bread all baked on site Bakery and Restaurant within a wine-making operation.
- Monroe’s Burgers & Beers, 228 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, ☏ +61 3 5962 2033. A burger joint with a crazy selection of burgers and fries that are very satisfying.
Drink
- 🌍 Four Pillars Gin Distillery, 2A Lilydale Rd, toll-free: 1800 374 446.
Sleep
For those wanting to stay in the area overnight there are also plenty of guesthouses.
- 🌍 Barb's B&B, 23 Marna St, ☏ +61 427 596 251.
- 🌍 Healesville Motor Inn, 45 Maroondah Hwy, ☏ +61 3 5962 5188. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM.
- 🌍 Terminus Hotel Motel, 23 Harker St, ☏ +61 3 5962 4011. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM.
- 🌍 Healesville Hotel, 256 Maroondah Hwy, ☏ +61 3 5962 4002. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 10AM. Informal Aussie hotel with bar and restaurant.
- Furmston House & Studio B & B.
Go next
- Melbourne is just over down there.
- Buxton is further up B360
- Alexandra is at the top of B360 at the junction of B340