HEALESVILLE
Scroll beyond the links below for town information
Healesville is around a one hour drive north east of the Melbourne CBD and 20 minutes from the outer north eastern suburbs. This picturesque Yarra Valley town is in the foothills of the High Country and nearby to famous wineries, orchards and berry farms. Visitors and locals alike enjoy stopping at farm gates to stock up on supplies of local produce and some farms are popular places to pick your own berries and cherries.
Established in 1864 and named after Richard Heales, the Premier of Victoria in 1860, Healesville was an important hub en route to the goldfields of Matlock, Woods Point and beyond. After the gold rush, timber cutting and farming kept many people in the area and in 1889 Healesville became popular with tourists as the railway came to the town.
Nowadays, visitors are attracted from near and far, to enjoy the variety of food and wine on offer. This foodie haven has everything from bakeries and cafes right through to award winning dining. The heart of the town is where you’ll find historic country pubs, boutique shopping and a streetscape that dates back to the 1800’s.
With almost every turn you make in the heart of Healesville, you’ll find yourself at a historic point of interest and the best way to discover its fascinating past is by following the route of the Healesville Historic Walk. This easy walk takes you to over 25 locations and includes informative signage along the way. The Badger Creek Historic Site is also worth visiting to learn about the old school and associated buildings.
Healesville is a great base to explore the Yarra Valley from and a regular stopping point for those heading to Marysville and Lake Mountain Alpine Resort. Attractions to the town include the Yarra Valley Heritage Railway and the Healesville Sanctuary, which opened in 1934 and is a ‘must see’. There are a couple of species of very small animals on display that are only found in small parts of our alps. The Mountain Pygmy Possum is a critically endangered species and the Corroboree Frog is an endangered species. Both of these tiny High Country inhabitants have breeding programs operating at Healesville Sanctuary to boost their numbers and allow new populations to be released into the wild.
This area has been a bushwalking paradise for over 100 years, with trails to explore and beautiful scenery in all directions. Nearby Mt St Leonard, at just over 1000m altitude, can be accessed by car (St Leonards Rd, Myers Creek Rd then Monda Rd) to a carpark that is only about a 1km walk (uphill) to a viewing platform that delights visitors with views over Port Philip Bay and the Melbourne city skyline on a clear day. The Maroondah Reservoir Park is a large shady parkland with picnic and BBQ areas, rotundas, walking trails and a variety of flora and fauna.
A large variety of accommodation options await visitors to this popular tourist town, from bed & breakfasts, motels and hotels to holiday houses. Some of these properties are historic buildings with a wonderful character and have been beautifully preserved. Cyclists use Healesville as a base for exploring the many cycling routes throughout the surrounding hills and a favourite for many, is the Black Spur.
The Black Spur is a scenic, winding road between Healesville and Narbethong that is a beautiful drive that features towering mountain ash and huge tree ferns for about 15kms of the drive. This road has been a highlight for travellers since the early 1900’s and is a great place to start your journey into the High Country.
Enjoy the video below, from the team at ‘North South’, cycling the Black Spur.
