First Foray out of Melbourne this weekend..........thoughts?
 

Realized I should be asking all of you wonderful Aussies what not to miss when we rent a car and go away this weekend for 3 days. We are headed out through the Yarra Valley, have lunch booked at the Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander winery and a room for one night in Mansfield at the Highton Manor (the motel part) but are open to any and all suggestions especially if anyone gets back to us quick enough for an interesting route to drive and a place for a good Charaz........... thought we could get to Beechworth, Mt Buffallo but don't know how to judge distances here. We not particularly interested in gold rush towns.....no kids, just me and my husband. Thanks for any thoughts..........we will have access to internet on the road so feel free to write over the weekend.

Giant Steps is a good place to stop for lunch. The Yarra Valley Dairy if you like cheese is also a good place to stop. Bring a little esky to pop in your purchases.

If you are into art, you could stop at the Tarrawarra Museum of Art. I'm not sure what their present exhibition is.

As you no doubt know, there are a ton of wineries to choose from in the Yarra Valley, many with good views as well as wines, so just take your pick.

I had a good meal at the Yark Tea Rooms last Saturday and also bought up big at the Ruffy Produce Store - condiments, pickles, jams etc. There is nothing in Ruffy except the Produce Store except the Store so don't make the trip unless you are likely to want to buy.

Beechworth is a decent size and you can easily spend an afternoon or two wandering around there, but it is a good 90 mins drive from Manfield. If you decide to go there, I certainly would go one way via the King Valley - a much nicer drive with places to stop off as compared to the boring, albeit quicker, freeway.

It looks like it should be good weather so make the most of it.

You're spelling like a yank Marsha...it's Shiraz!

Hey Now Other Mel,

don't be lumping us all in together, there are plenty of us Yanks who know how to spell Shiraz, even after consuming the product too!

Melodie

you can tell I'm not a wine drinker!!! or maybe I should say I am and use it as an excuse! It's my husband who likes the stuff... I've only heard him talk about it....realized yesterday my mistake when I passed a shop window!
Embarrassing!
Thanks for advice though!

Fair enough Melodie.

On my first visit to Margaret River I ordered a glass of Shiraz and the bartender said "don't you call it Syrah where you come from?" I looked at her like she was bonkers, because I'd never had Syrah and I didn't realize Shiraz and Syrah were the same thing.

Try some sparkling Shiraz if you get the chance Marsha - it's Christmas in a glass. Which reminds me, I must buy some for the holidays.

Before we all leave the Yarra Valley, could someone offer me some suggestions on good wineries to visit there? For wine and atmosphere. Perhaps your top three or four choices?
(Please spell 'em correctly.)

Thanks!

Check on Chowhound.com. That is a better bet for food and wine recommendations. You can get on the Australia- new Zealand board under "other international boards" and then at the top of the page type in Yarra Valley and you may get some discussions

I haven't made the rounds out there enough to recommend, and I like wine more than I like wineries, but I understand the Yarra Valley is mostly about the Pinot Noir. Shiraz is more the Barossa, isn't it?

Thanks for your input.

Would it be possible to combine visits to some Yarra valley wineries with an outing into the Dandenong Ranges, or are these two separate undertakings?