The local government area comprising the Shire of Yarra Ranges in Australia is located on the outer side of the Northeast suburbs of the City of Melbourne, in Victoria. The Shire of Yarra Ranges merge into the Dandenong Ranges from the Yarra Valley. This place is intriguing and you can use coach hire in Melbourne to visit this beautiful destination at least once in your lifetime.
About The Shire Of Yarra Ranges
The area of Shire of Yarra extends for about 2,470 km2 and has a population of a little less than 150,000 as far as the 2016 census records. The common parts of the Shires of Sherbrooke, Lillydale, Healesville, and that of Upper Yarra were all put together to collectively form the Shire of Yarra in 1994. This 24 year old Shire gets its own councillor chosen via quadrennial elections. There are nine wards that the Shire of Yarra is divided into, namely Billanook, Chandler, Lyster, Melba, Chirnside, Ryrie, O’Shannassy, Streeton, and Walling. The diverse history and beautiful geographical features of the Shire of Yarra Ranges offer various wonderful sites to visit. Let’s check them out.
Baynes Park
The Baynes Park of today used to be a caravan park in between 1961 and sometime in the 80’s. Originally, it used to be a berry farm. The soccer pitch at Baynes Park comes in the shade of a tall forest and the Sassafras Creek makes it even more beautiful. The Park covers an area of 40 hectares. It joins the Frank Irvine Reserve on one end and the DEPI forest on the other. The park also has a rotunda where you can barbeque and have a picnic. There is ample seating and a generous playground. There are hygienic and well-maintained toilets as well. The Baynes Park is the perfect destination for a picnic on a holiday.
Belgrave Lake Park
The Belgrave Lake Park is build around what used to be a reservoir and pipeline for Dandenong’s water supply in between 1893 and 1924. After that, the area provided the water supply for the Lysterfield farmers. It had already started becoming a popular tourist destination. The park served as an ideal picnic spot, and also as a destination for swimming and camping. If you visit the park, you will find a cabin made of stones and logs. It used to serve as the campsite, and before that, as the reserve. The structure is intact and it will surely give you the feel of the 1800’s.
Yarra River
The beautiful Yarra River bank is perfect to spend an entire day just walking around the river and taking a boat into it. You can take one of the river crafts from Southgate or the Princes Walk. You can also take your own boat and go off to Melbourne Park, Herring Island Park, or the Royal Botanical Gardens. The Yarra River brings out the essence of Melbourne. You cannot have enough of this beautiful river. If you visit during the festive season, you will have to be lucky to experience the Melbourne Festival as well as the Dragon Boat Festival. You can come in time for the Moomba Festivalwineries as well.
One can also be a part of grand regattas. You will love visiting this place during any of the festive seasons. If you are not a very festival person, you can come during any other season and enjoy a lone walk or cycling session along the trails. You can barbeque with your small company or come totally alone and go fishing. There is nothing the Yarra River cannot offer you, no matter what you want. The only thing you need to keep in mind is you need to take full information to find out the time of the year that is ideal for what you want to do. Also, make sure you know how to keep yourself safe from bushfires.
Puffing Billy Railway
You take a train from Puffing Billy Railway and get to see the amazing Dandenong Ranges. This beautiful place, just an hour away from Melbourne, will have you mesmerised with the ferns and the Mountain Ash trees. If you are tired of your daily routine and just want a holiday to rejuvenate your soul, come here and relax. A train ride through the beautiful temperate rainforests will definitely replenish your drained energies. Don’t miss out the historic Bridge of Monbulk Creek while on the ride. This is a must visit place even if you are from outside Melbourne, or even a foreigner to Australia.
Yarra Ranges National Park
This National Park is situated in the Highlands of Victoria Central. Standing at a distance of 107 km from Melbourne, the Yarra Ranges National Park was established in 1995. Famous for the tall Mountain Ash trees, this National Park is also home to diverse species of wildlife. You will find kangaroos, wombats, platypi, wallabies, and roughly 120 species of local birds. The 76,003 hectares area of the National Park is cut through by the Yarra River, the O’Shaunessy River, and the Taggerty River. The reservoirs that provide most of Melbourne’s potable water are sourced from the merging of these rivers in the Park. The beauty of this National Park is threatened by injudicious logging, the climate change, and some species of weed that are gnawing at the soil and the flora.
Healesville Sanctuary
Also known as the Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary, the Healesville Sanctuary is the zoo where you will find most of Australia’s native animals. Located in rural Victoria, this zoo used to breed native animals. The Healesville Sanctuary and the Taronga Zoo in Sydney are the only places which have succeeded in breeding platypi. You will also find the endangered helmeted honeyeater in this Sanctuary. If you are a bird lover you must visit this place, since there are over 200 types of native birds to witness. You will also get to see kangaroos of course, along with wombats, dingoes, and wallabies.
Book coach hire in Melbourne and visit the Yarra Ranges soon!