Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges

ABOUT THIS REGION Yarra Valley The Yarra Valley is the name given to the region surrounding the Yarra River in Victoria, Australia. The river originates approximately 90 kilometres east of the City of Melbourne and flows towards it and out into Port Phillip Bay. The name Yarra Valley is usually used in reference to the upper regions surrounding the Yarra River and generally does not encompass the lower regions including the city and suburban areas, where the topography flattens out, or the upper reaches which are in inaccessible bushland. Included in the Yarra Valley is the sub-region of Upper Yarra (or the Upper Yarra Valley) which encompasses the towns of the former Shire of Upper Yarra in the catchment area upstream of and including Woori Yallock. The Yarra Valley a popular day-trip and tourist area, featuring a range of natural features and agricultural produce, as well as the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail. The Yarra Valley is host to a thriving wine growing industry. The area's relatively cool climate makes it particularly suited to the production of high-quality chardonnay, pinot noir and sparkling wine. It is also home to the Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary and is a gateway to the Lake Mountain ski fields. Yarra Valley towns fall under the Nillumbik and Yarra Ranges Councils. Major towns include Yarra Glen, Healesville and Warburton. Dandenong Ranges The Dandenong Ranges (commonly just the Dandenongs) are a set of low mountain ranges, rising to 633 metres at Mount Dandenong, approximately 35 km east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The ranges consist mostly of rolling hills, steeply weathered valleys and gullies covered in thick temperate rainforest, predominantly of tall Mountain Ash trees and dense ferny undergrowth. After European settlement in the region, the range was used as a main source of timber for Melbourne. The ranges were popular with day-trippers from the 1870s onwards. Much of the Dandenongs were protected by parklands as early as 1882 and by 1987 these parklands were amalgamated to form the Dandenong Ranges National Park, which was added to again in 1997. The range experiences light to moderate snow falls a few times most years, frequently between late winter and late spring. Today, the Dandenongs are home to over 100,000 residents and the area is popular amongst visitors, many of which stay for the weekend at the various Bed & Breakfasts through the region. The popular Puffing Billy Railway, a heritage steam railway, runs through the southern parts of the Dandenongs. The Dandenong Ranges towns fall under the Yarra Ranges Shire Councils. Major towns include Mt Dandenong, Olinda, Sassafras, Emerald and Gembrook. INDUSTRY RESOURCES Regional Tourism Website : Experience Yarra Valley Regional Tourism Website : Experience the Dandenongs Regional Tourism Website : Visit Victoria Research and Statistics : Yarra Ranges Tourism Corporate Website Local Council : Yarra Ranges Council CREDITS Information Source : Wikipedia Image Credit : Dandenong Ranges National Park : Tourism Victoria : 2006 Mark Watson Regional Map : Copyright 2014 GoPanda Communications GoPanda