Things to do in Healesville, Victoria: Wineries, parks & wildlife

The best things to do in Healesville, Victoria, are wildlife spotting at the Healesville Sanctuary and Maroondah Reservoir Park. Other Healesville attactions include the several Yarra Valley wineries open for tastings.

Healesville, Victoria, is a tourism-focused town sandwiched between the Yarra Valley and Yarra Ranges. There are several things to do in Healesville that make it worth the hour’s drive from Melbourne.

If you just want to visit the Healesville Sanctuary, book tickets here.

Things to do in Healesville, Victoria: Healesville Sanctuary and Maroondah Reservoir Park

The top attraction in Healesville is the Healesville Sanctuary. You can skip the queues by booking your tickets online.

This zoo focuses on native Australian animals and, wherever possible, allows them to roam free in natural bushland. A trip to the Healesville Sanctuary feels more like a bushwalk with wildlife surprises than a traditional zoo experience.

A koala at the Healesville Sanctuary in Healesville, Victoria. Photo courtesy of Visit Victoria.

Other things to do in Healesville, Victoria, include the Maroondah Reservoir Park. It’s a pretty place of grassy picnic areas, electric barbecues, impressive trees and short walks. The Maroondah Forest track is the easy stroll through the trees, although you might as well continue up the slope for another 1.4km to the top of Henderson’s Hill. Parks Victoria has a long list of wildlife you can see at the Maroondah Reservoir Park, including kangaroos and kookaburras.

The other major attraction other than the Healesville wineries is the TarraWarra Museum of Art, just west of the town. It focuses on Australian art, with a strong collection of Aboriginal works.

Things to do in Healesville: Yarra Valley wineries

Most people will visit Healesville for the wildlife and wines, though. Healesville is at the eastern end of the Yarra Valley wine region, and has several wineries of its own. Closest to the town centre are Innocent Bystander and the Giant Steps Winery. Head further west along the Maroondah Highway, however, and you’ll soon encounter the impressively big Rochford Wines estate.

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things to do Victoria wine wine regions wineries Yarra Ranges Yarra Valley