Stay awhile and make Amethyst Lodge your base to sample the attractions of the area.
The Yarra Valley has something to interest virtually every visitor, from the wine and food connoisseur to those wishing to simply enjoy the beauty of the scenery or perhaps discover the treasures of Yarra Glen's antique shops, the monthly Farmer's Market at Yering Station or monthly Craft and Produce Market at Yarra Glen Racecourse.
Undoubtedly one of the chief attractions is the 65 or more vineyards and wineries, all within half-an-hours drive from Dixons Creek, and most offering cellar door tastings of a wonderful range of cool climate wines. Many cellar doors now offer platters of delectable Yarra Valley produce to accompany tastings.
Wineries range from the larger, award winning establishments such as Domaine Chandon, De Bortoli and Yering Station to the many excellent boutique vineyards like Shantell, Yarra Track, Millers Estate and Sutherland Estate in the Dixons Creek area.
Notable events at the vineyards include the Grape Grazing Festival in February celebrating the annual vintage and the Smaller Wineries Shortest Lunch in June, all with wine, music and good food.
No fewer than 15 Yarra Valley restaurants are featured in the 2006 Age Good Food Guide ranging from Country Restaurant of the Year, Healesville Hotel to hearty home-style cooking at Berry Café and Asian specialities at Henkell's Cellar Door Café.
Amethyst Lodge has package deals at Eleonore's Restaurant at Chateau Yering, De Bortoli Restaurant (5 minutes drive away), Cru Restaurant at Outlook Hill, Banq Restaurant in Yarra Glen and Immerse in Dixons Creek.
One of the most popular pastimes is hot-air ballooning. Drifting over the Valley in the early morning mist or brilliant sunlight is an exhilarating and memorable experience.
Amethyst Lodge is the nearest accommodation to the Global Ballooning meeting point at Fergusson's Winery and only five minutes from Balloon Sunrise which starts at Balgownie Estate.
For the art lover, a visit to the TarraWarra Museum of Art is a must, with exhibitions from Australia's largest private collection of modern Australian art. The Heidelberg School Artists Trail depicts earlier Australian painting throughout the Yarra Valley region.
Easter 2006 will see the inaugural Melba Festival held in Yarra Glen and along the Melba Highway, with an emphasis on music and art.
For those more actively inclined, there are plenty of wonderful forest walks in bush covered hills of the nearby Kinglake National Park and Toolangi State Forest. While in the Toolangi area don't miss a visit to the Singing Gardens of C. J. Dennis or David Williams pottery.
Finally, particularly for overseas visitors, a stay in the Yarra Valley would not be complete without visiting the renowned Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary or Gulf Station pioneer historic farm near Yarra Glen.
