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Date ideas in the Yarra Valley
13 date ideas around the Yarra Valley, from a sunrise balloon flight and the hilltop galleries at TarraWarra to a cooking-school lunch, scones at Miss Marple's and the Warburton redwoods. Swipe through them above, or browse every one below. Each was checked on the place's own website: what it is, when it's on and what it costs.
Every date idea in the Yarra Valley, by kind
13
ideas
0
free
4
kinds
Oct 2026
last checked
Food and drink: 5 date ideas in the Yarra Valley
YERING
Cheese tasting in the old milking shed at Yarra Valley Dairy
Yarra Valley Dairy's shop sits in the farm's 100-year-old milking shed, right beside the cheese factory. Taste the full range, then share a cheese plate with a glass from the valley's small winemakers.
When Daily 10.30am to 5pm; tastings until 4.30pm, cafe service until 4pm
Cost Premium tasting $15 per person; brief tasting of four cheeses $5
Checked on the official website, 7 Oct 2026
Levantine Hill from the air. Photo: Bob Tan · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
COLDSTREAM
A rare-wine tasting at Levantine Hill
Levantine Hill's cellar door pours its estate and Family Paddock wines, with a few rare bottles by the 30ml glass. Stay on for oysters, charcuterie or a long Mediterranean-style lunch in the restaurant.
When Thursday to Monday, 11am to 5pm
Cost Three tastes $30 or four for $40; 10% surcharge on weekends
Checked on the official website, 7 Oct 2026
COLDSTREAM
High tea with bottomless sparkling at Coombe
Coombe's high tea comes with bottomless glasses of the estate's own sparkling wine. Add a guided walk through the historic Melba Gardens once the scones are gone.
When Wednesdays and Sundays; book ahead
Cost Standard high tea $65 per person; premium $80; garden tour $15 extra
Checked on the official website, 7 Oct 2026
HEALESVILLE
A tasting paddle at Watts River Brewing, Healesville
This family-owned brewery pours among its tanks in Healesville, with indoor and outdoor tables. Order the five-beer paddle with tasting notes, plus a pizza to share.
When Live local music every Friday night from 5.30pm in daylight saving
Cost Paddle of five half pots $24; pizzas $17.50
Checked on the official website, 7 Oct 2026
Sassafras village, home of the tearoom. Photo: Electriceel · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
SASSAFRAS
Scones at Miss Marple's Tearoom, Sassafras
Miss Marple's has served big scones with whipped cream and homemade raspberry jam since 1992. Orders are taken by hand in a cosy English tearoom styled on Agatha Christie's detective.
When Seven days from 11am
Cost Pay per item; menu on the website
Checked on the official website, 7 Oct 2026
For couples: 4 date ideas in the Yarra Valley
TarraWarra Museum of Art. Photo: John Vandenberg · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
HEALESVILLE
Art on a hilltop at TarraWarra Museum of Art
TarraWarra's gallery sits at the top of a hill with views across vines to the ranges. The grounds, outdoor sculptures and the open art store in the Besen Centre are free to wander, with paid exhibitions inside.
When Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm; free 15-minute collection tours on Saturdays and Sundays
Cost Grounds and the Eva and Marc Besen Centre free; exhibition admission fees apply
Checked on the official website, 7 Oct 2026
Rhododendrons at the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden. Photo: Rexness · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
OLINDA
Rhododendron season at the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden
The garden's 50 hectares hold more than 15,000 rhododendrons and 12,000 azaleas, at their brightest in spring. Walk the 3.5 kilometre paved circuit past the lake, with long views over the Yarra Valley.
When Daily 10am to 4.30pm (last entry); gates lock at 5pm
Cost No entry fee is listed; the open-air people-mover tour is a paid extra
Checked on the official website, 7 Oct 2026
The hand-built halls of Montsalvat. Photo: Helen Rea · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
ELTHAM
Mudbrick halls and studios at Montsalvat, Eltham
Montsalvat is Australia's oldest continuously operating artist community, hand-built from mudbrick and stone. Wander its galleries, gardens and studios, then sit down at the cafe and wine bar.
When Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm)
Cost Adults $15
Checked on the official website, 7 Oct 2026
EAST WARBURTON
Walk among the Warburton redwoods
More than 1,470 Californian redwoods planted in the 1930s now rise over 55 metres in straight rows at Cement Creek. Follow the loop trail down to the Yarra for ferns and tall eucalypts.
When Any day; on busy weekends the car park often fills by 10am
Cost Parks Victoria lists no entry fee
Checked on the official website, 7 Oct 2026
Make something: 2 date ideas in the Yarra Valley
COLDSTREAM
Paint the Melba Gardens with a glass in hand at Coombe
A guided painting workshop in Coombe's historic gardens, with a spritz on arrival, free-flowing estate wines and a cheese and charcuterie board while you work. Everyone takes home a finished canvas.
When Sundays 8 November and 6 December 2026 (15 November is sold out)
Cost $140 per person, art supplies included
Checked on the official website, 7 Oct 2026
YARRA GLEN
Cook a French or Italian lunch at the Yarra Valley Cooking School
Work in pairs in a kitchen that looks over a pinot noir vineyard, cooking three courses of regional French or Italian food. You sit down to eat it together at the end with a glass of wine.
When Four-hour classes; dates on the booking calendar
Cost $180 per person
Checked on the official website, 7 Oct 2026
Views and climbs: 2 date ideas in the Yarra Valley
A sunrise balloon over the Yarra Valley. Photo: Hendra Pontomudis hpontomudis · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
YARRA GLEN
Sunrise balloon flight over the Yarra Valley
Drift over vineyards, rolling hills and the Yarra River as the sun comes up, with about an hour in the air. Global Ballooning runs flights over the valley daily.
When Sunrise flights; pickup time confirmed by 6pm the night before; the whole morning takes three to four hours
Cost Flight only from $495 per adult; packages with breakfast or city transfers cost more
Checked on the official website, 7 Oct 2026
Maroondah Reservoir from the air. Photo: Bob Tan · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
HEALESVILLE
Picnic below the dam wall at Maroondah Reservoir
Climb the stone Rose Stairway to the top of the 41-metre dam wall, built in the 1920s, for a view over the lake and forested slopes. Then spread a picnic in the gardens below.
When Daily 8am to 8pm in daylight saving (shorter hours in winter)
Cost No entry charge is mentioned on the park page
Checked on the official website, 7 Oct 2026
Can't decide? Let the deck pick your the Yarra Valley date
Stuck for date night ideas, or for things to do together at the weekend? Instead of scrolling lists, let the deck deal you one date idea at a time. Swipe right on the ones you like, left on the ones you don't, and within a few minutes you have a shortlist to choose from, or just take the first one you both said yes to.
How it works
Swipe to decide. Each card is one date: what to do, where it is, when it's on and what it costs. Swipe right (or tap Save) to keep it, left (or Skip) to see the next.
Share it with your date. Share sends a link that opens the deck on the same card, so the other person can say yes too.
Keep the ones you like. Saved ideas stay under the deck and on the map. Sign in and they're kept in My Places on every device.
Filter by the kind of date. Food and drink, shows and music, on the water, views and climbs, making something together, or ideas for couples.
Where the date ideas come from
Every idea of ours names a real place and was checked on its official website: what it is, when it's on and what it costs, with a link to that website and the date it was checked. Ideas with an end date leave the deck once they finish. Photos come from Wikimedia Commons and are credited on each card. Mixed in are bookable tours and experiences, clearly marked, with today's prices.
Questions
Can it pick a date for us?
Yes. Swipe until one appeals, or save a few and choose between them. For a single answer, the date wheel picks one at random.
Is it free?
Yes. Many of the ideas are free too: walks, lookouts, galleries, markets and swims.
Do we need an account?
No. Saves stay in your browser; sign in only if you want them on other devices.
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Every idea links to the place’s own website and was checked there on the date shown; times and prices change, so check before you go. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.