Posted by Do The Yarra Valley On October - 20 - 2010ADD COMMENTS
Spring is in the air and the Yarra Valley Concert season has begun. The 15th Annual Good Weekend Opera in the Vineyards was an event to be remembered, if not for the splendour of the period costumes and the superb voices, certainly for the appalling weather. Due to the unpredictability of the weather the opera is held, not in the open as you may imagine, but rather in a very substantial marquis.
Maestro Brian Castles-Onion headed the bill and set the tone for the evening with his witty and faced paced commentary. Castles-Onion is one of Australia’s most exciting and well known conductors. He takes delight in stripping Opera of its mystique and in so doing makes it accessible even for the uninitiated.
Gracing the stage were highly talented singers, Joshua Bloom, Tarita Carbo, Lorina Gore and Sally-Anne Russell. The clarity and beauty of their voices is impossible to describe in words. Watch the video below and hear for yourself.
Posted by Do The Yarra Valley On October - 20 - 20103 COMMENTS
Saturday the 17th of July 2010 marked the return of a regular timetabled train service within the Yarra Valley. The Hon Tim Holding Minister for Tourism and Major Events, helped Bill Snell, the last train driver to drive a train from Healesville, to cut the ribbon and officially open the superbly restored Walker Rail-Motor “RM22″. Other special guests included, Margaret Howie, who travelled to school every morning on the RM22 between 1956 and 1961, (Read Margaret’s Story here) and Ben Hardman the Member for Seymour.
The volunteers of the railway have reached a goal that has taken many years to achieve. The goal was to replace the existing trolley service with a train passenger service. To achieve this goal 4 bridges and 4kms of track required restoration to a standard capable for train operations.
Track restoration work has been ongoing since 1989. In 2006-2010, increased volunteer activity and increased resources to purchase track materials has resulted in great progress to track restoration during this period. The track required timber sleepers to be replaced and the track to be lifted and packed with ballast. Sleeper replacement in the running section from Healesville to the tunnel is complete and ready for train action. The largest bridge, the Watts River Bridge, required $100,000 worth of materials to rebuild with these funds supplied from a State Government Grant.
On 9th December 1980, the communities surrounding Healesville and Yarra Glen bid farewell to the Rail Motor Service. The last passenger train on the Lilydale to Healesville line was provided by rail-motors, ceased.
The Passenger Service will resume with Walker Rail-Motor “RM22”, a project that railway volunteers have worked on for over two years restoring the rail motor to “as new” condition. The Walker has been lent to the Railway by the Australian Railways Historical Society and was transported from the Williamstown Museum in 2006.
RM22 is a single carriage diesel rail-motor that once plied the Lilydale to Healesville line, and one which many residents of the area would have once travelled. It will be a very rewarding moment to return RM22 back to the Healesville Line.
The Yarra Valley Railway has won 2 national awards for the restoration projects in the last 2 years. The Association of Tourist & Heritage Railways Australia’s [ATHRA] Infrastructure Restoration Award for 2008, for the completion of the Watts River timber trestle bridge.
Tourist Railways from all over Australia are invited each year to nominate for these awards covering many different categories. The Watts River Bridge Project was selected by ATHRA for this award over other projects from all over Australia.
The second award was won at the 2009 Association of Tourist and Heritage Railways of Australia (ATHRA) awards held in Queensland. The YVR received the “ARTHA Passenger Vehicle Restoration Award 2009” for the restoration of RM22.
What’s Special about this Railway?
The Yarra Valley Railway has enormous potential as a major tourist attraction. The railway runs through the heart of the Yarra Valley. The Yarra Valley attractions include Wineries, Accommodation, B&B’s, Markets, Racecourses and the Healesville Sanctuary.
The large volume of passing traffic in the area over the weekend on Melba Hwy and Maroondah Hwy is significant.
The line offers views of flood plans, dairy farms, vineyards, mountains and forests. The YVR is the only tourist railway in Victoria with a tunnel.
Running Days > 10am – 4pm
Sundays and Public Holidays,
School Holidays > Wednesday to Sunday.
Bookings made anytime by request (Conditions Apply).
Timetable
For more information about the Yarra Valley Railway visit their Website at – www.yvr.com.au
Posted by Do The Yarra Valley On October - 10 - 20101 COMMENT
On the second Saturday of every month Mont De Lancey holds a unique country market. Having around 20 stalls, it’s not on the scale of the Healesville Craft Market, however the goods on offer are top quality and the setting and atmosphere make this market well worth putting on your market list.
As well as the market stalls, there’s pony rides, face painting, Blacksmiths, and wood turning. To get a feel for what this market has to offer, watch the Web TV epsiode below, as Tania from Do The Yarra Valley takes a quick tour.
As well as the market, Mont De Lancey is host to a Blacksmithing group who meet every weekend at the authentic Blacksmith Shop. Their aim is to keep this ancient craft alive by sharing their knowledge and skills. According to Fritz, a Blacksmith of 50 years, belting the living daylights out of hot metal is also “very therapeutic”. For those interested in this type of therapy they offer a four-week course and no experience is necessary. We will be devoting a full story to the Blacksmithing Group in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.
Most market days you can also watch the historical re-enactment group practicing in the paddocks around the property. The sight of Scottish, British and French soldiers being charged at full gallop by the cavalry, always makes for spectacular viewing.
The market is open from 9am to 1pm on market days (2nd Saturday of each month).
Entry is by gold coin donation.
For more information call the Country Market Co-Ordinator on 5964 2088. Or visit the Mont De Lancey website:
Posted by Do The Yarra Valley On October - 8 - 20103 COMMENTS
An escape to the Yarra Valley that’s simply De’Vine.
Nestled amongst the 35 year old vines in Victoria’s magnificent Yarra Valley is the aptly named De’Vine Escape. The vineyard studios offer 23 rooms, 3 of which are spa rooms with queen beds and ensuites. The large rooms are modern and tasteful offering peaceful views across the vineyard. Watch the video tour below as Tania talks to Jodie Philipsen from De’Vine Escape about what they have to offer visitors to the Yarra Valley.
What we liked:
Location, location, location! Who wouldn’t love being surrounded by the peace and quite of a vineyard!
Comfortable tasteful spacious rooms.
One night stay is no problem. A lot of venues only offer a minimum 2 night stay.
Global Ballooning package is a must!
Friendly helpful staff.
Feature Summary:
Private car park
Breakfast / Dinner / Balloon packages available
Close to Yarra Glen township
15 minutes from Healesville
Picturesque walks and views
Perfect for wedding groups
Close to famous local wineries
To make a booking enquiry with De’Vine Escape
click the whopping big button below.
Posted by Do The Yarra Valley On October - 2 - 20103 COMMENTS
Healesville Sanctuary has just opened its brand new dramatic rocky high country exhibit, Dingo Country.
Over the years the Dingo has received some pretty bad press, so it’s refreshing to be able to learn the truth about these beautiful creatures. This brand new exhibit has been developed for the Sanctuary’s five Dingoes – and to prepare for puppies later this year! The open enclosure offers excellent viewing for all visitors including young children.
Tania from Do The Yarra Valley spoke to Sue Jaensch a Dingo keeper at the Sanctuary and was surprised to learn that due to loss of habitat and interbreeding, the Dingo has now become a threatened species in Victoria. Watch the video below for the full story on the new exhibit.
The new enclosure is themed around an alpine hut. The hut has been named Mason’s Hut as a tribute to the longest serving employee of the sanctuary, Kevin Mason. Kevin began working at the Sanctuary way back in May 1960. Over the years Kevin’s unique perspective and intimate knowledge of the Sanctuary well qualifies him as a “living treasure”.
Apart from the wildlife experience there is something else about Healesville Sanctuary that makes it a very special place to visit and that’s the people who work there. For so many of them, securing a position at the Sanctuary has been their life’s dream. Speak to any of the employees or volunteers and you find they all share a passion and love for the Sanctuary that is so strong you can feel it in the air.
With so many dedicated, skilled and experienced people working at the Sanctuary it’s no wonder it continues to be Australia’s most popular wildlife experience.
If you haven’t been for a while, you should put it on the top of your “To Do” list and if you’ve never been – you’re life is not complete!
Healesville Sanctuary is open every day of the year including public holidays from 9am to 5pm. For more information visit their website.
Healesville Sanctuary has just opened its brand new dramatic rocky high country exhibit, Dingo Country.
Apart from the wildlife experience there is something else about Healesville Sanctuary that makes it a very special place to visit and that’s the people who work there. For so many of them, securing a position at the Sanctuary has been their life’s dream. Speak to any of the employees or volunteers and you find they all share a passion and love for the Sanctuary that is so strong you can feel it in the air.
