Yarra Valley and Dandenongs

It's the end of April and my last weekend with a vehicle and I decide to use it! Although the Yarra Valley and Dandenongs are closer to Melbourne than Tatura they can only really be explored with a car so I head over there early saturday with a planned stay on the edge of the city for the night.

Tatura is ludicrously flat but after about 45 minutes hills start to loom and the drive between Yea and Marysville is stunning in the cool morning with the cloud still low on some hills but the sun lifting it. Marysville was hit badly in the Feb 2009 bushfires which killed many people in Victoria but surprisingly there are trees and green landscapes everywhere such is the fire-surviving ability of the gums, just a few skeleton outlines on the hillsides support the guidebook. From here I drive over Blackspur through an incredible forest of towering Mountain Ashes and short, pretty Tree Ferns. A few stops are necessary for photos- I'm still fascinated by the tree ferns which I think I have read are the world's largest plant. The forest smells great and the air is filled by the calls of parrots.

On to Healesville and Maroondah reservoir where there's a wonderfully scented eucalptus forest for a walk. Driving towards the city for the night there's more beautiful scenery of the vineyards in their autumn colours the afternoon light highlighting them against the dark hills behind.

Sunday and I'm up early again and joining the hoards at Ferntree Gully- similar forest to yesterday. Soon I get lost and see less people and a lot of Sulphur crested Cockatoos. After a decent walk I'm refound and head to an ornamental garden and a sculpture garden. The best of the light once again is in the late afternoon as I drive through the Yarra Glen towards home through the golden vineyards. Well 2 days and no visits to wineries, I must be reformed!