The Yarra Ranges National Park, located between Melbourne and the Victorian Alps, offers breathtaking views, stunning rainforest landscapes, and exciting snow activities. The park covers a vast mountainous region of cool temperate forest surrounding the towns of Marysville, Healesville, and Warburton, featuring the world's tallest flowering tree, the Mountain Ash, towering above lush foliage of tree ferns and Myrtle Beech.
Key highlights of the Yarra Ranges National Park include Mount Donna Buang, providing panoramic views of Westernport Bay and Port Phillip, serving as a popular winter destination close to Melbourne and a scenic spot for picnics and walks during warmer seasons. Lady Talbot Drive offers a picturesque journey through rainforest scenery, passing various fantastic walking trails, while the Redwood Forest, located an hour and a half from Melbourne, presents a captivating natural wonder within the Yarra Ranges.
In addition to the national park, the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges house some of Melbourne's most splendid gardens. During spring, the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden bursts with vibrant blooms of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, and daffodils. Other notable gardens in the area include the RJ Hamer Arboretum, William Ricketts Sanctuary, and several gardens participating in the Open Gardens Victoria program.