Yarra Valley Activities

Yarra Valley activities include hot air balloon flights at sunrise, white water rafting and kayaking on the Yarra River, caving near Warburton, river tubing and a heritage steam train through the Dandenong Ranges. They are spread across the Yarra Valley region, and the sections below sort them by the kind of day you want.

Hot air balloon flights over the Yarra Valley

Hot air balloon flights lift off at sunrise over the valley's vineyards, fields and country towns. The Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Tour Over Yarra Valley from the Australian Ballooning Company is a 1-hour flight with a professional pilot and a transfer vehicle from the landing site. Guests can help prepare the balloon for take-off, and sturdy shoes are advised because the ground is often covered in dew.

Liberty Balloon Flights runs two versions with breakfast. The Yarra Valley Sunrise Balloon Flight with Breakfast meets at Yarra Valley Lodge in Chirnside Park and ends with a buffet breakfast there. The Yarra Valley Hot Air Balloon Flight, Breakfast & Transfers adds a Melbourne pick-up from Federation Square and breakfast at Rochford Wines. All balloon flights depend on weather and can be postponed or cancelled if conditions are unsafe.

White water rafting and kayaking on the Yarra River

The lower Yarra near Wonga Park is where the river activities run. The White Water Rafting on Melbourne's Yarra River trip covers 14 grade two rapids with expert guides through bushland where kangaroos, wombats and birdlife can be spotted, and a vehicle shuttle takes you back to your car. In a two-person inflatable kayak, the Yarra River Whitewater Kayaking Adventure tackles grade two rapids with a guide, and the helmets have GoPro mounts.

For a full-day trip, the Yarra River White Water Rafting & Caving Day Tour pairs a 10am raft with an afternoon underground, and the locations are a 45-minute self-drive apart. The river trips meet at the Lower Homestead Road car park rather than collecting guests, and the activity level is rated high.

Caving and river tubing around Warburton

The Upper Yarra around Warburton and Yarra Junction is where the caving and river tubing run. The Yarra Junction Underground Caving Adventure is a 2-hour guided scramble through a granite boulder cave system, with streams to wade and glow worms in the dark, and it provides a helmet, head torch and gloves. The Yarra Valley Britannia Creek Guided Caving Adventure explores a subterranean river system with return transfers from Warburton.

Above ground, the Yarra Valley Self Guided River Tubing Adventure starts at Warburton, a 75-minute trip from Melbourne. A shuttle takes you upstream, then you float about 3 kilometres of the Upper Yarra in your own tube over a 2-hour session. Tubing is seasonal. Wear a rash vest or wetsuit, and take spare clothes for the caves and the river.

Steam trains, bike rides and farm days

Puffing Billy is the heritage railway of the Dandenong Ranges, established in 1900. The Puffing Billy Belgrave to Lakeside return tickets run in open-sided carriages over four historic timber trestle bridges, with longer runs to Gembrook as well. Emerald Lake at Lakeside is the place for a stroll or bike hire.

On two wheels, the Yarra Valley Bike Tour with Lunch and Drinks follows the Warburton Rail Trail from Woori Yallock Station car park. In summer, the Yarra Valley Cherry Picking Orchard Experience at CherryHill Orchards in Wandin East has all-you-can-eat picking across 40 varieties. In winter, the Lake Mountain Snow Play tour covers snow play, tobogganing and cross-country skiing, subject to natural snowfall.

How to choose a Yarra Valley activity

Effort is the first filter. A balloon flight, a train ride or a tube float needs little more than turning up, while rafting, kayaking and caving are rated high and involve getting wet or muddy. Meeting points are the second: balloon flights with Melbourne pick-up remove the driving, and most of the river, caving and tubing trips meet at the start point. For wine and food days with Melbourne pick-up, see Yarra Valley tours and day trips.

Frequently asked questions

Which activities can you book in the Yarra Valley?

Yarra Valley activities include sunrise hot air balloon flights, white water rafting and kayaking on the Yarra River, guided caving at Yarra Junction and Britannia Creek, self-guided river tubing at Warburton and rides on the Puffing Billy steam train.

Are there activities for kids in the Yarra Valley?

Yes. Puffing Billy tickets, cherry picking at CherryHill Orchards in summer and the Lake Mountain Snow Play tour all sell child tickets. River tubing is not suitable for children under 10, and balloon flights set minimum ages that vary by operator, so check the product page.

Do I need experience for Yarra Valley rafting and caving?

No. The Yarra River rafting trip on grade two rapids is guided by expert instructors with all safety gear provided, and the Britannia Caves caving adventure suits adventurous first-timers. Wear clothes you don't mind getting wet and dirty.

What should I wear for a Yarra Valley balloon flight?

For a Yarra Valley balloon flight, wear comfortable layers and sturdy closed shoes, with a hat, sunglasses and gloves in winter. Dew often covers the ground in the early morning, so avoid open-toed shoes and heels.

Can you do a Yarra Valley adventure without a car?

Yes, for some. The Yarra Valley Hot Air Balloon Flight, Breakfast & Transfers picks up from Federation Square in Melbourne, and the Britannia Creek caving trip includes return transfers from Warburton. Rafting, kayaking, tubing and the Yarra Valley bike tour meet at the start point.

From a sunrise balloon flight to a day on the rapids, Yarra Valley activities are easy to combine with a winery lunch, and the Yarra Valley region page shows how the area fits together.