- Duration
- ~140 km loop by car, 8–9 hours (≈ 7 h 24 min: moving and stop time only)
- Who it suits
- With kids
- Transport
- walk, drive
- Start
- Healesville Sanctuary
- Finish
- The Chocolateries Yarra Valley
- Pace
- relaxed pace
- Best time
- Weekends and school holidays, when kids enter the Sanctuary free. Arrive at the 9 am opening. Spirits of the Sky runs at 12 noon and 3 pm, the koala talk at 11 am. In summer pack spare clothes: the play areas have creek and water play
- Budget per adult
- Healesville Sanctuary: adult from A$58; kids free on weekends, Vic school holidays and public holidays, weekdays 4–15 from A$29 (October 2026). The Chocolateries is free to enter with free chocolate tastings, guided tasting A$4. Food extraPrices as of: July 2026; transport and zoo prices October 2026
Getting there
By car: Eastern Fwy (M3), then Maroondah Hwy through Ringwood and Lilydale to Healesville and right into Badger Creek Rd; ~66 km, about 1 h 10 min. The Sanctuary has its own car park. Without a car: Lilydale line train to Lilydale, then bus 685 to Healesville Sanctuary (times in the PTV Journey Planner). The Chocolateries at Yarra Glen is awkward by bus; treat it as a car-only stop
Stops in order
The text version of the route: stops, time at each and the legs between them. Times are estimates, without queues, traffic or swims.
1. Healesville Sanctuary~3 h 30 min at the stop
A wildlife park of Australian animals only, set in Yarra Valley bushland: koalas, kangaroos, wombats, dingoes, Tasmanian devils, lyrebirds and platypus.
Worth knowing: In 1943 David Fleay bred the world's first platypus in captivity here; the young one was named Corrie.
Tip: Open daily 9 am–5 pm. Free keeper talks: koalas at 11 am, platypus at 2 pm. The Spirits of the Sky bird show at 12 noon and 3 pm is included; get seats early.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 5 min · 0.35 km
- Lunch
2. Sanctuary Harvest Café~45 min at the stop
The Sanctuary's main self-service café: hot meals and kids' options, indoor and outdoor tables, plus a Ben & Jerry's counter for scoops and shakes.
Tip: Weekdays 10 am–3 pm, weekends and holidays 9:30 am–4 pm. On weekends Banksia Café near the Reptile House also serves pizza (11 am–3 pm).
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 1 min · 0.05 km
- For kids
3. Bunjil Nature Play~45 min at the stop
A nature play space by the café: climb up to Bunjil's nest, cross the rope bridge, crawl through the tunnel and slide down into the sandpit full of 'dinosaur bones'.
Tip: Included with entry. In hot weather the toddler water play at Poorneet Creek Play opens and kids can paddle in Coranderrk Creek.
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 6 min · 4.7 km
- Snack
4. Beechworth Bakery Healesville~25 min at the stop
A big Beechworth Bakery on Healesville's main street, open since 2006: pies, pastries and the signature bee sting. Eat in or carry it to the park across the road.
Tip: Open daily 7:30 am–5:30 pm, 316 Maroondah Hwy.
Open on the map ↗↓ walk · 3 min · 0.2 km
- For kids
5. Queens Park playground~40 min at the stop
A playground in the park by the main street, rebuilt in 2019: swings, a double flying fox, a sandpit, a nature play area with balancing logs and the Roll Play bike park alongside.
Tip: Free, open any time. A good spot to eat the bakery haul: picnic tables and a drinking fountain.
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 14 min · 12.5 km
- Shops
6. The Chocolateries Yarra Valley~50 min at the stop
A chocolate maker with a shop and 300-seat café (formerly Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery): three huge bowls of milk, dark and white chocolate buttons to taste free at the door, plus free ice cream tastings.
Tip: Open daily 9 am–5 pm, free entry. Guided tasting of 12 chocolates for A$4 at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30, sign up on the day. No café bookings.
Open on the map ↗
Before you go
- Route times are estimates: walking, driving and a sensible pause at each stop. Add queues, traffic and swims yourself.
- Prices, timetables and trail status change. Check the venue's official site and the state transport app before you go.
- On beaches, swim only between the red and yellow flags. Use sun protection even when it is cloudy.