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A week exploring Yarrawonga, and surrounds with Miss 1 & Miss 6.
Yarrawonga is well known for being a great summer holiday destination for relaxing by the river, golfing and water sports. When we got a chance to go up there for a week, I was a little sceptical as none of the above are possible with the two little girls!
However, I was pleasantly surprised with how much we were able to do and see as a family. Now, our itinerary was mainly based around the kids, and keeping them entertained. But this mumma loves history & wine, so we had to make the most of the abundance of wineries & rich history of the area.
Prior to kids, my holidays were always jam-packed with adventures and exploring - I am not the laze-by-the-pool-for-a-week kind of girl. However, since having kids I have learnt that lazy days are much needed. Our little one also still has a nap in the middle of the day so this forced us to sit by the pool or watch movies in our rooms for a few hours most days. On the days that we did road trips, she happily slept in the car.
We also decided to do groceries when we got to our resort and prepared most of our lunches/dinners. We had a full kitchen and made very simple foods. Last time I ate takeaway for 4 days straight, I was very sick for a long time.
This is our itinerary for 7 days of exploring Yarrawonga and surrounding areas, including the 2 days driving from Melbourne and back.
Click on the days to read more and I've added links for website where available.
Day 1 - Melbourne to Yarrawonga
We started our trip going through Yarra Glen to drop off our dog with family.
From here the girls fell asleep, so we drove right through to Benalla before we stopped for lunch. The café we chose is not worth mentioning, we stopped purely to stretch our legs and grab a quick bite to eat. However if you get down to Day 9 of our itinerary we do come back to find some kid-friendly gems in Benalla.
It is also worth mentioning that last time we went to Cobram, we went through Shepperton (not too much of a detour if you are going to Yarrawonga) and we would definitely recommend KidsTown Adventure Playground in Mooroopna, just outside of Shepperton.
We arrived at Murray Valley Resort around 3pm, and after checking-in, and doing a quick grocery run, we went straight to the pool. I will expand more on the resort itself at the end of our itinerary.
Day 2 - Glenrowan
On our first full day, we decided to tick off Glenrowan - Ned Kelly country. While my partner & I were super excited, we were worried that Miss 6 would struggle to enjoy seeing and learning about someone she knew nothing about. So my partner had the fantastic idea of buying her the kids book 'Meet Ned Kelly' by Janeen Brian prior to our trip. I am sure there are other books out there that explain why the Kelly Gang became so famous, but this one was perfect for Miss 6 and she ended up being intrigued to see the town where Ned Kelly had his last stand.
We left after breakfast and it was about a 50min drive South. First stop was straight to 'The Big Ned Kelly' for some photos and then into The Glenrowan Sweet Co., which sits just under the statue. We bought some of their delicious fudge and vegan soft serve (woohoo!). The lovely lady at the sweet shop even offered to take a photo of all of us with Big Ned too. Next, I popped into the post office next door with Miss 6 and we sent her best friend a Ned Kelly postcard.
After quickly devouring our melting soft serves, we crossed the road to the Ned Kelly Museum & Homestead. Entry for all of us was $26 (Miss 1 was free), and the small museum held a fair amount of information and history. Miss 6 enjoyed walking around looking at pictures of Ned Kelly and the gang, and all of the artefacts the museum houses. While the museum had just enough space for the pram, when we went out to the Homestead we parked it in the grassed area and walked through with Miss 1. The homestead is an authentic replica of the Kelly homestead and was surprisingly very detailed. As you come out of the homestead, make sure to say hello to the resident cockatoos (you might even get a 'hello' back)!
After the walk through, Miss 6 was very keen for a souvenir, so she scoured the gift store and eventually settled on a magnetic mini plush Ned Kelly. This proved to be the best $4.50 we spent during the whole trip! She proceed to take 'mini Ned' with her everywhere for the rest of our trip and would stick him to random metal objects for us to find. This was great to keep her busy, especially when we were trying to enjoy tastings at some of the wineries/breweries.
After the museum, we crossed the road to pop into King Valley Popcorn, for a quick coffee and of course, their famous popcorn. We can confirm, their Salted Caramel was a hit! In addition to popcorn, you'll also find a large range of gluten free items here - including lots of cake, cookie and slice pre-mixes.
We had bought salad rolls with us that day, so for lunch we headed over to Lions Park Playground for a picnic under the shade of the trees, and for a play.
There were several places to eat there including Neds Burger House and Glenrowan Bakehouse and Cafe, which seemed popular.
We also walked past the Glenrowan Tourist Centre, which is where you'll be able to watch a live re-enactment of the Glenrowan Seige. We read some great reviews on it, however with Miss 1 we were unable to attend.
The main strip is only about 500mm long, so it was all walking distance. We easily spent a few hours in Glenrowan and it was very much enjoyed by all of us.
While we were in the area, we decided to pop into Baileys of Glenrowan, a winery about 10mins from the town centre. It was recommended to us by a friend for its Tawny, and it did not disappoint. To top off their delicious dessert wines, they even have a play space for the kids! Outside is a large garden area with tables shaded by umbrellas and surrounding trees, a small block of toilets, including a change table, and some roaming chickens. They do offer pizzas for lunch, but we went late. Great winery to take the kids.
Day 3 - Purtle Park Adventure Playground & Pfeiffer Winery Rutherglen
After a big day, we decided to keep it simple and local.
We headed into Mulwala - over the bridge and a few minutes down the road to Purtle Park Adventure Playground (no, thats not a typo). Sitting on the shore of the beautiful Lake Mulwala this playground amazed us all. The first playground you'll see towering over you is a tall rope-based climbing structure & slide designed for the daring kids. Behind this is a basket swing and a flying fox - all with great views of the glistening lake.
Adjoining the large structure is a fully fenced playground for those speedy toddlers. This playground features shaded water play, sand pits, multiple small slides, a shaded BBQ area water taps and a toilet block with change facilities. We spent a good hour in this area with the kids just sitting and playing in the small streams and pools of water. It was a major hit, and if we hadn't gotten hungry we would have stayed longer.
For morning tea, we headed down the road to the Lake Mulwala Bakery. Lots on offer here (unless you are vegetarian and looking for lunch..) and I can recommend their vanilla slice. There was a small line to get inside, but once inside we found plenty of space for us to sit and eat in the informal dining space they have.
After Miss 1s nap, we headed about 30mins East towards Rutherglen to pop into Pfeiffer Wines. This winery is highly recommended with kids!
They offer sit down tastings to your table, as well as a kids cordial tasting - which Miss 6 thought was amazing. To top it off, outside is plenty of space for them to run around, as well a cubby and some toys. Usually you are required to book a tasting, however we got lucky as we went at the end of the day. They also had a slushie machine going, which was perfect for the 37 degree day that we had. Pfeiffer Winery is also known for its historic 'Sunday Creek Bridge' - where you can book seating. The tasting was generous, with dozens of wines to taste and rate. The staff were very knowledgeable and we walked away with quite a few purchases, including Miss 6s favourite cordial.
Day 4 - Yarrawonga Water Play Park
Being New Years Day, not much was open in the area. So we opted for a quiet day again.
Beating the midday heat, we started the day down at the Yarrawonga Water Play Park, which was a few minutes drive from the resort, located on the foreshore off Bank Street.
While Google seemed to think it was closed, the splash park was open when we arrived at 10.30am. A lot of kids, ours included, seemed weary at first, as the jets of water look and sound quite fierce!
Eventually, though Miss 6 was running through the jets giggling, and Miss 1 was happy sitting on the side splashing in the puddles. Being under a shade sail meant we could sit and play even as the day got hotter. There is also a large water slide behind the splash area - which costs a few dollars to ride but seems well worth it. It is only opens at certain times, see below image for details.
Nearby, there is also a fully fenced playground - should the kids feel like venturing away from the water. Our kids were happy in the water, and we opted to end the morning with a picnic under the shade of the huge tree nearby. There are a few shaded picnic benches, and also a small kiosk close by for snacks and drinks. This was heaps of fun and is a must do when in Yarrawonga, it does get very busy on hot days and parking on the main street can be difficult - so we recommend an early visit on a hot day.
Day 5 - Byramine Homestead - Brewery & Cider House
A cruisy 12mins down the road from Yarrawonga Town Centre is the historic Byramine Homestead. We got there mid morning and grabbed tickets for a self-guided tour of the site. If you love learning about local history like we do, then its well worth it. You will be provided with a map of the Homestead and surrounding buildings (it's not huge), but also a very detailed history of the area and its owners. Miss 6 enjoyed following the map around the house, and also visiting the spooky cellar underneath.
If you don't care much for a history lesson, never fear, Byramine have plenty more to offer. The main building hosts its 'cellar door' - with a small bar for tastings. If you purchase a tour, you get 2 free tastings. Otherwise, as per usual tastings are covered with a purchase. An old-school arcade game sits in front of the bar to entertain the kids while mum & dad enjoy the wide selection on offer.
We loved their alcoholic ginger beer, as well as their special Cobram Cream (move over Baileys!). Miss 6 declared their sparkling pink lady apple juice fantastic too.
Their food menu offers light lunch, platters, sweets and coffees too.
We grabbed a tasting paddle of their beers & ciders and a grazing platter (the vegetarian one was one of the best we've had) and sat in the gardens.
There is shade under trees, umbrellas or the large undercover area. They also have lawn games and balls - we easily spent a few hours here!
Day 6 - The Big Strawberry & Dinner at The Criterion Hotel
The Big Strawberry is closer to Cobram, that to Yarrawonga, but we didn't get to go earlier in the year when we did a few days in Cobram. When we had some rainy weather and needed an indoor activity, we decided it was worth a drive. It was exactly what we needed to keep the kids entertained while we sat and had a coffee and pancakes.
The huge strawberry itself and the outdoor fenced playground right next to it grabbed Miss 6s attention straight away. After a little play, we coaxed them inside with the promise of a treat and more play.
This is not a flashy establishment, but it really did the trick for us. There is plenty of seating, lots of souvenirs to pick from, yummy treats and of course - strawberry picking!
The real fun for the kids was definitely inside. At the end of the building is a large room, separated into two sections - one for kids under 3 (free) and one for kids over 3 ($5 entry). Miss 6 did not want to leave once she entered the multi-level play space - the ball pit was a hit. Miss 1 had the best time crawling around the ample space of the second area designed for littlies, with toys, a smaller ball pit, as well as couches for parents. The pancakes were yum, and they even had vegan banana waffles! The strawberry ice cream is a must! We didn't do any strawberry picking as it was too wet, but still found it worthwhile for the kids.
Most of our dinners were a simple cooked meals at the resort, or a BBQ. We did go out one night to the fantastic, family- friendly Criterion Hotel.
With views of the river, plenty of seating, amazing cocktails and a playground - it was the perfect spot. There are seats out on the deck with umbrella shades - but these can get hot during the middle of summer. We opted for indoor seating, which had views of the playground as well as the tv for the cricket - with dad appreciated. An early dinner meant that cocktails were cheap and the place was quiet. Good kids menu and I can absolutely recommend the Grilled Prawn Salad!
Day 7 - Beechworth - Bridge Rd Brewers, Old Beechworth Gaol & Woolshed Falls
Beechworth will take you back in time, with its historic buildings, cute shops and colourful history.
We started the hour drive early, as we had a lot we wanted to see and do. Our first stop was just outside of Beechworth - the Woolshed Falls. We love hiking, but with Miss 1 being too big and restless for a carrier, and Miss 6 barely making it 100m without complaining - we tend to steer clear of any walks or hikes when we travel.
Woolshed Falls, however, was the perfect spot for the entire family. From the carpark to the falls is about a 5 minute walk - we carried Miss 1. This point is about halfway down the falls and the large boulders fill with pools of water to dip your feet in. The girls had the best time sitting in the little pools having a splash. Further down, there were people taking a dip in the larger pools of water, and if you are up for a walk there is the viewing platform as well.
Be warned - the rocks are very slippery! We witnessed multiple slips, and even Miss 6 got a wet bottom.
Shade is limited, so on hot days an early visit is recommended. There are picnic benches and toilets at the carpark to make a morning of it.
From here its a few minutes drive to Beechworth.
Park anywhere along the main street, as most things are walking distance.
We started off with lunch at Bridge Road Brewers - and it was a winner.
A combination of great beers, fantastic service, lots of seating options and even a play space and changing facilities. We suggest booking in advance, as they do get very busy. The pizzas were amazing, and both kids loved the simple play area.
After lunch we went over to the Old Beechworth Gaol and booked our tour tickets. We wanted the early tour (check tour times on their website) but it was already sold out, so we had to book for the later one. If you are wanting the tour, make sure to head there first to book the time you want, before heading off to explore the town. Tickets are purchased at the cafe located at the entrance of the Gaol, and they also offer outdoor casual seating under the trees and serve light refreshments and drinks (Miss 6 was delighted to find a Ned Kelly marshmallow stick).
While we waited for the tour, we walked down the main street and visited a few of the local stores - The Beechworth Honey Shop, The Beechworth Sweet Co. and The Beechworth Bakery. We walked away with quite a haul.
The Old Beechworth Gaol tour itself, was much better than we expected - especially with the girls. They allowed us to bring the pram through, and the tour guide did a great job at delivering the tour in an informative and engaging way, even Miss 6 listened! In total the tour was about 45 minutes, mostly outdoors and we were allowed to roam through out most of the areas.
After walking around the town for a couple of hours and then doing the tour, we decided not to push our luck with the kids, and drive to our final stop - Billson's Brewery. Don't be fooled by the name - these guys offer a huge range of drinks! From vodka and gin, to classic sodas and their famous cordials. The best part is that it is all on offer for tasting - all of their cordials, and spirits! The tasting room does get very crowded, but their services is amazing. The room is also filled with shelves stocked with all different types of drinks - straight and mixed - to purchase. Food is available via a food truck that is there daily, or their own kitchen which is open every day expect Tuesday & Wednesday. Enjoy the sunshine in the beer garden, where dogs are welcome, or grab a cocktail at the sophisticated Speakeasy room. Make sure to pop down to the Viewing Deck and watch the team working away.
Toilets and parking are on site.
Day 8 - Rutherglen - All Saints Estate & Campbells Wines
This mumma is always on the lookout for a good winery, and these days that means kid-friendly. After a slow morning, we decided to head out to Rutherglen for the afternoon and we found two of the most beautiful wineries. To top it off they were both well catered to entertain the girls.
All Saints Estate, left us all in awe as we drove down the lush tree lined driveway. If you have a little prince or princess, this is a must visit. We were greeted by a huge castle set in beautiful gardens, offering plenty of exploring outside. Inside the cellar door there is a small table set up with colouring activities for the kids while mumma enjoyed a tasting. Their tawny won us over and we left with a few bottles. We grabbed a couple of glasses of our favourite red, and a cheese platter to spend the afternoon sitting out on the lawns beside the lake. There is plenty of space to run around and shade from the trees.
Just down the road is the beautiful Campbells Winery. Here they have seating through their front gardens to enjoy a glass in the sun while the kids run around. Inside you will find the cellar door, a charming corner with a fire place, couches perfect for rainy days, and also their barrel room. It was an interesting walk through the aisles of barrels, labelled with their contents. The best part - for Miss 6 - was the scavenger hunt they have created for the kids. They even include a little treat at the end! This kept Miss 6 entertained while we tasted the very large selection of wines on offer.
Day 9 - Yarrawonga to Melbourne via Benalla
Our last day came with a forecast of rain, so unfortunately our plans to go via Mansfield Zoo were ditched.
Instead we decided to go through Benalla again for lunch and to stretch our legs. We were pleasantly surprised when we found Benalla Botanical Gardens at the edge of town. Along the river, within the Benalla Art Gallery we found Munroe & Sargeants Cafe for toasties and coffees. The outdoor seats offer a great view of the river, and the gallery is free to walk through. While we were there we spotted the splash park across the river, and it looked like heaps of fun. However, we didn't have the time - or the spare clothes - to head over, so instead we strolled over to Benalla Rose Garden & Rocket Playground. As you walk through the beautiful rows of coloured roses its hard to miss the towering rocket. Its a simple climbing structure and slide, but the kids will be in awe. Behind the rose garden there is also a nature based timber playground with swings, climbing frames, sand pits, small slides, a shaded BBQ area and toilets. If the weather and time had permitted, we could have easily spent a few hours along the river.
This was our longest holiday with the two girls, and with Miss 1 being on the move, and Miss 6 easily bored - we were worried about leaving the resort. However, there was so much to see and do that we definitely felt like we got the most of our time in Yarrawonga. The towns in this area are so rich in history, and buying Miss 6 a kids book to introduce her to it was the best thing we did. We can't wait to educate the girls and visit many more significant places in Australia.
Murray Valley Resort, Yarrawonga
This resort is part of a timeshare program, and our stay was gifted to us by some very generous family members. The resort is very focused on providing guests with opportunities to get to know other guests. From communal breakfasts, to kids activities there are a variety of things to do during your stay.
Miss 6 loved the little train ride they offer - the driver has got a fun commentary and a very cute and engaging itinerary for the 10mins ride around the resort.
There is mini-golf, basket balls courts, a games room and two small playgrounds for kids big and small. And then there is the pool, which is were we spent most of our time in the resort. The large pool is only shaded by the nearby palm trees, but the smaller pool is well shaded and shallow enough for kids too. Lounge chairs surround the pool, and outside the fence are several BBQ areas with picnic tables. There was also an indoor pool, a laundry facility and a gym.
We stayed in one of the General Apartment Rooms. Our room had a large living room, kitchen, bathroom and master bedroom downstairs, then a loft style bedroom upstairs with 2 single beds. The resort provided us with a high chair and a cot, which made things much easier for us. There were also three split systems (one in each room, and one in the living) which were well used during our stay in the middle of summer.
It wasn't a fancy 5 star hotel, but the rooms were clean and homely, well furnished and a good size for our family. The resort facilities meant we had lots to do while we stayed on site, but also perfect for relaxing by the pool and doing nothing. Murray Valley Resort is only a 3min drive to Woolworths and the town centre.
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