Savvy producers, artisans, retailers and restaurateurs have realised the potential of Healesville.

The once sleepy Healesville could now legitimately be renamed Hipsterville, the charming and increasingly buzzy town is the gateway to the Yarra Valley, the Healesville Sanctuary, and a stand-alone destination.

Innocent Bystander
With family vignerons Brown Brothers now taking ownership of this huge but welcoming warehouse, guests can choose to snack, lunch, dinner or just enjoy the local wines, beers and ciders on offer. Guests can opt for the casual leather couches or a the more formal dining area, service is quality either way. 316-334 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777, +61 (03) 5999 9222
Graceburn Wine Room
An urban cellar door offering visitors a chance to sample Mac Forbes current releases and museum releases as well Mac’s selection of other producers throughout the Yarra Valley and further afield. On Friday and Saturday nights the wine room turns Bistro with a menu that offers local produce platters and share plates. 11a Green St, Healesville Vic 3777, +61 (03) 5962 3704
Habituel Bakery
Sourdough specialists and handmade cakes, pastries, tarts and more, plus coffee roasted on site in this newly opened baker and roaster. In fact the coffee is roasted in a special prototype 20kg Buhler AG coffee roaster dubbed the RoastMaster, this high-tech machine roasts coffee beans in hot air while rotating in a drum, rather than externally heating the drum. 314 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777, +61 (03) 5957 3230
Alchemy Distillery
Founders Evan Kipping and Jannick Zester are using a hybrid pot still with a 100-litre capacity to create their Moonshine (a corn-based Bourbon style whisky), Alchemy Gin and Quinoa Vodka and more experimental small-batch spirits. The venue offers a rustic relaxed vibe in which to sample the many cocktails on offer, a new menu is coming and there is also accommodation in the form of an adjoining apartment. 242 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, VIC, 3777, +61 (03) 0499 783 385
Four Pillars
Four Pillars Gin’s meteoric rise to global recognition now sees the brand available in most retail stores bars and restaurants around Australia and increasingly internationally too. But it’s the cellar door in Healesville where all the magic happens. As well as gin tasting, gin making, cocktail workshops and other special events – the venue offers a relaxed bar for a bite to eat. The gin uses native Australian botanicals and each bottle is individually numbered and hand labelled. 2A Old Lilydale Rd, Healesville VIC 3777, +61 (03) 5962 2791
Watts River Brewing
When White Rabbit moved from it’s location down the road, the head brewers didn’t waste anytime in setting up their own brewery. Comprising two young families, passionate about creating high quality, brewer driven beers to share with everyone. An IPA, a Blonde and a Stout are the main brews on offer in a relaxed cellar door environment. 7 Hunter Road, Healesville, VIC, 3777, +61 (03) 5962 1409

Top 10 Healesville

Savvy producers, artisans, retailers and restaurateurs have realised the potential of Healesville.

Innocent Bystander
With family vignerons Brown Brothers now taking ownership of this huge but welcoming warehouse, guests can choose to snack, lunch, dinner or just enjoy the local wines, beers and ciders on offer. Guests can opt for the casual leather couches or a the more formal dining area, service is quality either way. 316-334 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777, +61 (03) 5999 9222
Graceburn Wine Room
An urban cellar door offering visitors a chance to sample Mac Forbes current releases and museum releases as well Mac’s selection of other producers throughout the Yarra Valley and further afield. On Friday and Saturday nights the wine room turns Bistro with a menu that offers local produce platters and share plates. 11a Green St, Healesville Vic 3777, +61 (03) 5962 3704
Habituel Bakery
Sourdough specialists and handmade cakes, pastries, tarts and more, plus coffee roasted on site in this newly opened baker and roaster. In fact the coffee is roasted in a special prototype 20kg Buhler AG coffee roaster dubbed the RoastMaster, this high-tech machine roasts coffee beans in hot air while rotating in a drum, rather than externally heating the drum. 314 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777, +61 (03) 5957 3230
Alchemy Distillery
Founders Evan Kipping and Jannick Zester are using a hybrid pot still with a 100-litre capacity to create their Moonshine (a corn-based Bourbon style whisky), Alchemy Gin and Quinoa Vodka and more experimental small-batch spirits. The venue offers a rustic relaxed vibe in which to sample the many cocktails on offer, a new menu is coming and there is also accommodation in the form of an adjoining apartment. 242 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, VIC, 3777, +61 (03) 0499 783 385
Four Pillars
Four Pillars Gin’s meteoric rise to global recognition now sees the brand available in most retail stores bars and restaurants around Australia and increasingly internationally too. But it’s the cellar door in Healesville where all the magic happens. As well as gin tasting, gin making, cocktail workshops and other special events – the venue offers a relaxed bar for a bite to eat. The gin uses native Australian botanicals and each bottle is individually numbered and hand labelled. 2A Old Lilydale Rd, Healesville VIC 3777, +61 (03) 5962 2791
Watts River Brewing
When White Rabbit moved from it’s location down the road, the head brewers didn’t waste anytime in setting up their own brewery. Comprising two young families, passionate about creating high quality, brewer driven beers to share with everyone. An IPA, a Blonde and a Stout are the main brews on offer in a relaxed cellar door environment. 7 Hunter Road, Healesville, VIC, 3777, +61 (03) 5962 1409

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Innocent Bystander Winery Restaurant

7. Crumbz Craft
Whether it’s hooking, knitting, sewing, stitching or weaving, Crumbz Craft has it covered. Offering a range of ready to wear fashion and accessories as well as everything necessary for those who want to do it themselves. Workshops and craft groups are offered and a new dine with the designer dinners. 236 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777, +61 (03) 5962 6635

8. Healesville Hotel
A classic and elegant country pub feel hotel with great service and a menu that is a step above normal pub fare. Offering an award-winning menu including of course local produce ideal for sharing and an amazing wine, beer and cider list, plus the best beer garden with big open fire oven. The hotel has accommodation on site and some self-catering options nearby. 256 Maroondah Highway, Healesville 3777, +61 (03) 5962 4002

9. Art at Linden Gate
An art gallery featuring exhibitions by Victorian artists and stainless-steel sculptures by 'artist in residence' Ernst Fries. This family-owned gallery sits among the rolling hills of the Yarra Valley, and exhibits work by artists from many backgrounds and disciplines and at different stages of their careers, many of who are local. The gallery currently stocks one-off jewellery pieces by Bernard Skahill, selection of pottery by artists including Alistair Whyte, Ted Secombe, Glenn England, Rhonda Nadasdy and Gillie & Marc resin sculptures. There is also accommodation on site. 899 Healesville-Yarra Glen Rd, Yarra Glen, 3775, +61 (03) 9730 186

10. Healesvilles Candy Emporium
Especially at Easter time, this rabbit warren of a candy store offers more than the usual chocolates and sweets. There is a huge range of Australian, USA and UK treats both old school and new, plus a variety of giftware. The store can also personalise rock candy and make hampers to order. 203 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, VIC, +61 (03) 0459 665 322

Top 10 Healesville

Savvy producers, artisans, retailers and restaurateurs have realised the potential of Healesville.

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