Travel guide – yarra valley
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Overview
Just under an hour from Melbourne are the rolling hills and vineyards of the Yarra Valley, popular for cellar-door tastings, good food and peaceful scenery. The Yarra Valley is home to Victoria's first vineyards and is renowned as one of the world's great wine growing regions. Visit the Dandenong Ranges for a ride on the oldest steam train in Australia, Puffing Billy, through forests and fern gullies, or browse antique shops, cool-climate gardens, craft shops and tea houses.
Climate
Most of the state is in the warm and temperate band of the south east corner of Australia with warm and dry summers and cool, wet winters; however temperatures can vary widely. The Australian Alps in the northeast have snow from June to September, while the eastern highlands, Gippsland and the Otway Ranges to the west receive the heaviest rainfall. Melbourne has a variable climate that is well known for its four-seasons-in-a-day weather patterns, but generally June and July are the coldest months, January and February are the hottest, and October is the wettest time of year.
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