In Victoria, Australia, visitors will discover the luscious Yarra Valley. Melbourne may be close, with city life and urban sprawl, but the valley maintains its rolling farmland, mountain borders, orchards and vineyards. Commerce still ticks on, just not the way it does in a big city.

Artists can show you just how inspirational the area is through the vibrancy of their work. Examine paintings, ceramics, even jewellers working with gold and precious stones. Glassblowers open their doors for sales and demonstrations. Stop to marvel at the elegant, unique shapes they create. With a lively creative community, Tarrawarra Museum of Art seems to be located in the right place to showcase the works of Australian artists since the 1950s.

Wine lovers know that wine making is another art when done well. Perhaps beer connoisseurs feel the same. Both have come to this region to make and sell their products, some on the small scale, others internationally. Where grapes are concerned, hot summers and cold winters make ideal conditions for certain grapes associated with Europe such as Riesling. Others, like Shiraz and Pinot Noir, do well here too. Take a taste at Oakridge, St. Huberts and Warramate. Sip a drop at Yarrawood Estate or just order a coffee. A visit to Yering Station gives insight into the commercial attitude of Yarra Valley where producers and purveyors of local products support one another. Purchase wines and the goods of local farmers here. Buckleys Beer sells its own ales, pilsners, bitters and beers. Taste one and you may have to buy a case.

The key to longevity in any tourist area seems to be flexibility. Though wine and beer making, baking or farming may be the focus of certain business people, they frequently combine this with serving food. Some run restaurants for full meals. Others simply serve snacks and coffee or tea. Guests could even be persuaded to drink more than they might have planned to and stay the night.

Choose from high end accommodation and budget locations plus everything in between. Yarra Valley lodgings include guest houses, bed and breakfast establishments and luxurious retreats. Try Rangeview Homestead Bed and Breakfast where guests may wake up to see kookaburras and kangaroos peering at the estate or dairy cows milling around. Other Yarra Valley accommodation suggestions exclusive boutique lodgings, self-contained cottages and motels. Perhaps even arrange for a spa holiday

Take a break at a day spa as a less expensive alternative to the full overnight package and still feel like royalty. Services include pedicures, manicures, facials and peelings. Work on your tan, arrange for skin treatments or do a detox. Even have a massage of one kind or another, perhaps featuring stones. By the time you choose, a new trend is bound to arise. Indulge yourself, bring a friend or partner, even book a party to say thank you to bridesmaids or groomsmen who like neatly manicured nails.

If falling leaves in the autumn are as close you like to get to exfoliation, sample the delights of a landscaped garden. Alowyn Gardens were planned carefully to transform horse paddocks into a stunning display. Located near Melbourne, you will still feel removed from urban chaos in the midst of the birch forest or while contemplating geometric patterns established in the hedging. Blue Lotus Water Gardens bring a touch of exotic colour to the area with their numerous varieties of lotus, plus water lilies, all in a setting of lakes, islands and dams.

Australia has a reputation for heat, but Victoria knows something about winter. Mountain ranges experience snow, which means they also attract skiers. Lake Mountain Alpine Resort meets their needs while also establishing trails for hikers when the snow melts back. Enjoy breathtaking views from the top, or get even bigger thrills by going skydiving. On the other hand, to keep your kids at ground level take them to Jandomania where they can blow off some steam on a cool day while keeping their feet on the ground.

Source:  http://travelblog.bookitnow.com.au/index.php/victoria/yarra-dandenongs/sample-the-food-and-wine-on-offer-in-the-yarra-valley-australia/