Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A TRIP
ST ANDREWS
Sleepily ensconced in the hills 35km north of Melbourne, this little town is best known for the weekly
St
Andrews Community Market
(
www.standrewsmarket.com.au
;
8am-2pm Sat) . Every Saturday morning the
scent of eucalypt competes with incense as an alternative crowd comes to mingle and buy handmade crafts, enjoy
a shiatsu massage, sip chai, have their chakra aligned or just listen to the street musos. To get here, a shuttle bus
departs from Hurstbridge train station.
Beyond, the winding road from St Andrews up to Kinglake is one of the region's great touring routes.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Warburton & the Upper Yarra Valley
The riverside town of Warburton has a very different feel from its Lower Valley neigh-
bours - most visitors here are more interested in communing with nature than sipping
chardonnay. The youthful Yarra River flows right through town and a lovely 6km walking
and cycling trail follows both sides of the river.
The town of Warburton has an interesting history, first in gold mining, then as a timber
town. From the early 20th century, much of the industry here was established by the
Seventh-Day Adventist Church, which operated the Sanitarium Health Food factory
(makers of Weet-Bix) here for many year. The architectural award-winning (now derelict)
deco building still stands.
Sights & Activities
Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail
OFFLINE MAP
CYCLING
(Warby Trail; 1300 368 333;
www.railtrails.org.au
)
Following a disused 1901 railway line, the
38km Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail is a popular cycling route passing through farm-
land and wine country. The whole route takes about four hours one way, but it's relatively
flat. Bike hire is available at
Yarra Valley Cycles
( 03-9735 1483;
www.yarra valleycycles.com
; 108 Main
St, Lilydale; per day $40)
in Lilydale and Cog Bike Cafe in Warburton.
NATIONAL PARK
Yarra Ranges National Park
OFFLINE MAP
