Photo: visitmelbourne.com

An hour's drive east of Melbourne you'll find the charming village of Warburton. It has special charms all year round. In summer it's a great place for a picnic. In winter it can be the first stop on the way to the snow areas. Any time it's the ideal place for a drive. There's the natural beauty of heavily wooded valleys and mountains, and the manmade pleasures of its old fashioned shops.

The Waterwheel Visitor Infomation Centre, on the main street in the centre of town, is named for an interesting historical feature: a huge waterwheel, over 4 metres in diameter. In the 19th Century, when Warburton was a goldmining town, the waterwheel was used to drive an electrical generator. It provided lighting for the mine in Contention Gully, about 10 kilometres south of the Upper Yarra Dam. Later it provided electricity for a hotel. Behind the Waterwheel are 38 murals, all handpainted by local artist Peter Van Brugel. They show scenes of the typical life of the area: homes, shopfronts, steam trains and so on. More are planned for the future.

There are many things to do in and around Warburton. Even walking around the town is a delight. Typical of Australian country towns these days, Warburton has immediate appeal because of its shops. You'll find tea-rooms, bakeries, arts and crafts and more. If you enjoy browsing in “Opp Shops” looking for unusual treasures, you could be occupied for hours. You can take the “Creatures Nature Walk” and discover facts about local flora and fauna of the district.

To get an idea, download the map from www.visitwarburton.com.au or phone the Info Centre on 5966 9600. If you prefer something a bit more sporty, try your skill at indoor archery at the Yarra Valley Archery Park. This is at Don Road, in the town of Launching Place, a few kilometres west of Warburton. It's open Saturdays from 10am to 5pm, and Sundays from 12 to 5pm. Entry is $20 for adults, and $15 for under-18s. Phone 5967 3323 for information.

Between Launching Place and Warburton, east of Yarra Junction, is the Blue Lotus Garden. There are so many wonderful plants to see here, including an Amazon Lily which last year grew a pad 1.7m wide. At certain times of the year it can produce flowers 30cm across.

Warburton lies at the base of Mt Donna Buang. You can often find the closest snow to Melbourne on its summit. The trip up Mt Donna is about 17 km. On busy days you might have to wait, or there may be restrictions in place. On the mountain there is a toboggan slope (you can hire toboggans here or in Warburton), and a climbing tower with views all the way to Melbourne on a clear day.

For Australian bushland, Healesville Sanctuary is perfect for a day out. It is northwest of Warburton,  about the same distance from Melbourne. On its many interesting walks you will see wellknown Australian animals like Koalas, Kangaroos, Platypus, Dingoes, Wombats and Emus. Go to www.zoo.org.au/HealesvilleSanctuary for more information.

These are only a few of the delights you can find in and around Warburton. In fact, the entire district is worth exploring. You can go back time and time again, and always find something new.

Span Hanna