Take a drive through tall mountain ash, stop at a winery for lunch or head up to the hills for some cross country skiing. The Yarra Valley, Dandenongs and The Ranges region has it all, and all within around an hour or two of Melbourne.

There are more than 30 wineries offering wine tastings and cellar door sales. The local orchards, farms and speciality shops offer the freshest local produce.

The beautiful scenery, from the vineyards of the valley to the mountains to the north, is another reason to come and explore. Six of the stateís Great Gardens are here and there are half a dozen national and state parks and forests.

The small townships carved into the Dandenong Ranges are perfect for those who love to browse about antique shops. Devonshire Teas are on offer for when it is time for a short rest. And there is plenty of accommodation available if you want to stay longer.

The Yarra Valley, Dandenongs and The Ranges may be famous for their vineyards but there is much more to the region than just wine.

Wildlife fans will be fully satisfied by a visit to the award-winning Healesville Sanctuary, home to more than 200 species of native wildlife. Get up close to everything from a kangaroo to a dingo.

Have fun in the snow at Lake Mountain or, in the summer months, take a hike through the many trails and see the area ablaze with wildflowers. Take a ride on Australiaís oldest steam train through the cool fern valleys of the Dandenong Ranges.

If it is wine you want then visit any or all of the more than 30 wineries in the region. All offer wine tastings and cellar door sales and the larger ones also have award-winning restaurants.

If you tire of looking at the vineyards from the decks of the restaurants and balconies try getting a birdís eye view from a balloon ride over the valley.

If you come in summer donít miss the Jazz on the Vines festival at one of the areaís leading wineries, Domaine Chandon. In winter, take in the best the region has to offer at the Yarra Valley Great Victorian Racing Carnival.

Marysville was established in 1863 as a stopover for diggers on the way to the nearby Woods Point goldfields. Marysville has moved quietly with the times and is a relaxing place for a picnic in one of the townís parks or beside mountain streams. You donít even have to pack the hamper because the 2 bakeries have a terrific array of country baked breads, pastries and pies.

The town streets are a riot of colour in spring, when cottage gardens come alive with blossoms of dogwood, azaleas and rhododendrons. The wonderful avenue of century-old oak trees in the main street form a cooling canopy in summer, and a golden display in Autumn.

The arts and crafts shops are worth browsing through and itís hard to go past a Devonshire tea with fresh-baked scones. The Old Yarra Track shop has some of the loveliest country-baked breads around. If you stay later than intended, there are some good restaurants like Marylands Country House or the Cumberland.

Lady Talbot Drive is a popular drive out of town. This unsealed track, suitable for conventional vehicles in most weather, follows a winding path through tall eucalypt forest along the Taggerty River. It continues along through the Marysville State Forest and the Yarra Ranges National Park. There are numerous places by the river for a picnic, or perhaps try some trout fishing.

At the Keppel Falls reserve ó a cool glade with tall tree ferns ó take a gentle stroll to the waterfalls. Itís a graded walking track and the reserve has picnic grounds with fireplaces ó remember to be aware during the bushfire season! Visit the spectacular Steavenson falls. The falls are floodlit in the evening.

Visit Bruno's Art and Sculptures garden and the Marysville museum, featuring a range of vintage cars, motorcycles, a fire engine and a Romany caravan. If you enjoy autumn, people and music, enjoy the Marys-festa-ville, during April. The colours of the changing leaves are breathtaking.