Free things to do — Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges
Find things to do in Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. Explore local events, attractions, markets and family activities, with dates, places and prices.
Public listings checked 25/10/2026. Dates use each event’s local time. Check organiser details before travelling.
Explore the region
Explore Yarra Valley towns and the Dandenong Ranges. These are distinct areas within this discovery selection, not Melbourne CBD suburbs; allow for winding roads.
Art and Alchemy Gallery and Studio has three gallery spaces with Gathering: A Collection of Scrolls by Mary McCowan being exhibited in the Salon Space.
This exhibition is a deeply personal one, featuring pieces from Mary's daily, creative and spiritual practice reflecting on her experience of the world.
Mary's work is characterised by repetition, everyday materials and intuition and is an invitation to personal, creative and spiritual engagement.
The opening event is on Sunday 18 October. This is a free event with an opportunity to hear from the artist.
Inside the Mirage is a group exhibition shaped by the imaginative and philosophical worlds of artists Ian Fairweather and John Young Zerunge, held in the TarraWarra Museum of Art Collection.
Drawing these two practices into dialogue, the exhibition highlights new perspectives and connections between Australian art history and the present. It foregrounds artworks that have shared and inherited stories as their basis, revealing the intertwined histories and complex cultural narratives that shape contemporary identities and world views.
Inside the Mirage explores the entangled relationships between artists, temporal frameworks and geographic contexts, centering the realities of lived experience. Artworks from the TarraWarra Museum of Art Collection are presented alongside selected loans from contemporary Australian artists including Mikala Dwyer, Narelle Jubelin, Michael Stevenson, My Le Thi, Zhou Xiaoping and Johnny Bulunbulun, Meng Yu Yan, William Yang and others. Across diasporas, time, and place, Inside the Mirage weaves loose threads together to humanise the mythical and to generate new narratives of social belonging, inviting people to reimagine their relationships with one another and the worlds that are shared.
Step inside the studios of the Yarra Valley's most creative minds, open for a free, self-guided journey through the arts.
Wander through the private spaces where art comes to life and experience it like never before. Meet your favourite artists, or discover new ones. See where they work, what inspires them, and how they create. Smell the paints, feel the tools, ask questions, and watch techniques unfold before your eyes.
Explore an incredible variety of art forms, including painting, ceramics, photography, mixed media, printmaking, and fibre art.
Free entry. Don't miss this chance to step behind the scenes and celebrate creativity across the Valley.
The program includes two Open Studios weekends and a month-long exhibition.
Studio locations include Badger Creek, Chum Creek, Dixons Creek, Don Valley, Healesville, Launching Place, Millgrove, Mount Evelyn, Silvan, Warburton, Yarra Glen and Yarra Junction.
Visit the website for detailed information on the program dates, timings and locations.
yalingbuth yalingbu yirrimboi yesterday today tomorrow is an exhibition by Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation (WEAC) that commemorates the 100th anniversary of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station's closure in 1924. But Coranderrk's story and history does not end here.
Guided by the Station's founding legacy to be self-sufficient and self-governed WEAC has worked to reawaken Coranderrk by employing Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, to care for Country and Culture. By sharing stories from yalingbuth and where they occurred, WEAC are reclaiming events from an unjust past, to shift the narrative and transform yalingbu into a positive yirramboi.
yalingbuth yalingbu yirrimboi yesterday today tomorrow is a Wandoon Aboriginal Estate Corporation exhibition, supported by Yarra Ranges Regional Museum.
Saturday Jazz at Seville Hill, come along and enjoy a relaxing Saturday afternoon on the terraced lawn under the beautiful large Elm trees and take in the breath-taking views of the Warburton Ranges while you sit back and listen to some relaxing music.
Food will be available on the day.
Bookings are definitely advisable especially if you would like a table and chairs, bookings can be made by emailing their team.
There are a few picnic tables, chairs and tables available on the lawn and you are welcome to bring your own chairs or bring a blanket and sit on the grass. In case of rain the event will continue in the winery.
No bring your own food or alcohol.
Yarrawood Estate's Live Music Sessions are held throughout the year on every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and feature live acoustic performances from a diverse range of highly talented local artists.
So why not relax and unwind with a scrumptious lunch, a glass of wine and a few of your closest friends, whilst listening to an amazing live performance.
There's no better way to enjoy a lazy afternoon!
This two-day plant fair and garden expo will be focusing on a wide variety of plants including spring flowers and foliage, rare, newly released, and sort after plants.
Expect a range of landscape and urban garden specialists in attendance who will have beautiful displays for you to admire, sharing their knowledge on plants, garden design, and garden equipment.
Throughout the weekend meet and listen to garden experts, celebrities, passionate plant growers and other industry personalities talking about their special interests and top-tips for gardening.
The Yarra Valley Spring Plant Fair and Garden Expo is family and dog friendly. For children there will be a range of activities for them to enjoy, free entry, and even a free plant.
Sit back and relax after a busy day of shopping, the plant fair has a beautiful area to sit and enjoy delicious Devonshire tea, fresh sandwiches and gluten-free options too.
CherryHill Orchards is Victoria's largest and most well-rated cherry-picking orchard. Experience a joyous, vibrant day out in the stunning Yarra Valley, with all-you-can-eat cherry picking, a brand new kids hub, on-site photography activations, picnic packs and on weekends live entertainment, food vendors, markets stalls and much more.
Pack a picnic, take in the views of the Yarra Ranges and have fun getting involved in an iconic Australian family tradition, picking your very own delicious cherries with more than 30 varieties, straight from the tree.
Nestled within the heart of the Yarra Valley's winery region, their beautiful Coldstream orchard is open to the public for cherry picking from early November. After cherry-picking, you can explore their on-site retail store and café full of cherry goodies, including a range of delicious beverages and their famous cherry ice cream.
Guests are welcome to stay and spend the afternoon within CherryHill's expansive picnic area, and on weekends, there are food trucks and live entertainment on-site, creating a vibrant festival atmosphere. Enjoy a wholesome family day out this summer at CherryHill.
Please visit their website for more information and bookings.
Come and enjoy Waratina Lavender Farm's harvest weekend, celebrating the start of the lavender season.
Walk through rows of blooming lavender and the homestead cottage gardens. Enjoy live music and live entertainment throughout the day. There will also be children's entertainment, craft demonstrations, farm animals, delicious food and demonstrations of harvesting. Why not explore the garden and hear about how lavender is harvested and processed, and also enjoy their famous Devonshire Tea. They also offer lavender specialty drinks, their signature drink being the lavender latte.
Tickets are available online.
