Healesville

Healesville is a small town at the eastern end of Victoria's Yarra Valley near Melbourne.

Get in

By car

The town is only about half an hour from the outer Eastern suburbs by the Maroondah Highway. Because of its proximity to the city, many people live in the area and drive into the suburbs for work, this makes the road very busy during rush hours, and there is a bottleneck around Lilydale. Outside of peak hours, it's an easy drive from the city to the peaceful bushland setting of the town.

By bus

If you don't want to drive, you can take a train from the centre of Melbourne to Lilydale, and then there is the regular bus service 685 (operated by McKenzies) which runs to Healesville Sanctuary via Coldstream, Yarra Glen, the TarraWarra Museum of Art, and Healesville town centre. Night bus 965 connects Healesville with Lilydale and operates on Friday nights and Saturday nights. Bus route 684 between Ringwood (in the Eastern suburbs), Lilydale and Alexandra stops in Healesville, however due to its infrequent operation may be less useful.

Although it is not directly connected to Melbourne, for public transport purposes Healesville is considered part of 'Zone Two', which was Zone Three until zone reorganization, the outer-eastern transport zone, and it only costs around $10 for an all-day zone 1 and 2 rail and bus ticket.

Get around

By car

While theoretically you can take the car, often the distances are very short, and you wouldn't really need to take your car out.

By walking

It is possible to walk within the town if you don't mind small hills.

See

  • 🌍 Healesville Sanctuary, Glen Eadie Avenue (near Badger Creek Road, 4km south of Healesville town center; 10 minute drive from Healesville; bus 685 terminates at the sanctuary, stops in Healesville town centre and takes 10-15min), ☏ +61 3 5957 2800, 1300 966 784 (local rate). Daily 9AM–5PM. A world-renowned wildlife park. The sanctuary is run under the auspices of the Melbourne Zoo, and provides rehabilitation facilities for injured wildlife, breeding programs for several endangered species, and aims to educate the public about the unique and beautiful wildlife of Australia. Adult $53, child 4–15 $26.50 (children until the age of 3 and all children on weekends and public holidays get free tickets). (updated May 2025)
  • 🌍 TarraWarra Museum of Art, 311 Healesville-Yarra Glen Road (bus 685 between Lilydale and Healesville stops at the museum), ☏ +61 3 5957 3100. Tu–Su 11AM–5PM, M closed. The museum has a wonderful collection of early Modernist Australian paintings and changing contemporary works in a location with sweeping views of the adjoining TarraWarra vineyards. There is also the TarraWarra Biennial exhibition featuring contemporary artists, which started in 2006 and takes place in 2025. (updated May 2025)

Do

Buy

Eat

There are many cafes along the main street, so there is no shortage of places to eat.

  • Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander Winery, 336-364 Maroondah Hwy, ☏ +61 3 5962 6111. Bakery and restaurant within a wine-making operation. This is a very interesting boutique winery and cafe that serves a range of food including wood-fired pizza, cakes and bread all baked on site 
  • Monroe’s Burgers & Beers, 228 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, ☏ +61 3 5962 2033. A burger joint with a crazy selection of burgers and fries that are very satisfying. (updated Sep 2022)

Drink

Sleep

For those wanting to stay in the area overnight there are also plenty of guesthouses.

Go next

  • Melbourne is just over down there.
  • Buxton is further up B360
  • Alexandra is at the top of B360 at the junction of B340
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