Australia's oldest and largest car club for the GLBTIQ community
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Coombe Yarra Valley (The Melba Estate) and the Redwood Forest
10/09/2022 @ 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Free
DATE: Saturday 10th September 2022.
TIME: Meet at 9:00am for a 9:30am departure OR meet at Coombe at 9:45am for tea and tour OR meet at Coombe at 12:00pm for drive and lunch.
MEET: Noodle Box, at Reading Cinemas complex, Chirnside Park shopping centre, 239-241 Maroondah Hwy, Chirnside Park
DESTINATION: Coombe (The Melba Estate) 673-675 Maroondah Hwy, Coldstream.
DETAILS: 10:00am Devonshire Tea comprising freshly baked scones (two per person) served with double cream and peach Melba jam, together with a choice of tea or coffee. At 11:00am the Garden Tour. At 12:00 the Cellar Door will have produce and wine available to purchase.
Once the home of Dame Nellie Melba (world-famous Australian opera superstar), Coombe will be our first destination for the day, where we will enjoy a Garden Tour and Devonshire Tea. This beautiful property will encourage us to relax and enjoy its magnificent setting and its views. Seven acres of gardens, designed by William Guilfoyle, the architect of the Victorian Royal Botanic Gardens, and established over 100 years ago, surround the beautifully appointed facilities in the restored motor house and clock tower, offering a truly unique cultural destination.
NOTE: the Garden Tour is a guided walk around Dame Nellie Melba’s Garden which takes about one hour. The route follows an unsealed and uneven pathway. It is not undercover, and there are no toilets along the way. Wear comfortable walking shoes. You must be capable of standing and walking unaided for the full duration of the tour. Bring drinking water plus an umbrella for shade and/or rain protection.
After visiting Coombe, we will set off for a scenic drive through the Gruyere Valley – often referred to as the “Toorak of the Yarra Valley” (Sir Peter Taylor of Lyndhurst) as it is the location of choice for the wealthier retired. Gruyere has strong farming and agricultural roots, with a variety of products such as apples, pears and cattle. The town is named for a variety of cheese from Switzerland, reflecting the area’s history in the dairy industry.
We will lunch in Warburton – there are plenty of places to buy lunch to suit a variety of tastes and budgets or BYO lunch and picnic on the banks of the Upper Yarra River. We can take a stroll through the town or a short walk by the pretty riverside.
After lunch we will drive to the Cement Creek Redwood Forest in East Warburton and take the trip up to Mt Donna Buang for panoramic views. We might be lucky enough to see, or hear, some Lyrebirds on the drive down from the mountain. We will then return home down the Warburton Highway to Lilydale from where we can each take our preferred route home.
BOOKING: Essential for Morning Tea and Garden Tour. Respond by Thurs 1st September with payment of $30 – see Booking below for details.
BRING: Walking shoes, umbrella for sun and rain protection, drinking water. Buy your lunch in Warburton or BYO picnic.
SUITS: All vehicle types.
ROADS: Sealed – Freeway & main roads. One short optional unsealed section into the Redwood Forest – you can carpool for this section.
BOOKING: Essential with payment of $30 for Morning Tea and Garden Tour by 1st September. Email leivonen@hotmail.com and make payment to Motafrenz BSB 033-063 Account 000124490 REF Your Surname Coombe.
RSVP: for Itinerary with live map links to Robert L leivonen@hotmail.com
PETS: No pets allowed on Coombe Estate. Dogs are not allowed in Redwood Forest – it is a National park.
COST: Garden Tour and Devonshire Tea – $30 per person. Other attractions FREE.
CONTACT: Robert L. at leivonen@hotmail.com 0433 018 007 and Gordon Campbell secretary@motafrenz.org.au 0407 882 696.
LINKS:
Coombe Estate destination Google Map
Donna Buang Rainforest Gallery and Skywalk (Warburton) – Nature –