Yarra Glen, Yea and Shepparton

* Warning: This is a long post! *

Just before the Christmas, things were rush to meet delivery before the long holiday. Off course, not all things will go smoothly as planned. And out of this something good came out of it.

In the rush of this season, one of the SIL’s staff forgot to dispatch some computer parts. Due to the urgency and being a responsible manager, she decided to drive to Shepparton the day after Boxing Day to deliver the parts. We all “Kay Po” decided to join her for this drive North West of Melbourne.

Me, being the nominated driver decided instead of taking the direct direction via Hume Highway, decided to take the country road via Melba Highway and Goulburn Valley Highway to Shepparton. This way is more scenic and have more things to see compared to the Hume Highway route.

Along the Melba Highway to Yarra Glen, there are many wineries. Most offered free sampling. So we dropped into one of the winery – Yerring Station. Since I am the nominated driver there is no drinking for me. Sob, Sob, Sob. So I browsed around while the others go wine tasting. This station is very beautiful overlooking into a vast landscape. After the others were satisfied with the tasting we headed for Yea.

As we headed into Yea, my BIL was hungry and decided to have lunch in Yea. We popped into the Royal Mail Hotel for lunch. It was a reasonable lunch ranging form $16 - $18. I had seafood basket, Maureen had fish of the day, BIL and SIL had roast pork with crackling and another SIL had roast beef.

Driving up North, we reach the town of Seymour. We drove around the town before heading for Shepparton passing Nagambie. Nagambie is well known for its lakes.

“The region is known for its water as the majestic Goulburn River is its life-blood. Fishing, water skiing PWCs, sailing, rowing and canoeing are all available in the Nagambie Lakes Region. Nagambie is home to one of Australia's premier rowing and canoeing venues and regularly hosts state and national championships as well as the famous Heads of the River. Aerial pursuits are also a feature of the region with world-class skydiving and gliding.

The regions growing reputation as a wine and food destination is attracting attention from across the country. More than sixteen cellar doors, including the award winning Mitchelton, Tahbilk, Plunketts and David Traeger wineries are within your easy reach and are complimented by a fabulous array of excellent restaurants.”

In the next holiday, I think I will like to explore this place.

Shepparton is known as the fruit growing region and is 180Km from Melbourne. Most of the stone fruits come from here.

“The City of Greater Shepparton is synonymous with great food, wine, waterways and weather. Greater Shepparton boasts a diversity of cultural, outdoor and sporting activities seldom found anywhere else.

Located only two hours north of Melbourne, the area features magnificant food and wine, glorious weather and all the attraction and activities you could imagine in a regional city.

The region has an international reputation for quality fresh and processed fruit and dairy products. The irrigation channels that criss-cross the region and the neat rows of fruit trees - bare in winter, blossoming in spring and bearing fruit in summer - provide just some of the contrasts of the region.

A number of Australia's largest food processing companies have their home in the Greater Shepparton area.

Early settlers discovered that the Goulburn and Murray Valley soils were ideal for not just stone fruit but also for the fruit of the vine, and established some of Victoria's - and Australia's - oldest and best wineries.

Many wineries can be found within an hour's drive of Shepparton, offering visitors the chance to sample an extraordinary range of excellent wines.

Restaurants abound throughout the region, offering an international taste experience to suit all palates.

Endless hours of fishing, boating, and other water activities are offered by the Goulburn, Broken and Murray Rivers and the Waranga Basin located between Tatura and Rushworth. The wetlands of the region are home to an abundance of flora and fauna and the magnificent red gums of the Barmah Forest hark back to the time when nature reigned supreme.

Visit historic towns to see the evolution of the region from the days of the early settlers to the dynamic City of Greater Shepparton of today.

Studios and galleries offer artworks for the discerning buyer and shopping in Shepparton is not to be missed.

All this can be experienced in a climate offering warm summers ideal for the outdoors and winters perfect for that indoor indulgence within an easy drive from Melbourne.”

We made a quick drop of the parts into the computer shop located centrally in the city before heading for a walk around the lake in the city.

We, then, headed for Mooroopna, a town 2Km away and visited the SPC Ardmona factory sales. Here you can find bargain for canned fruits and food. The store also stock some other goods, some are imported. We bought canned fruits, baked beans, canned tuna and sardine and many other misc. items.

At the end of the day we headed back to Melbourne and had a hearty Chinese dinner before calling it a day.