WTM: Yarra Valley Dairy

Sundays just scream country adventure to me, and my favourite country place is the Yarra Valley. Just far enough away from everything, yet close enough as well. It's about a 45 minute drive from my house, and just over an hour from Melbourne CBD. There are so many amazing wineries out here, as well as cafes, small boutiques and little nooks and crannies to explore.

One of my favourite places to visit is Yarra Valley Dairy. For no other reason than I love cheese. I mean, I really love cheese. If you love cheese, you really need to make the trip out here. 




Yarra Valley Dairy has both the cheese factory, which uses fresh cows and goats milk from neighbouring farms to make their delicious artisan cheeses, as well as their store front, where you could spend hours looking at all of the wonders on offer, tasting cheeses and wines, and sitting down to enjoy a ploughman's platter.



The staff are delightful and full of knowledge, rattling off information about all of the cheeses. For any tastings, you'll try about 6 different cheeses, including my favourite Juno (with juniper berries). Keep in mind though, the tastings are free for groups of less than 8, for groups of 8 or more, it's a $3 per person charge. Well worth it either way. 



Other things on offer around the store include things like: homewares, chocolate, sauces, jams, wine and bread. Most things are sourced from the local region, and they're high quality and delicious. Speaking of wine, they also have wine tastings on offer, with plenty of bottles to chose from.

  

We tried all of the cheese (even though we already knew and loved them) because who says no to free cheese from Yarra Valley Dairy? Had a bit of a wander and a look at all of the homewares, they have a new range of crockery including some amazing looking tea cups, as well as a few linen items like tea towels and aprons.



In the end though, we were there for the cheese, and the cheese is what we wanted. Between the 2 of us, we could have bought one of everything. We showed restraint though, and left with a Persian Fetta, House Cow, and a couple of Junos (because there just isn't enough for the two of us to share. Normal people yes, Alex and I, no.)



Oh, almost forgot! They also have pates and pies and other yummy treats!



Clearly we were excited about cheese! If you are going up to visit on a weekend, be prepared to find a full store, as it's quite popular. 



You can find them here:

Yarra Valley Dairy
70-80 McMeikans Road, Yerling
9739 1222

Lots of love!

J (and Alex I guess)

xx

WTM: Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery

Sunday was an amazingly beautiful day, and we just couldn't waste it being at home inside, so Alex and I thought it would be fitting to head out to the Yarra Valley and explore some of their most popular attractions. We went off to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery first to buy some of our favourite treats.



As you can see, it was a lovely day, so there were people everywhere. It's nice here, because the kids can play on the grass and run wild, while the parents can sit and relax with a picnic.



Of course, even though Alex isn't a tourist (not by the classic definition, she lives 10 minutes down the road), I had to make her take an awkward tourist photo. I think she did pretty well!

Because nothing says dorky tourist like an awkward photo with a giant fake chocolate bar.

If you've never been before, be prepared to be shocked. There is literally walls and shelves filled with chocolate, and 3 giant bowls of chocolate drops for you to try (we may have taken a couple more spoon fulls then they would have liked...). At the moment it's the Rocky Road Festival, which is running 1-31st May, and in celebration of this, they have 31 flavours of this Aussie classic in blocks, bars, truffles, ice creams and hot chocolates. 

  

They also have a truffle bar, where you can pick and choose your own truffle mix, in a box of 12 or 24. There are so many flavours it was so hard to decide! Some of my favourites were Peanut Butter, Marble Mint & Hazlenut Crunch.

There is a cafe in store so you can purchase your goodies and sit down to enjoy them, as well as other delicious treats like the Smokin' Salmon, Zen Duck and B.L.A.T. On a hot day, we recommend trying out the ice cream (free tastings!) which are house made decadent delights.

The store has free entry, and it open every day except Christmas day, from 9am-5pm. You can find them here:

35 Old Healsville Road (Cnr Melba Highway)

Yarra Glen, VIC

9730 2777

Love J xx

WTM: Old Melbourne Gaol Walking Ghost Tour

You know when you are so bored, and cannot think of anything to do, but just want to get out of the house and adventure? Well Alex and I were stuck in that exact situation a couple of weeks ago! We scoured the interwebs to see if there was anything interesting to do, when we stumbled upon the Old Melbourne Gaol.

Did you know they do night time ghost tours? Well, I didn't! I've done a walking ghost tour before, I'll chuck the link at the bottom, but nothing like this.

The tour begins on the ground floor, of the remnants of the old gaol. An actor, portraying the hangman, walks you through the different areas, telling stories of the different inmates that once served time there, explains the conditions they would have suffered through, all by candle light.

We werent allowed to take photos during the performance, so the photos below are once the lights went on, and the tour was over. 

Waiting for the doors to open and the tour to start. I thought I would share it because, well, everyone likes chins.

Our guide and hangman!

There are a whole heap of student displays at the gaol at the moment.

The mask of silence, leather mitts to stop masturbation, and iron shackles

This has only just been found, it's another entrance to the womens section of the jail

All in all it was a great night out, tickets were $35 each, and it was a night filled with education and murder. 

We're also interested in going back and doing the Watchtower tour as well!

Let me know what you think!

Love 

J xx