Wander and Explore Warburton

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The lovely thing about Victoria is that there are so many small towns to visit, perfect for getting away from the city and to enjoy a breath of fresh air.

Drive a little further into the Yarra Valley, past the wineries, and you will find the small, quaint town of Warburton.

I say quaint, because we drove past many simple houses surrounded by colourful plants and trees. We saw white petals falling to the ground and pink blossoms making the street so vibrant - and these houses were all just around the corner from a waterfall!

La La Falls : Irruka Rd, Warburton
As we took the dog along to Warburton, I made sure to find out where we could visit in the forest that was suitable for a dog. I read that La La Falls was dog friendly, so this was our first stop in Warburton.

The hike is a 1-1.5 hr return, and although it is a straightforward path, it steadily goes uphill, ensuring no rest for your calves (unless you decide to stop and take photos, which is what we did).



The path is completely surrounded by luscious green forest and bird calls echoing in the wind, making it a relaxing walk to the falls.



The waterfall is not the most picturesque I have seen, but the surrounds provide a great place to sit on the bench and relax. If you're a little more adventurous, explore the rocks and plants around the falls but be careful not to slip!





The Riverview Cafe and Wine Bar : 3373 Warburton Hwy, Warburton
You'll find a small strip of shops along Warburton Highway, which also runs along the banks of the Yarra River.

The Riverview Cafe is popular due to its outdoor seating on their deck at the back, which provides a view of the trees and river, and also allows dogs.



To add to that, there are vines and plants weaving in and out of the decking, ensuring you are truly immersed in the peaceful, green atmosphere of the country town.

[IMAGE="https://scontent-syd1-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/14624749_152892141839593_6265806257739792384_n.jpg" width="411" link="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLwd7z_lfHJ/?taken-by=monsadventure" align="CENTER" border="1" caption="The view from the back deck" wrap="0" title="riverview cafe" margin="5"]

The menu is fairly standard for a Modern Australian establishment, including steak sandwiches, burgers, big breakfasts, pies and more. See an example of their menu here .

However, they have some fancier entrees including a chicken, rosemary and mushroom paté and cheese boards. They also had a baked spud menu for take away and dine-in, so we ordered the last potato for the day with "the lot", which included bacon, sour cream, cheese and more.



It was presented much more nicely than I expected, complete with a side of salad too.

We also indulged in a banana/raspberry smoothie, vanilla iced coffee and a sticky date to share!



The Swing Bridge : Story Reserve, Warburton
Warburton is one of the places where you can enjoy a relaxing walk along the Yarra River, besides the city views in the CBD.

We crossed from the deck of the Riverview Cafe towards the river and found a large white bridge.



It is known as the "Swing Bridge" and it does indeed swing with a lot of movement, so be careful if you easily get nauseous!

Besides swinging, it also provides a lovely view of the river from both sides.



The path made it a perfect spot to walk the dog and allow him to enjoy the nature and cool water.



If we ever do return, I'd be interested to try more of the dog-friendly hikes! Do you have a favourite place in Warburton or hike recommendations?

#yarra_valley
#waterfalls
#warburton
#walks
#nature
#escape_the_city
#dog_friendly
#day_trips
#lists
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