A totally different perspective awaits visitors to Regional Melbourne through tall timber country, which includes some of's best eucalypt forests and vast stands of mountain ash, the world's largest flowering tree. The road through Eltham and Yarra Glen passes through the Yarra Valley wine region. Much of the Dandenongs, the Yarra Valley and the high country farther north has been planted over time with European trees which create a riot of colour in autumn (fall) from about April.

Yarra Valley is a haven for wine buffs with 35 wineries open for tastings and cellar door sales, gourmet restaurants featuring the best of local produce abound including dairy farm with a variety of hand-made cheeses, which many visitors claim rival the best in France and Italy.