Craving a proper escape from the city without spending half your weekend in the car? Eildon is one of Victoria’s best-kept weekend secrets. Just 140 kilometres from Melbournes CBD, it’s closer than you think. Follow this itinerary and you won’t just arrive at Eildon, you’ll experience the journey there.

The Route at a Glance

Melbourne CBD → Lilydale → Healesville → Black Spur Drive → Marysville → Buxton → Eildon

Total drive time (direct): approximately 2 to 2.5 hours.

With stops: allow a full, relaxed day.

Stop 1: Lilydale – Stock Up and Set the Mood (45 mins from Melb)

Your first stop is Lilydale, sitting right on the eastern edge of Melbourne’s metropolitan area and the gateway to the Yarra Valley. It’s the ideal place to grab coffee, top up supplies, and shake off the city energy before the scenery kicks in.

Lilydale sits at the junction of three highways- the Melba Highway heads north to the Yarra Valley, the Warburton Highway heads east, and the Maroondah Highway continues toward Healesville. You’ll be following the Maroondah Highway from here. Take a quick walk around Lilydale Lake if the kids need to burn energy before the drive continues.

Breeze Tip: Fill your cooler here. Once you’re in the High Country, you’ll want to focus on the views rather than hunting for a supermarket. 

Stop 2: Healesville – Wildlife, Wine & Wood Fire Pizza (1 hour from Melb)

Healesville is a nature-lover’s paradise and a wonderful place to break the journey. Home to the world-famous Healesville Sanctuary and the lush Yarra Ranges National Park. If you’re travelling with kids (or just love Australian wildlife), a few hours at Healesville Sanctuary is hard to beat. The sanctuary is a one-hour drive from Melbourne CBD through the Yarra Valley wine region.

After the animals, the town’s food and wine precinct is well worth exploring. In the heart of Healesville, Innocent Bystander’s Cellar Door produces excellent local food (their wood fire pizzas are a highlight). For those with a sweet tooth, the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery is a must.

Breeze Tip: Visit Healesville Sanctuary on a weekday if you can, it gets busy on weekends and school holidays, and you’ll want the extra space to enjoy it. 

Stop 3: Black Spur Drive – One of Australia’s Most Spectacular Roads

This is the stretch that makes the Melbourne-to-Eildon route genuinely memorable. The Black Spur Drive is 30 kilometres of road between Healesville and Marysville, winding through rainforest past towering trees and ferns. Even on the brightest summer’s day, the light is muted from a canopy, reaching 100 metres overhead, with warm, damp air and giant ferns lining the roadside. The drive follows the Maroondah Highway through luxuriant forest characterised by Mountain Ash (the tallest flowering tree on Earth) and captivating tree ferns.

Along the way, stop at the Fernshaw Picnic Area for a break, it’s set in a picturesque forest with picnic tables, gas BBQs, and toilets. Or continue on to the Dom Dom Saddle Picnic Area at around 550 metres altitude, the highest point on the route.

Breeze Tip: Wind the windows down on this stretch. The smell of the Australian bush through here is something else entirely. 

Stop 4: Marysville – Waterfalls and a Village That Rebuilt Itself

Just a short detour off the Maroondah Highway, Marysville adds less than 20 kilometres to the overall journey. It will reward you with a charming village that has been a popular holiday retreat for Victorians since the late 1800s.

Steavenson Falls, cascading 84 metres, is one of the most magnificent waterfalls in the region and an easy walk from the car park. The town itself has a lovely resilient spirit. It was heavily impacted by the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires and has rebuilt into a thriving welcoming community. Grab lunch here before pushing on.

Stop 5: Buxton – A Quiet Moment by the River

North of Marysville on the Maroondah Highway is the small town of Buxton. Situated on the Steavenson River, with a hotel, general store, and parkland on the banks of the river. It’s a lovely spot to stretch your legs and let the kids have a paddle if the weather’s warm. Blink and you’ll miss it, so don’t.

You’ve Arrived: Eildon

Eildon is located 140 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD and is the gateway township to Lake Eildon, situated at the base of the impressive dam wall. Originally built to house dam construction workers in the 1950s, many of the original prefabricated English-style houses still stand today. Giving the town a unique heritage character.

The town offers direct access to the lake and is the hub for all water-based activities, including fishing, boating, houseboating and waterskiing. The nearby Eildon Pondage is regularly stocked with trophy-size rainbow trout, making it a favourite destination for anglers.

After a day on the road taking in some of Victoria’s best scenery, you’ll be ready to settle in, breathe the fresh mountain air, and actually relax.

Where to Stay: BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks – Eildon

There’s no better base for your Eildon weekend than with us at BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks – Eildon. Whether you’re after a cosy cabin for the family, a powered site for your van, or a tent pitched under the stars, Breeze has you covered. All just minutes from the lake and everything Eildon has to offer.

Wake up to kookaburras, fall asleep to the sound of the bush, and spend your days on the water. That’s the Eildon way.