Marysville is one of those towns that is blessed with unbelievable natural beauty. Located on the edge of the Yarra Ranges National Park in Victoria at the beginning of the rugged and wild High Country region, Marysville is a mountain town with plenty to offer visitors.
A long time favourite of those looking for a day trip from Melbourne, Marysville is surrounded by towering mountain ash trees, flowing waterfalls, and rolling hills marking the highest point of the Yarra Ranges. Being slightly off the Black Spur Drive, it is a very quiet and quaint place that makes for a perfect nature escape for the weekend.
Growing up down the Black Spur in Healesville, I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve visited Marysville over the years. And despite the devastating Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, this little community has bounced back with resilience, offering visitors a wonderful place to explore nature. So, with this local’s guide to Marysville, I’m going to provide everything you need to know if you want to plan a road trip to this small town on a weekend away from the city.
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How to Get to Marysville
Melbourne to Marysville: 97 km or almost 2 hours via Maroondah Highway
The drive up to Marysville is a very well-known one for city dwellers and visitors to Victoria. The Black Spur Drive is considered one of the most beautiful roads in Australia, snaking its way from the vineyards of the Yarra Valley up through the mountain ash trees and ferns to the lower part of the alpine region of Victoria.
The easiest way of reaching Marysville is by taking the Eastern Freeway to Ringwood and then following Maroondah Highway to Healesville at the heart of the Yarra Valley. Then, continue on Maroondah Highway as it climbs up through the mountains towards Buxton, Taggerty and Alexandra.
The turnoff for Marysville will be on your right in Narbethong. Or you can also take the turnoff on your right in Buxton which will take you along the Gould Memorial Drive (one of the best things to do in Marysville, more on this below).
Read more: 8 Best Road Trips in Victoria to Take This Summer
Where to Stay in Marysville
If you’re looking to spend the weekend in Marysville, then check out some of these accommodation options to stay the night.
Dalrymples Guest Cottages | Opposite Gallipoli Park on Falls Road, this property offers several one and two bedroom cottages amongst a pretty garden. With plenty of natural lighting coming from large windows, the cottages have a balcony, fireplace and a free-standing spa bath. Check prices here.
Amelina Cottages | Located just a 10-minute walk from Gallipoli Park, this property offers one bedroom cottages for adults only or two bedroom cottages for families. Beautifully set out with a private garden, wood fire heaters, and spa baths, it’s the perfect escape. Check prices here.
Marysville Caravan and Holiday Park| The cabins range from family riverside cottages to smaller double studio cabins. They also have powered and unpowered sites for vans and camping setups. Check priceshere.
Prefer free camping? Andersons Mill Campground is a free campground in the state forest on Anderson Mill Road, just 5km south of Marysville. There’s flat ground amongst the trees to set up either a camper trailer, van or caravan, with basic toilet and fire pit facilities.
12 Best Things to Do in Marysville
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend away from the city, or you want to explore the incredible nature, then there’s something for everyone to do in Marysville. Here are the best things to do in and within a short drive from town.
Steavenson Falls
Steavenson Falls is definitely Marysville’s biggest attraction. Dropping 84 metres into the Steavenson River, it’s one of the highest and most impressive waterfalls in Victoria. There are a couple of ways to reach the waterfall which is just a short 5-minute drive from the town centre.
The easiest option is to drive to the main carpark; Steavenson Falls Carpark, which is free for most of the year, but on busy weekends you’ll find parking machines working which charge around $3 per vehicle.
From there, it’s just an easy 5 minute walk or 700 metres on a well-made path to the lower lookout at the bottom of the waterfall. This short path and lower lookout is actually floodlit until 11pm as well, so visiting at night is a nice alternative to avoid the crowds.
I highly recommend also heading up to the upper lookout. However, this requires about a 20 minute walk up many steps. The view from there is incredible though, looking down the waterfall and across the valley. You can also continue to Keppel Lookout from there, but more on this below.
Another alternative for reaching the falls, and a good option on weekends when the carpark is busy, is to walk along the Tree Fern Gully Trail. This trail begins from the picnic area beside the football oval in Gallipoli Park. It’s a beautiful amble of about 3.6 km one way to the lower lookout through the forest. It’s a well-formed gravel trail and definitely doable for kids or families.
Keppel Lookout Hike (or Drive)
- Distance: 10.5 km
- Time: 2.5 hours
- Total ascent: 467 m
Easily one of the most spectacular lookouts in the area, Keppel Lookout is a viewing platform that looks over Marysville town, Cathedral Ranges and the Black and Blue Ranges in the distance.
You can drive to reach it by taking Paradise Plains Road from Marysville for 10 mins and then turning off onto Keppel Lookout Road. The carpark is only 20 metres from the lookout. However, for keen hikers, I recommend tackling this challenging 10+ km loop hike that takes in both Keppel Lookout and Steavenson Falls in one hit.
The walk starts from a carpark just off Falls Road, two kilometres back from the main Steavensons Falls carpark. It’s called Keppel Lookout Trail Parking Lot on Google Maps. It’s best to do the loop in an anti-clockwise direction, which means hitting the steep climb from the road up to Keppel Lookout via the Oxlee Climb Track and Robertson Gully Track.
The trail is uneven and steep in places, with the first few kilometres up to the lookout a real workout. Take a break at the lookout for a while, and then traverse around the ridge, passing Oxlee and De La Rue Lookouts, on Keppel Track.
You’ll eventually reach the top of Steavenson Falls at the upper lookout, from where you can descend to the base and then follow the Tree Fern Gully Trail back to the carpark.
Bruno’s Sculpture Garden
A true icon of town, Bruno’s Sculpture Garden is a must see and a guide to Marysville is not complete without mentioning it. A way of showcasing his unique sculptures, Bruno has for many years placed his characters and objects around his garden amongst the rainforest as an open-air gallery.
Tragically, he lost everything in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires but has since chosen to rebuild in the same location. He redesigned his garden and opened a new gallery in 2011. With nearly 200 artworks to enjoy, people of all ages spend hours admiring the amazing creativity of Bruno.
It’s located at the edge of Gallipoli Park across from the oval with admission being around $15 per person.
Gould Memorial Drive
Just outside of town on the Buxton-Marysville Road, you’ll find the Gould Memorial Drive. A straight stretch of road with towering Lombardi Poplars along either side, it’s become an Instagram-worthy photo stop.
Originally planted by Mr Lloyd Gould over a number of years, in autumn the trees turn a brilliant shade of yellow, making a stark contrast to the green hills in the backdrop. This bright yellow colour makes for stunning photos as many visitors like to stop to capture the beautiful road.
However, please be careful about walking on the road for photographs and always park completely off the side of the road to ensure you don’t bother any traffic. Early April seems to be the best time if you want to see the trees in their brightest hue.
Gallipoli Park
As the main centre piece of the town, Gallipoli Park is just behind the Main Street. It includes beautiful gardens and a pond behind the Visitor Information Centre, along with a children’s playground and picnic tables.
The park also stretches further along Stevenson River to the local football oval and skate park.
Lake Mountain Alpine Resort
Known as the closest ski resort to Melbourne, Lake Mountain is a high plateau towering above Marysville. Standing at 1,433 metres high, it’s the beginning of the Victorian High Country which stretches all the way into New South Wales.
It’s a family-friendly winter destination, particularly for cross country skiing and tobogganing. However, it doesn’t get as much snow as some of the bigger skiing destinations like Hotham and Falls Creek.
Outside of winter, the mountain transforms itself into one of the most popular mountain biking playgrounds in Victoria. There are lots of downhill bike trails developed in recent years and a well-organisedshuttle busto get you to the top.
In summer, the skiing trails also turn into hiking trails. While not necessarily well-known for walking, Lake Mountain is a nice place for some lovely hiking with views of the Australian Alps and Yarra Ranges from some of the lookouts and old snow gums that are still recovering from the bushfires in 2009.
Read more: Best Lake Mountain Walks to Do This Summer
Lady Talbot Drive
If you’re looking for more waterfalls and short walks to do, Lady Talbot Drive is an easy place to explore for a few hours from Marysville. However, the road is often closed after storms, but it has been consistently reopened as of March 2023 after months of work.
The stunning road trip takes you through a scenic part of the Yarra Ranges National Park, below Lake Mountain. Hidden amongst the mountain ash trees and green ferns along the Taggerty River are waterfalls that can be explored on foot from the road.
Lady Talbot Drive can be reached on a turn-off on the Marysville-Woods Point Road northeast of Marysville. The road is unsealed but in good condition for a 2WD when it’s dry.The most popular stops are along the first section of road from Marysville to The Beeches, which is only about 14 km long.
Places you’ll want to have time for include, Phantom Falls, Keppel Falls, Taggerty Cascades, and The Beeches Rainforest Walk. All of these are less than 2km return to reach from the road, making them short little adventures achievable for many people, including kids.
Read more: Discovering the Waterfalls on Lady Talbot Drive in Marysville
Marysville Community Market
Held on the 2nd Sunday of the month, the Marysville Market is a great way to pick up local produce and handicrafts to take home with you. Stalls are usually spread out on the grassy banks of the Steavenson River at the end of Murchison Street, near Duck Inn.
You’ll find a variety of local gifts, plants, preserves, bread, cakes, honey, woodwork, art, fruit and vegetables, and wine.
It doesn’t operate during winter, only the warmer months.
Buxton Trout Farm
As Australia’s oldest commercial trout farm, this freshwater trout and salmon farm have been operating since 1958.Nestled in the foothills of the mountains just outside of Buxton, it’s one of the best things to do in Marysville for families.
Open every day, you can sit back and hook onto a Rainbow Trout or Atlantic Salmon.For just $9 entry for adults, you can catch your own fish, bring some salad and cook it all up on the provided barbecue.
Entry fee includes rod hire, bait and use of barbecues. Pay for what you catch and they will gut and clean free of charge for you. Or, you can head in and just buy some of their products like smoked trout and salmon pate.
Cambarville Historic Area
Located about 18km east of Marysville town on the Marysville-Woods Point Road is the Cambarville Historic Area. It was originally part of the Yarra Track, which was used in the 1860s by pack horses, horse-drawn drays and wagons to connect Healesville and the Woods Point Goldfields.
Today, the area is home to remnants of the region’s gold and logging history, as well as more waterfalls and impressive natural features. Before you come to Cambarville Picnic Area, you’ll find the Big Culvert, Cora Lynn Falls, and Cumberland Falls on the right hand side.
Once you get to the Cambarville Picnic Area, you can read more about the history of the area and take a short walk to see the Big Tree, a 400 year old giant standing 85 metres above the forest floor.
Cathedral Range State Park
The Cathedral Ranges is one of Victoria’s best hiking and camping areas. The rocky range rises up from the earth just north of Marysville between Buxton and Taggerty. It offers some of the most challenging day hikes with a range of different peaks and stunning vistas.
If you have time on a weekend trip to Marysville, it’s a worthy place to explore for keen hikers. There are several day hikes to choose from, including the southern circuit (11 km) or the northern circuit hike (13.5 km). A longer option is joining both of those circuits into the full ridge loop of 18.5km, or you can also find shorter options like climbing the Jawbone Peaks from Cooks Mill. Read detailed track notes for all these hikes in my post below.
To reach Cooks Mill and the main parking areas, you’ll find the turn-off for Cathedral Lane just 10km past Buxton on the highway. Then, turn right ontoLittle River Road, which is where you’ll find the official park entrance. The dirt road is suitable for most vehicles and is in good condition.
Read more: A Guide to Hiking in the Cathedral Ranges State Park
Buxton MTB Park
If the trails at Lake Mountain are too busy, then you can try heading to Buxton Mountain Bike Park. Situated within the Black Range State forest, it’s just a 14km drive north of Marysville.
There is around 23 km of purpose-built mountain bike single track within the park that can be ridden in a number of different loops. The trails are ridden in one direction and are signed accordingly. There’s everything from beginner-friendly riding all the way up to a black jumptrailcalled The Cathedral.The views from some of the trails aren’t bad either!
Where to Eat in Marysville
The Duck Inn | This old country pub is the best place to head for dinner in town. Located at the end of the Main Street, this family-friendly pub is open for lunch and dinner. Typical pub meals like parmas, pork belly and steak are all winners.
Fraga’s Cafe | For a good coffee and brunch, you can’t beat this longstanding favourite on the main street. They have a great all day breakfast menu with bagels, muffins and baguettes, with some outdoor seating available.
Where to Next?
- A Local’s Guide to Warburton
- 8 Best Road Trips in Victoria for Summer
- Day Trip to Noojee in West Gippsland
- Mount Buller Hikes: Guide to the Summer Season
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