Where is the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery
The quickest way is to take the Maroondah Highway to the Yarra Valley – unless you know the back roads
The Yarra Valley is east of Melbourne. About an hours drive along the Maroondah Highway. It is known as being one of Australia’s premier wine regions but it is also home to loads of local produce. Like cheese, tea, handmade jams, a brewery, plenty of wineries and of course, chocolate. Now just outside of Yarra Glen on Old Healesville Road you will find the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery.
How to spend your time at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie
Wall of Chocolate
The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery is based on 40 acres of prime land in the Yarra Valley. When you arrive, the first place you will head to is the main building housing the factory, shop and cafe. Entry is free and when you walk in through the main door you are greeted by a massive array of chocolate. Where ever you look, there is chocolate.
The Chocolate Factory
Where the magic happens
If you veer to the left after walking through the main door you will see factory area where the chocolate is made through the glass petition. Yes, all chocolate in made in-house by European chocolatiers from mostly locally sourced ingredients. Stand and watch for a while the chocolatiers at work. Watch them make and pack the chocolates and dream of standing in there too making and enjoying some. And if you are there at the right time you can participate in chocolate making classes. It is best to reserve a spot well in advance if you would like to do this.
The Chocolate Shop
1 Kilo or 1 Metre of Chocolate – which to choose
The chocolate shop is huge and often packed with visitors. Walking around the shop is an experience. Wherever you turn there is chocolate – milk, white and dark chocolate. From 1 kilogram blocks to 1 metre long blocks to soft centres, to eggs, to chocolate in different shapes of native Australian animals to truffles. There is also chocolate on a stick to melt in your coffee, chocolate cook books and chocolate related knick knacks to purchase. Even some beauty products such as the chocolate lip balm – hmmmm and the chocolate hand cream. Be warned you won’t walk out of the chocolaterie empty handed. I usually leave with a giant Polka Dot – a circle of chocolate with hundreds and thousands on it. And a bag, or two, of Rocky Road – a mixture of marshmallows and nuts held together by chocolate.
Enjoy a sweet treat in the cafe
Chocolate Brownies are just the best
If needing a pick me up or even if not, there is a cafe serving yummy chocolate fair that you can have with a chocolaty drink. I can highly recommend their chocolate brownie with a hot chocolate. If wanting something more savoury tasting, there is plenty on offer. And the views through the massive windows over the Yarra Valley from the cafe are just breathtaking.
Walk around the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie grounds
Enjoy great views over the Yarra Valley
Once you have indulged at the chocolaterie why not get an ice cream from the gelaterie. There are some 40 flavours to choose from. Enjoy your ice cream sitting outside on the sprawling lawns amongst the colourful sculptures. Or perhaps walk, or maybe run around the orchards and wetlands and take in the gorgeous views of the Yarra Valley while burning some of the chocolate and ice cream calories you have consumed.
Organise your visit to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery
Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery: 35 Old Healesville Road, Yarra Glen VIC 3775 (Cnr of Melba Highway), www.yvci.com.au. It is open daily from 9am – 5pm and can be a very popular place to visit during the week but particularly on the weekend.
As mentioned, the Chocolaterie is a short drive from Melbourne. And there is plenty of free parking if you drive yourself. Or you could take a tour and tie your visit in to other delights that you will find in the Yarra Valley.
I hope you enjoyed my time at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery. I live on the doorstep of the Yarra Valley so visit the chocolaterie often. I really hope you make the time to visit during your travels into the Yarra Valley.
Read this to extend your time in the Yarra Valley: 2 Day Driving itinerary of the Yarra Valley and Road Trip
I would your feedback. Please leave a comment.
I am hoping to get to the Yarra Valley this year! Thanks for sharing!
If you can, I definitely would. The Yarra Valley has lots to offer – wine, brewery, local produce and chocolate.
I am Australian but had no idea such a place existed that close from Melbs! Thanks for sharing, bookmarking for my next trip to Melbourne 🙂
There are lots of surprising places near Melbs. And the Yarra Valley is one of them.
OMG Yum! My mouth is watering already! I have just returned to Oz after living abroad for 3 years. I was just saying to my partner the other day that we have to do a day trip to the Yarra Valley! It’s such a beautiful spot. Will definitely make a stop at the chocolate factory! The giant freckle is calling my name!
Yes – you should visit but don’t call them giant freckles. The Chocolaterie was recently in a legal dispute over the name with a big chocolate brand, and lost, they are now called Polka Dots. Still taste just as good!
Yummm! We drive past this place all the time and never stop! Will have to stop next time after reading this!!
Definitely stop next time. It can be touristy for the locals but is a great place to stock up on unique chocolate that tastes so good.
That 1 kilo chocolate bar looks amazing! I love watching chocolatiers work in a chocolate shop! So fun.
I also like the 1 metre long chocolate bar. Add a couch, warm fire and maybe a cup of coffee and I would call that heaven!
A chocolate making class sounds amazing! Even watching chocolate being made would be fun. I never thought about how chocolate is made. I’d love to visit this spot next time I’m in Melbourne.
It is quite mesmerising watching the chocolate makers make the chocolate. You should definitely try to visit next time you are in Melbourne.
No idea this was a thing but I love it! And if done right it sounds like a socially distant activity too. Melbourne is on bucket list now this is too!
Australia, particularly state of Victoria has chocolateries. There is one on Phillip Island, one along the Great Ocean Road and of course, the best one, in the Yarra Valley. If you love chocolate, even if yo don’t you should definitely add it to your Melbourne bucket list.
Sounds like a yummy visit! 🙂 The gelaterie especially seems appealing, and you’re lucky to live so close to this place! 🙂
I am very lucky to live so close to the Yarra Valley. When I need to get out I often go for a drive I the Yarra Valley. I love the space, the open roads and of course, the chocolaterie!
The Chocolaterie is one of my favourite places in the Yarra Valley. I haven’t tried the gelaterie there yet, as I’m usually too busy buying chocolate.
Same here, I don’t always have an ice-cream – it’s all about the chocolate for me too!
Omg I love the views and all the chocolate looks delicious. Makes me wanna fly to Australia right this minute. Thanks for sharing!
Yes, chocolate, ice-cream and great scenery make for a great experience. I’m glad the post has inspired you.
I so badly wanted to visit here when we go to the Yarra Valley but I’m pretty dairy intolerant and I knew I’d be too tempted by the chocolate and ice cream ha! So awesome you live on the door step of the Yarra Valley, it’s one if my favourite places to visit from Melbourne
Sorry to hear you are dairy intolerant. There are other things there to enjoy like a walk around the grounds. And yes, it is a great place to live near.
Yum! Chocolate and ice cream?! Count me in! I’ve been itching to finally get to Melbourne, so I’ll keep the Yarra Valley in mind for when I do make it there!
Yes, definitely do. It is not far from Melbourne and can easily be driven around in one day.
As a huge chocolate and ice cream lover, this definitely sounds like my kinda place! Might have to road trip from NSW once borders open up!
If you love chocolate and ice cream then definitely a visit to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie will be ideal.
I was supposed to go to Melbourne this past April, but since the trip was cancelled I love getting ideas for next year instead! I have heard all about the wineries in Yarra Valley but not the chocolaterie. Seems like a perfect place to spend the day 🙂
The Yarra Valley is a great place to visit and so close to Melbourne so when this is all over do try to include a trip to the Yarra Valley in your itinerary.