Down Under Day 2: Puffing Billy and Yarra Valley

Our day started early with brekkie at Galleon Cafe, opposite our hotel. Loved the retro setting and the cheap & good food.

A hot chocolate and cup of latte to start the day

Scrambled eggs and mushrooms on toast. Oh Portobello mushroom, let me count the ways i love thee.

We collected our rental car from Europcar after breakfast. Armed with maps and GPS on the iPhone (a handy companion for this road trip!), we made our way to Belgrave, to catch Puffing Billy, scheduled to depart at 10.30am for Lakeside. Steeped in 100 years of heritage, Puffing Billy is a steam train which runs through the scenic Dandenong ranges. On "Total Fire Ban" days in the summer however, diesel-operated trains are used instead to prevent bush fires.

Toll roads to avoid are highlighted in pink

A gloomy morning.

At Belgrave train station

Best part about Puffing Billy is you get to sit at the windows...

...and hang loose!

It was an enchanting (and very cold) journey through the forest

Attempting to keep warm, by standing near the engine

Lakeside station

After taking the return train to Belgrave, we drove for slightly more than an hour to Yarra Valley, dropped our luggage at our B&B (more about it later) and rushed off for the scheduled free winery tour at this very hip, boutique winery called Innocent Bystander. As it was winter, all the grapes had been fully harvested so we could only take a tour of the wine making facilities.

Dinner and wine at the Innocent Bystander Cafe.

Chardonnay for him, Moscato for me

We then returned to our gem of a B&B, Strathvea Guest House, and properly explored the grounds. Could tell that the owners have put in a lot of effort to preserve/decorate the dining hall, living room (loved reading by the fireplace), reading room and guest rooms in antique furnishing. We felt like we were transported back into time, especially with the swing jazz music that was playing in the background. Although i have to admit that as the only guests around, it did feel a little creepy at times :S (the owners, Toby and Deanne resided in a separate house).

Our cosy room for the night