Australian Sojourn

A view of the green farm at the Yarra Valley Dairy [Photo by Yang Feiyue/ China Daily]

Victoria's Yarra Valley offers visitors a bucolic getaway in the nation's agricultural heartland, and the urban delights of Melbourne are just an hour away, Yang Feiyue discovers.

Many Chinese affectionately call Australia a big farmyard, with the state of Victoria at the front and center. Accounting for just 3 percent of the country's total land area, it contributes roughly 30 percent of Australia's food exports.

A one-day tour of Yarra Valley offers a good view of the superb local natural environment and its food, as well as a sense of how locals live off the land.

The valley is roughly a one-hour drive from Melbourne, the second biggest city in Australia.

The blue sky feels close above our heads, meeting the sea at the end of the horizon thanks to the vast flat landscape and impeccable weather conditions.

Our first stop, at the Yarra Valley Dairy early in the morning, was very relaxing and intimate.

The dairy was built on a 100-year-old milking shed on the farm, right beside a cheese factory. There is a free sampling of the entire collection of its fresh handmade cheeses in Italian and French styles.

For a large group of visitors, a fee can be charged.

"Most people will come here for some cheese, or simply the experience, since it was an old building," says Jack Holman, the senior cheesemaker and factory manager with the dairy.

He gave us a tour of the factory, which featured modern equipment and delicate manual work.

The 10-kilogram rounds of hard cheese were an eye-opener. Each was dated and some have been there for two years.

Its rich taste is popular with chefs and many cheese lovers, Jack says.

The cozy shop offers distinctive local wines and a range of delicious regional and specialty produce, including jams, delicate houseware and gifts.

"We have many individual wineries nearby, and many of their products won't be found at public supermarkets since they can't supply enough," Holman says.

Visitors can purchase and eat the goodies while enjoying the nice views of the farm and herds through the window.

The two goats right at the entrance of the farm fear no humans. They come close to the fence and let you caress their faces and heads.

The dairy is a great stop for visitors to enjoy coffee, tea, biscuits and regionally produced ice cream.

Wine and chocolate

The tour of Domaine Chandon, our next stop, provides a good understanding of winemaking. The technical process was vividly demonstrated in a video, and food lovers can enjoy a meal at the spacious restaurant, with an unhindered view of the vast vineyards and pastures of the valley.

Visitors can taste a variety of wines and purchase their favorites.

Chocolate lovers should not miss the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery. It offers visitors free entry and plenty of free chocolate tasting. The facility is surrounded by picturesque vistas, including a vast orchard and sweeping lawns. Premium chocolates are on display and for sale and visitors can watch European chocolatiers handcrafting chocolates.