We went on a Melbourne budget-friendly trip to Warburton. If work has been tiring lately, and you don’t want to drive too far while also saving some petrol money, then I really recommend a trip to Warburton.
This route was pretty much trouble-free, so sharing it with everyone!
Best Things to Do in Warburton
First stop: food
After arriving in town, we went straight to The Warburton Bakery and got the famous mushroom beef pie. Taking a bite while it’s still hot just gives you maximum winter happiness. Then we crossed the road to Silva Coffee Roasters for a simple brunch. The coffee and atmosphere were both really nice, very much that small-town slow life vibe.
After eating, it was time to enter full “Warburton chill mode”.
Boinga Bob’s Treehouse
A very popular treehouse photo spot, right across from the café.
The creek beside the treehouse
There’s a winding little creek next to it. In summer we saw lots of people floating and playing in the water. Winter is quieter, but the peaceful forest feeling is really nice too.
Mount Donna Buang Observation Tower
The lookout tower at the top is really beautiful. When the clouds and mist roll in, it feels like stepping into a fairyland. The temperature up there is much lower though, and it’s windy, so definitely dress warmly in winter, otherwise after taking photos you’ll just want to jump back into the car.
Cement Creek Redwood Forest
The redwood forest has such a great atmosphere. I was hoping to catch some sunlight shining through the trees, but that’s hard in winter because clear days are rare. But when the weather is good, the photos look amazing and have a real movie vibe.
La La Falls Walking Track
From the main street in town, just navigate to La La Falls Carpark, which is about a 5-minute drive away. The return walk is around 3km in total, and the signs say it takes about 1–1.5 hours. We stopped briefly at the waterfall before heading back, and the whole trip took us exactly 1 hour.
Along the way, you can hear the sound of flowing water and birds chirping the entire time, which makes the walk really relaxing. The track is all uphill on the way to the waterfall and then all downhill on the return, since you simply retrace your steps.
As someone who hasn’t exercised properly for almost half a year, my heart rate shot up to nearly 160 during the climb, so I wouldn’t really call it beginner-friendly. But if you’re not in a rush and don’t mind taking plenty of breaks along the way, it’s totally manageable.
Rainforest Gallery
We finished with a walk through the rainforest boardwalk. The air felt so fresh and it’s perfect for taking things slowly. Just be careful with your phone and belongings when taking photos — the boardwalk has gaps, and if something falls through, you’ll probably have to say goodbye to it forever.
Dinner at Alpine Hotel
Originally we planned to go to Little Joe for wood-fired pizza and then The Rainbow Ice Cream Shop for their famous ice cream. But both were closed today. We tried them on a previous visit though, and they are genuinely worth it, not just Instagram-famous places.
The food was really good and the atmosphere was comfortable, but I went silent when the bill came. These prices weren’t “country town” prices anymore — they were more like fancy CBD western restaurant prices.
To sum it up!
- Warburton is not far from Melbourne
- Great for switching off and relaxing
- Forests, mist, and small-town vibes all in one place
- Not too expensive overall (except for that final western dinner)
Next time, I’m going to wait for a big sunny day and visit the redwood forest again!