Whittlesea and the Plenty Valley
Whittlesea sits about 40 kilometres north of Melbourne in the Plenty Valley — a country town with a main street, farms on the fringe, and enough nearby parks and day trips to fill a weekend. This independent guide covers where to stay, eat and wander.
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About the area
The township was originally called Plenty and was renamed Whittlesea in 1864. It remains a distinct town rather than a Melbourne suburb, with surrounding villages, markets, growers and historic buildings through the valley.
Most of the district is still rural. There are walking tracks, picnic spots and views towards the Great Dividing Range. Nearby Kinglake, rebuilt after the 2009 Black Saturday fires, is again a destination for bushwalks and scenic drives.
The area is multicultural, with cafes and restaurants alongside farms and reserves. Local parks have playgrounds and picnic areas, and the agricultural Whittlesea Show is held each November.
