“The warby” is the closest accommodation to Mount Donna buang - For the best snow forecast click HERE

In summer it is home to the original Warburton Rivertubing Adventure - Visit HERE

Bike riders enjoy secure bike storage - indoor (bike shed with lockable door) or outdoor (undercover with racks to lock on to) plus complimentary charge points for e-bikes.

*** Book direct with us for peace of mind, best rates, multi-night discounts, and to support local ***

We operate an effortless contactless self check-in.

When you book online you’ll receive a confirmation email with all the important information, and our digital Motel/Warburton guide.

On your day of arrival you will receive your specific check in details via text. We are always here to help if you need anything… just not plonked at a reception desk…more likely working in the garden or stacking the wood for the firepit.

Text any questions to 0499 770 696 or email us at motelwarburton@gmail.com

What defines us… and may help you choose where to stay

This is a boutique (12 room), old school mid-century Motel lovingly restored by the family that owns and operates it. Our regulars affectionately call it “The Warby”. Our environmental, animal and human welfare beliefs mean we strive to achieve an inclusive, welcoming and kind experience, including:

• We wholeheartedly welcome our LGBTIQA+ and minority friends. You are welcome here like it’s your home.

• The Warby is cruelty free (no animals skins, furs or feathers used in furnishings, textiles or testing)

• Organic fairtrade consumables (coffee, teas, sugar) and organic locally made toiletries

• Eco-friendly cleaning products - we don’t use bleaches, harsh chemicals or toxic fragrance sprays

• We apply non-chemical garden management practices like weed burning, mulching and cobweb sweeping to preserve the precious eco-cycle between birds, bugs and spiders

• Recycling facilities in all rooms and no single use plastics

• We encourage (and are ideally situated) for bike and public transport users

• We voted YES to marriage equality. We voted YES to “The Voice” …and we’ll vote YES to any other damn thing that lifts people up, protects the environment and saves the critters.

larger SUITES for groups or families

• 2 Bedroom “Tree Tops” Suite (upstairs) with separate lounge / dining, separate bedrooms and beautiful views of the mountains and 160 year old trees

• “Family Studio Suite” with spa (downstairs) with a beautiful mountain view

• High quality beds with professionally laundered crisp white linen and towels

• Private bathrooms in each suite with eco-friendly / cruelty free, organic, locally made toiletries - (Spa bath only in “Family Studio Suite”)

• Microwave, toaster, and kettle standard - “Tree Tops” also has a kitchenette with sink

• Complimentary tea(s)/coffee/milk and ‘Kookas’ cookies

• Cutlery and crockery

• Reverse cycle heating and cooling plus ceiling fans for those that don’t like sleeping with air-con

• Blinds and privacy sheers on all opening windows (with flyscreens) looking on to lush gardens and mountain views

• Flat screen (smart) TVs for streaming your subscription channels

• Free Wi-Fi

• Affordable mini bar stocked with local wines, organic juice and micro-brewery beers

• Easy access to irons and boards

spacious and tasteful rooms

• High quality beds with professionally laundered crisp white linen and towels

• Blockout blinds, privacy sheers + curtains on all opening windows (with flyscreens) looking on to lush gardens

• Private bathrooms in every room with eco-friendly / cruelty free, organic, locally made toiletries

• Complimentary tea(s)/coffee/milk and ‘Kookas’ cookies

• Microwave, toaster and kettle in all Superior Rooms

• Reverse cycle heating and cooling in all Superior Rooms

• Kettle in Standard Rooms (but access to a shared “camp kitchen” with toaster and microwave)

• Standard Rooms aren’t air conditioned but maintain a lovely year-round temperature aided by new super quiet ceiling fans and heaters for seasonal comfort. People who don’t like to sleep with air-con LOVE these rooms!

• Affordable mini-bar stocked with local wines, organic juices and micro-brewery beers

• Flat screen TVs

• Free Wi-Fi

• Cutlery and crockery available in Camp Kitchen

• Easy access to irons and boards

  *All Superior Rooms are upstairs - all Standard Rooms are ground level.

But enough from us!

Read what others are saying…

The Setting

• Firepit with mountain and valley views, set in 1.6 acres of centuries-old majestic trees

• Walking distance to shops, restaurants and the stunning Yarra River loop walk

• Closest Motel to Mt Donna Buang Lookout, Rainforest Gallery, the Redwood Forest, LaLa Falls and more

• 5 minutes’ walk (2 minute ride) from the popular Lilydale / Warburton Rail Trail

• Directly across the road from the new (free) Warburton Splash (Water) Park, multi-purpose sports courts & Caravan Park

Things to do

• HQ of Bike and Hike adventure business = activities on site! (Bike rides, hikes, toboggans in winter, rivertubing in summer).

• Directly across road from FREE “Splash Park”, tennis and basketball courts

• 1 minute drive from shops and restaurants, 5 minutes’ drive from Warburton Golf Club and from 5 to 30 minutes' drive to a range of fantastic tourist destinations, wineries, farm gates etc.

• 20 minutes drive to a great choice of Warburton Valley wineries (Killara Estate, Seville Estate, Whispering Hills, Paynes Rise, Brumfield and more!)

• 30 minutes from many other towns including Healesville and the famous Healesville Sanctuary)

• 30 minutes from the ‘Boozemuda Triangle’ (Four Pillars Gin, Payten & Jones Wine, Watts River Brewery)

• 35 minutes to the cluster of Coldstream vineyards, Rochford Concerts as well as many boutique vineyards along the way...

Getting Here

“The Warby” is literally at the base of Mt Donna Buang (“Donna Buang” is an Aboriginal word meaning “Body of the Mountain”).

BY CAR:

When heading from Melbourne you drive through town (just stick to the main road) and follow the signs to Mt Donna Buang - passing by all the shops. The town is in two separate sections about 300m apart because of how the river runs. The second section has the servo, hardware and supermarket… you are getting close to us!

About 600m past that little commercial hub there is a fork in the road. The left fork (that’s us) is the road up the mountain - Donna Buang Rd. 150m up on the right-hand-side you’ll see our driveway. You’re here!!!!

* If you are heading from the north of Melbourne (e.g. from Canberra or Sydney) make sure you set your GPS for “sealed roads” otherwise you are in for a mountain-pass adventure which is the most ‘direct’.

BY BIKE:

Either ride to Lilydale or take the train there with your bike on board. Ride the 40km Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail. Ride right to the end and you’ll pop out 100m from the hardware store described above. Follow the same instructions from there. Our best result to date was 8 out our 12 rooms arriving by bike. Gold!

BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT:

You can literally reach the Motel using only your MYKI public transport card. Catch the Lilydale Train from the city. When you arrive at Lilydale Station, transfer to the “683 Bus” (the bus terminal is right at the train station). The 683 Bus will follow the same path described above. Once you pass the supermarket you are only 2 stops away. Ask the driver to drop you at the “Advent Care Retirement Home” stop. 100m further along the road you’ll see the fork described above. You are here! Great news, once you arrive you can do so many great things on foot, or using the Motel bikes. Low impact travel at its finest.

Why choose Warburton versus Healesville, Yarra glen etc?

Wilderness! …and the river! …and a village vibe!

The Yarra Valley is made up of two distinct landscapes. The open plains on the Healesville side and the Warburton Valley which is a spectacular, lush wilderness setting - ‘rivers mountains and wilderness’.

Warburton is the perfect basecamp for a Yarra Valley holiday. You can easily explore the other towns during the day but return to Warburton for your blissful down-time.

No big roadhouses, no big supermarkets, no big neon signs - just spectacular forest and mountain views, amazing walks, fresh air, hikes and bike rides, the glorious Yarra River running right through a quintessential small town, great restaurants, cafes and bars you can walk to, unique shops to explore…need we say more? You’ll love it as much as we do!

Why book direct with us?

Firstly, we have ‘Hot Deals’ and ‘Multi-Night Discounts’ that you can only access on our website.

Dealing directly has other benefits. We are very flexible with changes and provide personal service. With the online booking agents, it's the same as going into a travel agency - as much as we try to help you our end you still have to go through "your travel agent" to make any changes. You are also sending 15% of your booking $ offshore to companies that don’t pay any tax here in Australia - grrrr. Try and support your local businesses by booking direct.

Click on the button below and go to our live, fully secure, instant confirmation booking system.