Buxton Trout and Salmon Farm
In the northern reaches of the Yarra Valley, Buxton Trout & Salmon Farm is Australia’s first commercial trout farm, dating back to 1958. Sustainable and ecofriendly, the farm not only sells its produce to local markets and restaurants but is a popular family attraction, offering visitors the chance to fish, walk, and barbecue by the lakes.
The Basics
Admission to Buxton Trout & Salmon Farm includes a fishing pass that grants access to its four lakes, where you can fish for rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon. For the full experience, ask the staff to prepare your fish ready to cook—picnic and barbecue sites are available at the farm, or you can take your fish down the road to the Buxton Hotel, where the restaurant will cook it up for you.
Things to Know Before You Go
Fishing equipment and instruction is available on-site and included in the admission fee.
Fish are charged by the kilogram, and the farm will gut, gill, and pack it on ice at no extra charge.
Foodies can buy homemade delicacies such as mountain-ash smoked trout, smoked-trout paté, and hand-milked caviar from the Buxton Farm Shop.
There are shaded picnic and BBQ areas, but you need to bring your own cutlery and cooking utensils.
The farm is wheelchair-accessible.
How to Get There
The farm is located in the town of Buxton, along the main B-360 highway, in the northeastern part of the Yarra Valley. There’s no public transport directly to the farm, so the most convenient way to arrive is with your own transport. From Melbourne, the drive takes about one hour and 45 minutes.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
The Buxton Trout & Salmon Farm is open daily year-round. The farm is busiest in the summer months (December–February), when it’s worth arriving early to snag the best fishing and picnic spots, but the lakes are full of fish at all times.
Family Attractions in the Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley is one of Victoria’s most popular wine regions, but there are also plenty of family attractions. Not far from the Buxton Trout & Salmon Farm are the Healesville Sanctuary, where animal residents include koalas, kangaroos, and Tasmanian devils, and the Lake Mountain Alpine Resort, where winter visitors can enjoy skiing, sledding, and tobogganing. Alternatively, stroll around the lakes at the Blue Lotus Water Garden, go fruit picking at Rayner's Orchard, watch a demonstration at the Healesville Glass Blowing Studio, or stop for ice cream at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie.
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