What could be better than watching native Australian animals in Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary? Doing it with a drink in your hand, of course.
Hop Fest is a celebration of small producers of beer and cider taking place at Healesville Sanctuary over the Melbourne Cup weekend.
There will be tastings from Hargreaves Hill, Watt's River Brewing, Coldstream Brewery, N apoleone, St Ronan's Cider, Hop Hen Brewing and Cherry Hill Orchards.Watt's River Brewing is making three special beers for the occasion, inspired by the blue-tongue lizard, helmeted honeyeater, Smokey mouse and the brush-tail rock-wallaby.
All that nature and drinks will have you hungry, so there will be street food including jaffles, ribs, burgers, pies, pastries, charcuterie and picnic food.
Don't think you'll miss out on animal encounters while you're enjoying your food and drink, though, as the zookeepers will be bringing around furry, scaly and feathered friends to say hello.
There will also be plenty of live music, so you can have a boogie.
