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Cosmopolitan, elegant and chic, Melbourne has a passionate soul and a welcoming heart that makes every stay a truly memorable experience. Spend time in the city centre and you’ll discover pockets of busy, chilled, bohemian, architectural and accidentally cool spaces to explore. Stumble upon indie fashion boutiques, artisan workshops, and street artists at work.
Explore historic arcades and laneways lined with fine dining restaurants, chic cafes and hidden bars. Wander waterside trails for raspberry ripple sunsets and climb to a rooftop bar for cocktails with a twinkling night sky view. You’ll also find that whatever the season, the city is buzzing with theatre, exhibitions, concerts, festivals and sporting events.
Melbourne enjoys warm Summers where you can take in the fresh country air and taste delicious summer fruits; mild Autumns where you can enjoy a spectacular display of leaves turning amber, yellow and red; crisp Winters to snuggle and snow play with your loved ones and glorious Springs where beautiful blooms and wildflowers greet you. There is always a reason to visit again!
Magical Moments in Spring
As spring unfurls and daylight lingers longer, celebrate the best of Melbourne in spring from picnics in botanical gardens to leisurely lunches in leafy laneways. As nature springs to life, discover and stroll through manicured parks and gardens, or dine al fresco while enjoying the sunshine. Flower shows and festivals spring up in regional villages and historic botanic gardens embrace the change of season.
On the Mornington Peninsula, take in hues and views at Heronswood House and Garden in Dromana and lose yourself in fragrant Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens in Shoreham. Let the sight and aroma of lavender fields at Lavandula Swiss-Italian Farm at Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges delight your senses.
The Great Ocean Road region becomes awash with the vivid colours and outlandish shapes of Victoria’s native wildflowers. Spring is the best time to see wildflowers throughout the area, although many plants do flower throughout the year.
Cross paths with a dazzling array of native flowers in the Grampians. Once described as the ‘garden of Victoria’, the region is home to more than one third of Victoria’s flora. Visit in spring to see the canola fields in full bloom, adding a bright yellow backdrop to the landscape’s stunning wildflowers.
Make the most of this blooming bright season on a road trip around Victoria. Spring wildflowers bring stunning colour to expansive national parks, picturesque villages and towns, and carefully tended gardens. Travel among the blossoms, fill your picnic hamper with fresh local produce, and then picnic, climb and hike.
Blooming Beauties
Tesselaar Tulip Festival (Early September to Early October)
A unique annual event the whole family can enjoy, showcasing the breath-taking beauty of over one million spring flowers in bloom. You can also indulge in yummy food and market stalls, browse gift shops and take a tractor-led train ride around the farm.
Bendigo Annual Tulip Display (Mid-September to Mid-October)
Admire Rosalind Park’s stunning display of 53,000 tulips; as well as the floral displays in the park’s 1897 conservatory.
CherryHill Orchards’ Blossom Festival (Late September to early October)
Home to Victoria’s largest cherry blossom festival, stroll through endless rows of cherry blossom in full bloom within the 85-acre cherry orchard, held across a two-week period every Spring!
Regional Dining
Some of Victoria’s best dining is out of town. Across the state, innovative chefs are using the freshest local produce to create ground-breaking local and international dishes. Award winners or local favourites, these restaurants will draw you to places you may never have thought to go to, and to places you may never want to leave. Taste the best of regional Victoria’s fresh, diverse and bountiful local produce at these fine-dining establishments.
Hubert Estate(Yarra Valley)
Enjoy the views of the Yarra Valley landscape as our experienced chefs from Hubert Estate’s new modern restaurant Quarters, bring together a menu of seasonal plates. With a menu of Modern Australian and European inspired dishes, Quarters is the perfect spot for everyone.
Audrey’s (Mornington Peninsula)
An homage to the grandmother who instilled his passion for cooking, Scott Pickett’s Audrey’s brings an elevated and authentic dining experience to the Peninsula. Expect to revel in old-world elegance, taste the flavours of the nearby sea and enjoy views over stunning Sorrento.
Doot Doot Doot @ Jackalope Hotel(Mornington Peninsula)
A presentation of Australia’s finest produce, plated with fresh goods from the expansive kitchen garden. The seasonal menu merges classic techniques with kitchen curiosity in a presentation of food and wine, and every dish is methodical yet explorative, a tempting tale, twisting and turning, teasing and pleasing, to the very last bite.
Laura @ Pt Leo Estate (Mornington Peninsula)
Laura offers guests an unhurried dining experience that elevates the simple luxuries of time, space, comfort and attention. Focussing on the very best ingredients, each dish and the selection of wines are carefully considered, ensuring your visit is as authentic and beautiful as the surroundings.
Lake House Restaurant (Daylesford)
Led by Culinary Director Alla Wolf Tasker, Head Chef Brendan Walsh, the Lake House team deliver beautiful, cutting edge, seasonal food matched with an internationally acclaimed wine list. Each seasonal menu takes you on a trip down country lanes, through orchards and across the region’s farm paddocks.
Brae (Great Ocean Road)
Brae is a contemporary restaurant on a working organic farm. An ever-changing set menu incorporates produce from Brae Farm, the surrounding land and local, ethical producers to showcase a unique Australian cuisine built around an immense respect for nature and seasonality.
Wickens @ Royal Mail Hotel (Dunkeld, Grampians)
Celebrating food, wine, people and place, the thoughtfully spaced dining room offers expansive views of the surrounding Grampians landscape. Executive Chef Robin Wickens’ critically acclaimed tasting menu offers an open approach to fine dining, celebrating produce grown in their own organic Kitchen Garden.
*Reservations are essential.
For more information, please visit: www.australia.com
