Spring has well and truly sprung in Victoria: we’ve flicked the switch on daylight savings, the weather’s warmer and flowers are blooming.
Celebrate the return of springtime with fresh strawberry picking in the Mornington Peninsula, breathtaking day hikes in the You Yangs and picnics in the Royal Botanical Gardens. Here is our pick of top springtime experiences in Victoria.
Ready to escape the city? Plan your next regional Victoria break with our curated collection of escapes and experiences.
Celebrate spring with a sweet treat in the city
Every Melburnian worth their weight in cocoa will recognise the name Mörk Chocolate, a chocolatier establishment specialising in delicious, artisan hot chocolates and fresh cinnamon buns. For a true Melbourne experience, head down Equitable Place and find the new CBD store built into an old lift-shaft. Grab yourself one of Mörk’s famed Campfire Chocolates, frozen cacao drinks or plant-based delights.
If your passion lies with pastry, make sure you also head to the renowned Lune Croissanterie, just around the corner from Mörk Chocolate. It will have you salivating over classic buttery croissants, iced cruffins, and twice-baked monthly specials. Fill a takeaway box with tasty treats and enjoy them in the sun with friends at Fed Square, Melbourne’s culture and arts venue widely recognised as the go-to rendezvous place.
Check out our Melbourne CBD escapes.
Savour seasonal sips and strawberries down south
Grab the family or friends for a fun-filled afternoon on the stunning Mornington Peninsula, a one-hour drive from the city. Start at Red Hill’s Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm, where you can pick fresh seasonal strawberries before enjoying a decadent strawberry sundae or chocolate-coated frozen berries at the café. There’s even a small onsite bar where you can sample the farm’s strawberry liqueur. If cherries are more to your taste, pick up specialty cherry cordial, jam and dessert wine at Red Hill Cherry Farm.
Veer slightly off the beaten path to discover an abundance of boutique wineries including Main Ridge Estate, a small vineyard in Red Hill specialising in pinot noir and chardonnay from 45-year-old vines. Sit in the courtyard, order a charcuterie board and savour a wine-tasting flight.
Read more: Worlds Away: Country Victoria’s Best Luxury Accommodation
Roll out the picnic rug in a public garden
There’s no better time to admire native blossoms than springtime in Victoria. And what better way to do it than armed with a picnic basket, rug and your favourite snacks at one of Victoria’s public gardens? Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens offers more than 8,500 species of plants to discover, from rainforest flora to cacti, perennials and roses. Plus, there’s even a children’s garden where the little ones can play and explore.
East of the city is Cranbourne Gardens, where natural bushlands are intersected with 10 kilometres of walking tracks, six kilometres of cycling tracks, BBQ facilities and playgrounds. For a fairy-tale picnic, ascend to the Dandenong Ranges, an hours’ drive from Melbourne, where the local botanical gardens are flourishing with rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and ancient trees.
Get active among spectacular nature out west
Spend a day in the You Yangs this springtime in Victoria, a breathtaking regional park a one-hour drive west of Melbourne. Choose from more than 50 kilometres of exhilarating mountain bike trails, hike to the top of Flinders Peak and admire sweeping views over Melbourne.
Thirty minutes northwest of Melbourne is Organ Pipes National Park, home to the world’s largest ancient volcanic lava flows. Drive to the summit of the old volcano and make your way on foot down the (short but steep) path to the river valley, where you can admire the organ-like stone columns.
Spring clean mind, body and soul at a day spa
Add a spring to your step with an indulgent spa treatment in Victoria’s Daylesford and Macedon Ranges region. Head to the healing waters of Hepburn Springs Bathhouse & Spa, a historic bathhouse that has been pampering its guests since 1895. Soak in the mineral-rich bath waters, or splurge on a treatment. If you’re seeking a bespoke experience, visit Daylesford’s Samadhi Spa & Wellness Retreat. Discover a range of programs for an immersive spring clean of your mind, body and soul. Stay a night or two and learn meditation, enjoy a crystal salt scrub or relaxation massage and leave feeling brand new.
Looking for more Daylesford inspiration? Check out 48 Hours in Daylesford: How to Spend a Weekend in Victoria’s Spa Capital
Make it an overnight trip, check out our Daylesford escapes.
