Did you know you can hire a boat ride right in the middle of the Royal Botanic Gardens? Punting on the Lake lets you float the day away on a guided 'punting' tour.
For those who are unfamiliar, punting refers to boating in a flat-bottomed boat known as a punt. They’re usually used in small rivers, shallow water or, as seen here, in decorative lakes in the middle of Melbourne. Punting on the Lake brings the tradition of leisurely punting to the picturesque gardens and its suitably calm Ornamental Lake. No sea-sickness to fear.
Punting expeditions are led by a personal tour guide and skipper – think Venetian gondolas and gondoliers – just replace singing with a detailed history of the garden.
Tours operate from September to May, weather-pending. You can BYO food and drinks, and there is a small picnic table on board. And yes, there are parasols available to complete the look (you gotta get a pic for the 'gram, after all!).
Adult tickets start at $25, and children from $15. There are also family tickets available. Plus, if you've got a well-behaved dog, they can even hop on for free. Bookings are required (especially on weekends) so head to the website to find out more.