Hit the road and get some colour in your life with these gorgeous floral spots
It's always a beautiful time of year when Melbourne begins to defrost and you can smell spring in the air. It's warming up and flowers are blooming, bring pops of colour to our lives. Heck, we’re ready to clear out our black winter wardrobes and bust out some floral prints. Just kidding – Melburnians don’t wear colours. But that doesn’t mean we don’t like to see some flowers.
If you're keen to stop and smell the roses, we've rounded up some of the best places near Melbourne to see spring flowers.
Three hours from Melbourne by car
Take advantage of the Beechworth Historic Park walking tracks as you enjoy the wildflowers. And if you’ve got the time, pop on over to Mt Pilot for some sweeping views and great photo ops.
Best time for flowers: September to early October.
One hour from Melbourne by car
Want somewhere to view Victoria’s flowers with a few more amenities? Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens lets you take in its plant life on foot or on the garden explorer bus. And if you’re feeling peckish afterwards, you can grab lunch at the café.
Best time for flowers: throughout spring. See the daffodils, hellebores and camellias in September, and rhododendrons and azaleas later in spring.
1.5 hours from Melbourne by car
Closer to the CBD, this spot offers up a selection of heath, wattles, peas and orchids for your flowery perusal.
Best time for flowers: late September to October.
40 minutes from Melbourne by car
For something a little more orderly, check out the Victorian State Rose Garden and grounds around Werribee Mansion.
Best time for flowers: roses from September to March, with the peak in November. Flowers around the mansion from mid-September onwards.
2.5 hours from Melbourne by car
You know a place is legit when it’s named ‘Wildflower Drive’. Visit Bendigo’s surrounding forest and stop by this strip of road for some colourful sights.
Best time for flowers: late September to October.
Two hours from Melbourne by car
Are you a firm believer in more is more? The Great Otway National Park is home to one-quarter of Victoria’s plant species.
Best time for flowers: mid to late spring onwards.
Three hours from Melbourne by car
If you’re looking for something a little less forest-y, Fabians Block is the perfect grassland spot to admire the daisies.
Best time for flowers: September.
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