PASSPORT COLLECTIVE| Cherry Blossoms in Melbourne: How to see the absolute best!

If you love cherry blossoms like us – you’re in luck! Some of the best cherry blossoms in Australia can be found in our home town Melbourne.

Seeing cherry blossoms is one of the best day trips from Melbourne. Most are only around an hour out of the city, so you won’t spend the whole day on the road.

The roads here are well signposted and an easy drive, so you can concentrate on the task ahead – enjoying incredible blossoms!

EXPERIENCE BEAUTIFUL CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN MELBOURNE

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Table Of Contents

EXPERIENCE BEAUTIFUL CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN MELBOURNE
When is the best time to see Cherry Blossoms in Melbourne?
Cherry Hill Orchards blossom festival
The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden
Stop at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie
Stroll through the incredible Alowyn Gardens
Take a scenic drive through the Yarra Valley
See the best blossoms in Australia
Explore the best of Victoria with these posts
- PLAN YOUR TRIP TO MELBOURNE

When is the best time to see Cherry Blossoms in Melbourne?

The best cherry blossoms in Melbourne can be found in during spring. That’s September to November in Melbourne.

September is the best month however, if you are visiting Melbourne in October – don’t despair! There are still places you can enjoy the famous white blossom trees.

Cherry Hill Orchards blossom festival

The Yarra Valley region is famous for its wine, but come spring its home to some of the best flowers in Melbourne.

The Cherry Hill Orchards blossom festival is one of the most popular Melbourne attractions in spring. It is also the biggest cherry blossom festival in Australia.

How to get to Cherry Hill orchard

The Yarra Valley, Melbourne is just 45 minutes from the CBD. Take the Eastern freeway to Canterbury road. Then wind your way along Monbulk Road to Wandin East. The scenic drive is half the fun.

There is plenty of free parking on site.

When to see the fields of cherry blossoms

Cherry blossom is fleeting. It is also weather dependent. Cherry Hill opens their gates for two weeks sometime in late September / early October. The exact dates are announced.

Pre-register online or follow Cherry Hill on Facebook for exact dates and updates.

In Victoria cherry blossoms are at their best in September, so the festival is usually held towards the mid of the month.

Wander through the cherry blossom orchards

If you’re looking for sakura flowers in Melbourne, this is the closest you’ll get. Cherry Hill is a working orchard, so there are literally acres of blossom to explore.

The trees come into blossom at different times. This means that the areas with the most beautiful blossoms can be opened to the public whilst the remainder lay in wait.

You’re free to wander along the orchard rows and amongst the trees. Feel free to take photos amongst the blossom or even set up a picnic mid aisle! If you head away from the festival, you may even get a row to yourself!

What else to do at the Cherry Blossom Festival

The festival also hosts food trucks, face painting and masterclasses (such as photography).

The rolling lawn offers the beautiful views that you’d expect from a day trip to the Yarra Valley. There are wooden picnic benches and tables to sit on and lawn games to play. A static vintage tractor is a favourite with the kids!

Enjoy a drink from the bar. The cocktails have a distinct cherry ‘twist’.

The orchard is easy to navigate on foot or with a pram. It’s a family friendly day out and one of the best things to do in Melbourne with kids.

At times the orchard can have wet grass, so wear sensible shoes.

Before you visit

ADDRESS: 474 Queens Rd, Wandin East VIC

KEY FACILITIES:

Free onsite parking
Toilets
Food vans (during festivals)
Music (during festivals)
Retail shop
Bar
Outdoor seating

TICKETS: Register / Book here

Whilst you’re in the Yarra Valley

READ | Our guide to wine tasting in the Yarra Valley

BOOK | Accommodation in the Yarra Valley and make a weekend of it.

The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden

The Dandenongs are Melbourne’s own little section of The Great Dividing Range – the incredible range that also encompasses Sydney’s Blue Mountains.

If Melbournians refer to ‘the hills’ you can be sure they’re talking about the Dandenongs.

There’s good reason why. They’re home to some of the most spectacular bushland and offer incredible views all the way to the bay.

Whilst most visit for the gum trees, come spring, the blossoms at the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden come into their own!

How to get to the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden

The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden are around 1 hour north west of the Melbourne CBD.

Head out of the city on the Eastern Freeway before winding along the Dandenong tourist road. Allow a little extra time as there are plenty of look outs and nooks to stop along the way.

It’s a windy drive through the hills, so if you’re not a local plan ahead. The roads can be closed in the case of poor weather or fire.

A brief history of the Dandenong Botanic Gardens

The Dandenong Botanic Gardens are known as one of the best Melbourne botanic gardens.

Established in 1960 by the Australian Rhododendron Society These Melbourne gardens were formerly known as the National Rhododendron gardens.

They have now renamed the Dandenong Ranges Botanic garden, in keeping with the broad range of species on site. The gardens are managed by Parks Victoria and are free to visit.

Enjoy cherry blossom in Melbourne in October

Whilst September is the peak time to enjoy cherry blossom flowers in Australia, a Dandenong ranges day tour is just what you need if you are visiting Melbourne in October.

The Dandenongs are a cooler climate due to their altitude. This means that these Victorian cherry blossoms often don’t bloom until much later in the Melbourne spring. So, if you’ve missed the best of the Yarra Valley blooms, head up into the Dandenongs instead.

When it comes to Dandenong ranges attractions, the botanic gardens are some of the most beautiful. This is one of the only Melbourne gardens that has a dedicated cherry blossom grove. The cherry blossoms line a beautiful walkway and are underplanted with a range of daffodils.

The blossom is located towards the back of the gardens, so be prepared to walk. The pay off is, this part of the garden isn’t usually busy.

What else to see at the Botanic Gardens

With over 20 hectares of gardens to explore, you’ll want to see more than just the cherry blossom trees! The park boasts around 550 rhododendrons which are in full bloom in August.

Additionally, you’ll want to wander through the ferny groves, past the decorate lake and explore the sensory gardens.

If you can’t quite make it for cherry blossom season, the gardens have full year colour (and are especially beautiful in Autumn), so it’s a Dandenongs attraction you can visit again and again.

Before you visit

ADDRESS: The Georgian Rd, Olinda VIC

KEY FACILITIES:

Free onsite parking
Toilets
Cafe with indoor & outdoor seating
BYO picnic / food
Retail shop
Rotundas

ENTRY: Free entry

Whilst you’re in the Dandenongs

READ | Why not take a journey on the iconic steam Puffing Billy railway?

Stop at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie

Cloudy cherry blossoms and chocolate? Yes, please! The most delicious stop on a Yarra Valley day tour would have to be the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice creamery.

Located in Yarra Glen, chocolate and ice cream are made on site. You can even see it being made. There’s also a cafe where you can enjoy something more substantial for lunch.

How to get to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie

Yarra Glen is around 1.5 hrs from Melbourne by car. The drive is predominantly freeway and once you’ve in the area it’s hard to miss the signs to the chocolate factory. It’s a huge attraction for the area, so it’s unlikely you’ll be the only car heading that way!

The car park is paved and there are plenty of spaces. It is very busy on a weekend so allow a little extra time to park.

Where to see the blossom at the chocolaterie

Ok, the blossoms at the Yarra Glen Chocolaterie aren’t *technically* cherry blossoms. They’re a mix of ornamental pear, quince, pear and other stone fruit.

But, bear with us because the incredibly views across rolling hills and the sheer number of blossom trees make up for this!

As you enter the carpark, you’ll be met with towering ornamental pears (pictured above). The building itself is perched on a hill and the hillside is covered in blossom trees – you can’t miss them!

The prime hill position offers views of the blossom filled orchards in the valley below.

What else to do at the chocolaterie

The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie is a working chocolate factory. Peer through the window and watch firsthand as the chocolate is made. Try a sample, or stock up at the store.

Ice cream is also churned on site. Grab a double cone and enjoy it on the lawn. The lawn area also features outdoor games. It’s now wonder it’s a favourite Melbourne day trip with kids.

Before you visit

WHERE: 35 Old Healesville Rd, Yarra Glen VIC

OPEN: 7 Days a week 9am-5pm

ENTRY: Free

PLAN: The Chocolaterie is VERY busy on weekends. Visit on a week day if possible.

Stroll through the incredible Alowyn Gardens

If you love curated gardens, then Alowyn Gardens in Yarra Glen is for you. There’s acres to explore and you can even come home with a few plants from their nursery.

Most famous for their wisteria lined walk ways (they draw thousands) – Alowyn Gardens also boast their own blossom display. Their extensive plantings and range of species mean that the gardens are one of the best places to visit in Melbourne during spring.

How to get to Alowyn Gardens

Alowyn Gardens are also in Yarra Glen, just a 5 minute drive from the Chocolaterie. Combine the two or add them on to a longer Dandenong ranges day tour.

Where to see the blossoms at Alowyn Gardens

Whilst you can’t see sakura blossoms in Melbourne, you can see blossoms. Head through the wisteria lined archways through to the French Garden.

To your right you will see a walkway beautifully planted with crab apple trees. In spring the pink blossoms form a beautiful archway and the perfect backdrop for some photos!

In addition to this planting, you’ll find a range of ornamentals with blossoms planted throughout the gardens. The gardens are beautifully manicured and cared for, making them one of the prettiest gardens around Melbourne.

What else to see at Alowyn Gardens

Make sure to grab a map before you enter the gardens. There are 8 distinct areas to visit, each with their own style.

If you’re hungry, the cafe serves food, drinks and coffee. There is also a nursery onsite so you can also take a few plants home.

At the end of October, when the Melbourne cherry blossom season is ending make sure you visit for the incredible wisteria archway. Weather depending, the wisteria usually flowers for 4 weeks from the end of October. It’s a Melbourne top attraction in later spring. It’s one of the most popular places to visit in Melbourne in late spring, so set out on this one day trip from Melbourne early and beat the crowds.

BOOK | Accommodation in Melbourne and day trip to see the blossoms

Before you visit

WHERE: 1210 Melba Hwy, Yarra Glen VIC

OPEN: 7 Days a week 10am-5pm

ENTRY:

Adults – $12
Concession – $10
Children under 13 – Free

Take a scenic drive through the Yarra Valley

A road trip through the Yarra Valley is an excellent way to spot cherry blossoms. Best of all you can combine your love of blossoms with some of the best wine and food in the state.

How to get to the Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley is the region surrounding the Yarra Valley, north west of Melbourne. Spanning out from Lilydale, well known towns include Healesville, Yarra Glen and Warburton.

Where to see the best blossoms in the Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley region is predominantly agricultural. It’s main produce being wine and fruit.

Yarra valley gardens are a hotspot of beautiful blossoms. Whilst most are not open the public, they are easily viewed from the road.

Take the Eastern freeway from Melbourne and then venture on to the Warburton highway towards Seville.

The stone fruit orchards of Wandin can easily be seen from the road and make for spectacular viewing.

What to do whilst you’re in the Yarra Valley

You can’t drive to the Yarra Valley without stopping for something to eat! In Yarra Glen the Chocolaterie chocolate factory is heaven for chocolate lovers.

Moet and Chandon is perfect for those who love sparkling white wine.Take a wine tour if you’d like to try a few different vineyards without the constraint of driving.

The Gladysdale bakery is a local secret near Yarra Junction and the Innocent Bystander is a Healesville Icon.

Take the time to enjoy the Melbourne scenery along the way. A drive through the Yarra Valley is one of the best short trips from Melbourne.

Before you visit

WHERE: You’ll want to focus on the Wandin and Seville for stone fruit growing.

THE DRIVE: Roads are paved but can be windy in this area. Obey speed limits and take corners with caution.

Prepare for your road trip

READ | What you need to know about driving in Australia

See the best blossoms in Australia

There are a multitude of beautiful gardens in Melbourne and dedicated festival where you can enjoy cherry blossom trees in Australia. A day trip to see the blossoms is one of the best trips from Melbourne for families as the gardens offer plenty of opportunity for games and exploration.

The cherry blossom viewing experiences are also one of the most popular things to do in Melbourne with kids as the gardens are within one hour from Melbourne. Additionally, they’re extremely photogenic, so it’s an awesome opportunity to take beautiful family photos. They’re also the best day trips from Melbourne if you love a selfie!

Whilst the peak Melbourne blossom season is September, the weather and altitude means that you can enjoy blossoms in Melbourne from late August to mid October. So visit the best botanical gardens in Melbourne, pack the family into the car and head out to enjoy the spring tradition of the cherry blossom.