Escape into nature this Spring

There’s no better way to escape the stress of daily life than by immersing yourself in nature. Daylight savings brings with it more opportunities to make the most of the great outdoors. Take a picnic against a stunning backdrop, wander botanic gardens and capture nature in all its beauty.

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Before you go, remember to check the COVID-19 update page for information about restrictions and closures.

Picnics

When the sun is shining, there's no better way to enjoy nature than on a picnic with friends. Before you go, stock up on delicious local produce by visiting Click for Vic. Picnic with stunning coastal views, near cascading waterfalls, among tall forests or on beautifully manicured gardens. Make a day of it and explore the beautiful nature that surrounds you. How ever you enjoy nature, there's a picnic spot for you.

Visit our picnics page to plan your perfect day.

Popular picnic spots:

Four friends pat their two dogs next to Albert Park Lake with the Melbourne CBD skyline in the background.

Picnic areas in Albert Park

Albert Park has nine picnic areas around the picturesque lake, which can be used for picnics and barbecues. Each area has a range of facilities including free electric barbecues, playgrounds,shelters and wide open spaces.

A young mother and father walking behind their two toddlers along the Organ Pipes Track on their way to a picnic

Walk and picnic at Organ Pipes National Park

Stretch your legs on a leisurely walk to take in the weird and unique rock formations, and enjoy a scenic picnic in the shade.

A mother and her two sons play on a log while her partner sits at a picnic table looking on.

Grants Picnic Ground

Grants Picnic Ground sits within the Sherbrooke Forest, the largest section of Dandenong Ranges National Park. A number of walking tracks, starting from the picnic grounds, enable you to discover some of the plants and animals of Sherbrooke.

A young family eating at a picnic table at the Cape Schanck Lighthouse

Picnic Areas in Mornington Peninsula National Park

Embracing the wild ocean beaches between Portsea and Flinders, and the kangaroo haven of Greens Bush, Mornington Peninsula National Park is a favourite of Melburnians looking to escape the nearby city

Photography

Don’t forget your camera when visiting a park in spring, this time of year is when nature springs to life. Whether you’re a serious photographer, or just looking for some great snaps for your Instagram, nature has plenty of gorgeous scenery to offer. Head to lookouts or waterfalls and you’ll be sure to capture a stunning shot. Try to spot some native wildlife, or capture spring wildflowers in bloom.

Read our tips for getting the best wildflower shot.

Spots to capture Victoria's natural wonders:

A couple walk along the beach at Gibson Steps.

Port Campbell National Park

The wild Southern Ocean has carved the Port Campbell National Park coastline into formations that are famous the world over - and earned it the nickname of the Shipwreck Coast.

Murray-Sunset National Park

Murray-Sunset National Park is home to the famous Pink Lakes. This remote and unspoilt corner of northwestern Victoria draws photographers from all over the world. Explore the islands of the Murray River by four-wheel drive in dry weather or by canoe after rain – and camp under starry skies.

Buchan Caves Reserve

Near the township of Buchan, lies a honeycomb of caves full of spectacular limestone formations. The caves were formed by underground rivers cutting through limestone rock

Three friends standing at the Erskine Falls lookout admiring the waterfall.

Great Otway National Park

The park features rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, rock platforms and windswept heathland. In the north, the park features tall forests, ferny gullies, magnificent waterfalls and tranquil lakes.

A picturesque photo of the stone hut near the Horn at Mt Buffalo.

Mount Buffalo National Park

Sheer cliffs, granite tors, waterfalls and big views make Mount Buffalo a must-see alpine retreat

A couple walk along a beach at the Bay Islands

Bay of Islands Coastal Park

A land and seascape sculpted by the elements over millennia. Arches, islands and rock stacks are dotted along a wild coastline of beach coves and spectacular lookouts.

Botanic Gardens

Flower lovers, spring is the perfect time to visit botanic gardens. Some of Melbourne’s oldest urban parks are home to wondrous floral displays. Wander rows of flowers beds and sculptures in manicured gardens. See Australia's largest collection of rhododendrons at Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden or delight in the colour of more than 5,000 roses in bloom at Victoria State Rose Garden.

Find more gardens on our botanic gardens page

Popular gardens:

A man with an afro wearing a leather jacket and woman wearing a cream knitted jumper walk past a tree with splendid autumn leaves.

Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden

The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden (formerly the National Rhododendron Garden) is host to brilliantly coloured blooms of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, cherries and daffodils. Seasonal changes ensure the gardens are a delight all year around.

A couple sit on a bench in the rose garden at Werribee Park.

State Rose Garden

The Werribee rose garden is separated from the mansion's formal gardens by a Heritage Border featuring unusual and historic roses from around the world. In bloom from October to May, the roses are at their most magnificent from November to April.

A couple in their sixties walk their two flat coated retriever dogs through the Alfred Nicholas Gardens among the changing autumn colours .

Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden

The gardens will delight all year round. In Spring, it is blooming with rhododendrons, azaleas, camelias, kalmias and flowering cherries on the lake. Summer is the time to see hydrangeas, fuchsias, native ferns, rhododendrons and native terrestrial orchids. In Autumn the foliage of maples, beech and the famous golden ginkgos on the lake is stunning. In Winter you will see camelias and the early rhododendrons.

RJ Hamer Arboretum

Take a quiet, peaceful stroll along the many walking tracks and roads of the Arboretum and take in the tranquil beauty and stunning scenery across the Yarra Valley out to the Warburton Ranges and beyond.

William Ricketts Sanctuary

Situated in a ferny glade in the Dandenongs, William Ricketts Sanctuary is a place of beauty and tranquillity, due both to the natural setting and the mystical sculptures half hidden among ferns along the pathways. It is a place for quiet reflection and for contemplation of the essence of the vision of William Ricketts. Many travel across the world to visit this place time and time again.

Organ Pipes National Park