Get into nature with these beautiful hikes, walks and trails near the RACV Resorts in Victoria and Queensland. Speak to the friendly staff at RACV Resorts for more walking and day trip ideas.
Victoria
Lanidale Cherry Orchard, Wandin North
Where to see cherry blossoms in Melbourne and regional Victoria this spring
Cherry blossoms only flower for a few short weeks in Victoria. These are the parks and gardens that have the finest displays of cherry blossoms near Melbourne.
In spring, ornamental cherries (sakura) burst into bloom across Victoria's botanic gardens, orchards and country estates. The cherry blossom season is brief and conditions can shift quickly, but plan well and you could catch some of the most photogenic days of the year close to home.
The beauty of flowering fruit trees is not limited to cherry trees either, with apple, pear and plum blossoms also heralding the start of spring. But the cherry blossom stands out because of its significance in Japan, where many celebrations and festivals take place during the short blooming season. It's one of the reasons you might want to plan a trip to Japan in late March to early May.
Here are some of the best places in Victoria to see blossoms this season. Plan ahead and find the nearby fuel and EV Chargefox stations via the the RACV App. RACV Members can also access benefits and discounts this way.
It's also advisable to pack an emergency roadside kit and check your emergency roadside assistance plan is up to date.
When do cherry blossoms bloom in Victoria?
Unlike autumn leaves, which look beautiful for many weeks, cherry blossoms are famously short-lived.
In a typical year around Victoria, peak cherry blossom bloom goes from late September to the first half of October. There's a sweet spot of roughly three weeks when the show is at its best.
If you're scheduling a day trip to see cherry blossoms, keep an eye on orchard updates as spring approaches.
Best places to see cherry blossoms near Melbourne
CherryHill Orchard, Wandin East
CherryHill Orchards, a working farm in the Yarra Valley, hosts an annual Blossom Festival to showcase its cherry trees in full bloom. The CherryHill Orchards Blossom Festival runs from 24 September to 5 October 2025 at 474 Queens Road, Wandin East.
It's an easy hour's drive from Melbourne, making for the perfect spring day out for families, couples and keen photographers. There are wide paths through the cherry tree rows: ideal for beautiful photos as you enjoy live music and entertainment, onsite tastings and food stalls.
There are even special events to mark the occasion. Bloom & Graze runs on 6 to 7 September and 13 to 14 September at CherryHill's Coldstream location, showcasing local wineries and producers alongside market stalls and live entertainment.
Blossom by Light, when the cherry blossoms are illuminated with beautiful colours, runs from 19-22 September at CherryHill's Wandin East location.
Spend the weekend at the nearby RACV Healesville Resort and discover the best free things to do in the Yarra Valley.
Experience delicious treats while admiring the spring blossoms at CherryHill. Image: Visit Victoria
Alowyn Gardens, Yarra Glen
In the heart of the Yarra Valley, privately-owned Alowyn Gardens is worth visiting at any time of year, but in spring there are stunning displays of flowers and blossoms. Along with row after row of flowering fruit trees (the flowering crab apple looks remarkably similar to cherry blossoms), Alowyn Gardens boasts an extraordinary wisteria arbour, with the wisteria in full flower for about four weeks in October.
Wander through Alowyn Gardens' nine themed areas, look for blossoms as you weave through orchard-style rows and avenues, and finish with coffee and cake by the nursery. It's a lovely place to slow down, take portraits and scout for flowering Prunus among the spring displays. You'll pay a modest entry fee at the gate. Time your visit to dovetail with a Yarra Valley lunch or cellar-door tasting nearby.
Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, Olinda
Perched above Olinda, the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden is a spring sweetheart. In September and early October, stroll the Cherry Tree Grove: a dedicated avenue of ornamental cherries. Along with taking a ride on Puffing Billy, this is one of the best things to do in Dandenong Ranges.
Then fan out across the 40ha grounds to explore sweeping lawns dotted with rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas and oceans of daffodils. Bring a picnic rug, settle in on the lawns, and take in the layered pastels backdropped by tall mountain ash.
There are sealed paths to many viewpoints, accessible parking and toilets, and enough open space that you can spread out even on busy weekends. Café Vireya in the garden precinct is on hand for warming drinks if the mountain air turns brisk.
Lanidale Cherry Orchard, Wandin North
The Yarra Valley might be known for its wineries, but the region is also brimming with orchards, flower farms and fruit groves. Lanidale Cherry Orchard is popularly known as The Cherry Well thanks to its handsome cherry orchards.
Situated on the edge of the Yarra Valley wine district and at the foothill of the Dandenong ranges, The Cherry Well is at its most beautiful during the September flowering season. Visit again between November and January to pick up a box of fresh cherries, or even pick your own.
The Yarra Valley puts on dazzling displays of blossoms in spring. Image: Matt Harvey
Forest Glade Gardens, Mount Macedon
If you like your blossoms with a touch of old-world romance, Forest Glade Gardens in Mount Macedon delivers. This century-old private garden sprawls over 5.6ha, with four distinctly themed gardens: English, woodland, fern gully, and a Japanese garden adorned with delightful pastel-hued cherry blossoms.
Forest Glade Gardens charges a small entry fee and is open daily, making it an easy spring day trip from Melbourne. Allow time to explore nearby Macedon and Woodend.
Banksia Park, Bulleen
Banksia Park on the Yarra River in Melbourne's Bulleen suburb is a local favourite for dog walkers, cyclists and families. In spring, its cherry grove becomes a quiet suburban showpiece. The open lawns and gentle riverside paths make it easy to admire the blossoms without the bustle of a formal garden.
In February 1980, the Japanese Government donated 100 flowering cherry trees to Victoria to mark the visit of the then Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira. Originally planted at Jells Parks in Dandenong Valley, the trees were relocated to Banksia Park in 2015 and are maintained and cared for a voluntary group known as the Cherry Friends, along with Parks Victoria.
Pack a picnic, grab a seat under the trees and enjoy a low-key afternoon surrounded by petals without even leaving Melbourne.
