Where to experience Cherry Blossom season in the Yarra Valley
While the cherry blossoms of Japan may have their claim to fame during Hanami (cherry blossom viewing season), you won’t have to travel that far to see them yourself!
Less than an hour from Melbourne, you can view spectacular avenues of the trees heavy with cascading, willowy blossoms at various orchards and gardens across the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges.
There are three fabulous destinations to enjoy cherry blossom but please note, this delicate season during September is weather dependant and can sometimes only last between 7 and 21 days so don’t wait for the next time!
CherryHill Orchards, Rayner’s Orchards and the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens of Olinda all have stunning cherry blossom displays and if you visit midweek you might even have them all to yourself.
CherryHill Orchards, Wandin East
CherryHill Orchards in Wandin East is home to more than 13,000 cherry blossoms with some trees planted more than 75 years ago - truly a sight to behold! Wander through row after row of gorgeous cherry blossom, sip on cherry-based drinks (and a special grownups drink featuring Four Pillars Gin), enjoy live music and entertainment for the whole family, and a colourful feast of different cuisines from a stellar food truck line-up.
The CherryHill Blossom Festival starts around September (depending on weather) with plenty of cherry themed activities to enjoy including photography masterclasses, hands on workshops for children to learn about the importance of bees for blossoms, fairy crown making, and picnic and lunch options that will have you salivating. There are giant lawn games, selfie photo fun, and endless cherry treats to enjoy – including their world-famous cherry ice-cream. Enjoy a day out that truly celebrates the spring – soak up some fresh air and relax among this truly magnificent setting.
Details: Adults $10, children $5, free on weekdays. Every ticket includes a free bottle of CherryHill’s delicious Cherry Spritzer. Yum.
Rayner's Orchard, Woori Yallock
Rayner’s Orchards invite you to stop and smell the blossom! Take a tractor tour through the rows of peach, plum, apricot and nectarine blossom, with plenty of stops along the way to capture memories with family and friends. With a picturesque backdrop of hundreds of stone fruit trees in bloom, this is a farm tour you won’t forget! Blossom tours are complimentary when taking a fruit tasting tour, minimal charge applies when taking the longer Blossom tour on its own, a tour that literally does let you “stop and smell the blossom!”
Cameras or smart phones essential for these tours as the photos are spectacular! (Photography groups welcome.) Tours run on demand between 9am – 4pm every day. Blossom season between early/mid August to end September. Check their website for more details. Some blossom flowering has already begun!
Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens, Olinda
Each year thousands of people head to the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens in Olinda to admire the spectacular avenue of ornamental flowering cherry trees in Cherry Tree Grove. Beyond thousands of cherry blossom trees, you might also enjoy the fragrant blossoms and bursting blooms of plums, azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons, and daffodils. Parking at the Olinda Golf course nearby.
Watch the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley spring back into life this spring!
