,If you're looking for a lovely picnic area near you, Melbourne and Victoria have plenty of options. From sprawling parklands to pristine beaches and suburban lakesides, here are 20 of the best picnic spots in Melbourne and Victoria. So pack your picnic basket and picnic blanket and enjoy a day out with family and friends!
Some of the best picnic areas in Melbourne and Victoria are:
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne CBD
Fitzroy Gardens, East Melbourne
Treasury Gardens East Melbourne
Yarra Bend Park, Fairfield
Albert Park Lake
Footscray Park
Queens Park, Moonee Ponds
Hedgeley Dene Gardens, Malvern East
Gardens at Rippon Lea Estate, Elsternwick
Jells Park, Wheelers Hill
Grants Picnic Ground, Dandenong Ranges
Wilson Botanic Park, Berwick
Ray Bastin Reserve, Narre Warren
Mornington Park
Seawinds Gardens, Arthurs Seat State Park
Williamstown Botanic Gardens
Melton Botanic Garden
Ballarat Botanical Gardens
Jubilee Lake, Daylesford
Stanley Park, Mount Macedon
Maroondah Reservoir Park, Yarra Valley
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Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne CBD
Royal Botanic Gardens Address: Gate Lodge, 100 Birdwood Ave, Melbourne VIC 3004
Royal Botanic Gardens opening hours: 1st October – 31 March: 7:30 am - 7:30 pm daily; 1st April – 30th September: 7:30 pm - 5:30 pm daily
Dogs must be on a leash
The Royal Botanic Gardens is a green oasis in the heart of the City and one of the best picnic spots in Melbourne. With lots of tall trees and beautiful flowers, it's easy to get lost among its 8500 species of plants while wandering through these lush surroundings and walking paths before settling down with your picnic rug.
Due to the diversity of plants and flowers, the Royal Botanic Gardens are among the most beautiful gardens in Melbourne.
Please note that no BBQs can be held at the Gardens, but feel free to bring your picnic basket to enjoy the gorgeous panoramic views fully. Also, public toilets and drinking water taps are all over the garden.
Kids will have fun at the Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden, a super fun activity for kids of all ages. The fully fenced area makes the garden a safe place for kids to run around and explore nature while the parents relax.
Fitzroy Gardens, East Melbourne
Fitzroy Gardens address: Fitzroy Gardens, Wellington Parade, East Melbourne
Fitzroy Gardens opening hours: always open
Dogs must be on a leash
Fitzroy Gardens is one of the most beautiful inner-city parks in Melbourne. Fitzroy Gardens offer BBQ facilities and plenty of space, perfect for a day out with your family! Fitzroy Gardens has so much going on for families with kids of all ages.
Fitzroy Gardens has so much going on for families with kids of all ages. You'll find many fun kids' activities like the Fairy Tree, a small playground, a model Tudor village, Captain Cook's Cottage and more, perfect for your family picnic! There are public toilet facilities on site, too!
Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Fitzroy Gardens, as the colours are spectacular. So grab your picnic rug and enjoy this beautiful picnic area and the city skyline!
Treasury Gardens, East Melbourne
Address: 2-18 Spring St, East Melbourne, VIC 3002
Opening hours: always open
Dogs must be on a leash
The Treasury Gardens is one of the excellent picnic spots in East Melbourne and is such a nice garden for morning or evening walks with the kids! It's a heritage-listed garden established in the middle of the 19th century.
The Treasury Gardens form an integral component of Spring Street in East Melbourne, where you can find many government buildings and Victoria's Parliament House.
The Treasury Gardens offer a serene landscape with mature trees, providing shade during hot summer days, making it perfect for bringing the kids for a picnic!
The children will love the opportunity for plenty of outdoor playtimes during the Melbourne school holidays or weekends, while you can enjoy some time chatting with your friends and family under one of the many trees featured in this beautiful park - palms, Moreton Bay Figs, elm trees, oaks, poplars and the contrasting colours of evergreen conifers.
In addition, there is a fountain, an ornamental pond with a monument to JFK, some ducks, a Robert Burns memorial and more!
The gardens are well-maintained, offer plenty of space and benches, and are close to public transport and paid parking. There are two public toilets available. So visit the Treasury Gardens Melbourne, a fantastic picnic point, to spend an evening or morning with your loved ones or to walk your dog!
Yarra Bend Park
Yarra Bend Park Address: Yarra Bend Rd, Fairfield VIC 3078
Fairfield Park Boathouse address: Fairfield Park Dr, Fairfield VIC 3078
Park Opening hours: always open.
Boathouse Opening hours: 9:30 am–5 pm
Dogs are allowed on a lead.
Yarra Bend Park is family-friendly and one of the best picnic spots in Melbourne. Yarra Bend Park offers many walking tracks and BBQ facilities. There are plenty of outdoor activities in Yarra Bend Park.
For example, go for a walk along the Yarra River and visit one of many iconic spots - Studley Park, Studley Park Boathouse, Flying Fox Viewing Platform, Fairfield Amphitheatre, Fairfield Park Playground, Loop Picnic Area and Playground, Collingwood Children's Farm, Kanes Bridge, Dights Falls or Abbotsford Convent and more! Pathways are accessible for prams.
Please note that there are only a few public toilets for such a vast park.
It's also worth stopping by the Main Yarra Trail to see this colony of grey-headed flying foxes. They have become an iconic symbol of Melbourne and can often be seen around the city.
Fairfield Park Boathouse is a quaint, old-fashioned cafe that offers visitors delicious food and cozy seating. You can enjoy your coffee or cake while watching the ducks swim past you in their natural habitat!
You can even rent a boat, kayak or canoe and spend an hour on the river enjoying the scenic views.
💡 For more outdoor fun, check out some of the best playgrounds in the area: Hays Paddock Playground and Hyde Park And Playground.
Albert Park Lake
Car park: 103 Canterbury Rd, Albert Park VIC 3206
Opening hours: always open
Dogs: off-leash dog area
When looking for free things to do in Melbourne with kids, consider visiting Albert Park. It's a popular Melbourne park with vast open grassy areas, perfect for a family picnic, canoeing, jogging, walking and playing sports. This beautiful Melbourne park is also home to a few rivers and lakes.
It features such picnic areas as Swan Picnic Area, Coot Picnic Area, Racali Picnic Area, Ibis Picnic Area, Cormorant Picnic Area, Glebe Picnic Area and Johnson Reserve Picnic Area.
It also includes dog-friendly zones, paid parking areas, playgrounds, plenty of benches and barbecue facilities to enjoy nature and Melbourne's beautiful city skyline.
The toilet facilities are within easy access. The small children's playgrounds in the park suit kids with disabilities, making the park an enjoyable experience for everyone!
Footscray Park
Address: 40 Maribyrnong Blvd, Footscray VIC 3011
Opening hours: Open all day
Dogs: off-lead area
Footscray Park is an Edwardian Park that Rodney Alsop designed in 1911. It is a city oasis with its special charm and views of Flemington Racecourse, the city skyline, and connections to the Maribyrnong River Trail.
The park offers many amenities, including garden beds containing beautiful arbours, perfect if you want some privacy while enjoying your BBQs or when it's time to take little ones out into nature!
There are also walking trails around this ample open space and along the Maribyrnong River, a well-maintained lawn around the BBQ areas, picnic shelters that you need to book in advance, some outdoor gym equipment, and public toilets, an all-abilities playground and a dog off-lead area.
So, it's time to grab your picnic blanket and spend an afternoon with friends or family in one of the best picnic spots in Melbourne.
Queens Park, Moonee Ponds
Address: Mt Alexander Rd & Kellaway Ave, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039
Opening hours: Open all day
Dogs: off-leash dog area
Queens Park in Moonee Ponds is a beautiful and peaceful park, one of the best picnic spots in Melbourne and well worth visiting for nature lovers!
The lake and children's playground are fantastic, and there's plenty of space on the grassy areas under trees to let off steam and relax.
The presence of various birds, wildlife and butterflies makes it an excellent spot to explore with your family or take some time out on one of its many walking paths.
There are public toilets on-site and parking available on all sides of the park. Please note that there are no BBQ facilities on site.
Hedgeley Dene Gardens, Malvern East
Address: Tollington Ave, Malvern East VIC 3145
Opening hours: always open
Dogs must be on a leash
Hidden away in Malvern East, you'll find a small secret garden in Melbourne - Hedgeley Dene Gardens. With wooden bridges over the ornamental lake and expansive grassy areas, there are plenty of spots to sit down with family while enjoying picnic hampers!
The Hedgeley Dene gardens offer beautiful scenery for all ages, with many different plant species and a few short walking trails to explore.
There are quite a few benches but no picnic tables. There is street parking only. Also, the public toilets are near the lakeside path. The kids can run free in the Gardens, and it is also great for walking the dog.
So bring your family and friends down there and enjoy everything this green oasis has to offer!
Gardens at Rippon Lea Estate, Elsternwick
Rippon Lea House and Gardens Address: 192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick, VIC 3185
Rippon Lea Mansion opening hours: 10 am - 5 pm daily. Closed on Christmas Day (25 December)
Dogs are not allowed
Entry fee: Child $9, Concession $12, Adult $15
Rippon Lea Estate is home to one of the best parks in Melbourne for picnics and some of the best botanical gardens in Victoria.
Bring a picnic blanket and settle down on the expansive grass lawn with food and board games. You might also enjoy reading on the benches or under the trees here.
Unfortunately, there are no BBQ facilities or picnic tables. So prepare some food, like sandwiches, beforehand, and don’t forget a blanket to sit on!
Both kids and adults will also love exploring some of the best gardens in Melbourne at Rippon Lea Park.
There are small paths through trees, flower gardens, a lake with ducks, and even a tower to climb for gorgeous views.
A tour of the impressive Rippon Lea mansion is included with the ticket price on most days until 2pm.
Jells Park, Wheelers Hill
Address: Jells Rd, Wheelers Hill, VIC 3150
Opening hours: Open all day
Dogs must be on-lead
Jells Park is a great place to spend an afternoon with your family. It offers plenty of space for everyone, including several playgrounds - Jells Park Playscape, Jells Park Playground and Yabby Hill Park - perfect if you want some peace and quiet while the kids play on their own!
There is plenty of free parking, multiple BBQ areas and shelters, and picnic tables and benches perfect for family gatherings, birthday parties, local community groups and public events.
Jells Park offers excellent facilities such as accessible public toilets and accessible walking tracks around the lake with nice birdwatching spots. In addition, there are several picnic areas - the Oaks and Ashes, Stringybark and Pines Picnic Areas.
However, the car park can get busy on weekends, considering it's one of the best picnic spots in Melbourne's Eastern suburbs. So, we recommend getting in early if you want to secure a BBQ spot.
So come prepared for a picnic or barbecue - bring your picnic rug and basket to enjoy your day out with your family and friends!
Grants Picnic Ground, Dandenong Ranges
Address: 70 Monbulk Rd, Kallista VIC 3791
Opening hours: always open
Dogs are not allowed.
When looking for free things to do in Dandenong Ranges, Grants Picnic Ground is a great choice! It's a popular picnic area for families and a BBQ park in Dandenong Ranges National Park. It's only about 3.4 km from Belgrave, so you can either drive or enjoy an easy 30-minute short walk along a nice trail.
You can see native birds like Crimson Rosellas, King Parrots and other small birds, and a big white Sulphur Crested Cockatoo in the feeding area.
Grants Picnic Ground at Dandenong Ranges National Park offers plenty of BBQ facilities and walking tracks leading from the park, e.g. the Lyrebird Walk and the Hardy Gully Trail.
The whole family will enjoy this scenic picnic spot! Not only can you feed the cockatoos, but you enjoy the walk. You can do a 7 km walk around the picnic ground if you have enough time.
There are plenty of free parking spots and public toilets. So if you are looking to go to a national park with the mountains for a family picnic near Melbourne, Grants Picnic is a great picnic point!
Wilson Botanic Park, Berwick
Address: 668 Princes Hwy, Berwick VIC 3806
Opening hours: 7 am–6 pm daily
Dogs: On a lead
Being one of Melbourne's most beautiful botanical gardens, Wilson Botanic Park is also a great picnic area to take your family outdoors to spend some quality time together. The park's lush greenery, two ornamental lakes and changing autumn leaves make it a scenic spot year-round, especially in spring and autumn.
It has ample picnic areas, barbecue facilities, picnic tables and lakeside views that are perfect for family days out or birthday parties. This beautiful Melbourne botanic park is ideal for all ages! There are public toilets and plenty of car parks.
Wilson Botanic Park Playground is fun to spend the day with your kids. Plenty of swings, slides, and climbing structures will keep kids busy while also allowing them to enjoy themselves without worrying about getting bored!
Wilson Botanic Park is a dog-friendly park with excellent picnic facilities. So pack up some lunch and a picnic blanket and enjoy the fresh air under the nearby BBQ!
Ray Bastin Reserve, Narre Warren
Address: 2-14 Norfolk Dr, Narre Warren VIC 3805
Opening hours: open all-day
Dogs must be on a leash
Ray Bastin Reserve is the perfect picnic spot for families to get together and enjoy a day out.
The park has a lot of space, from the small skate park for older kids and teens to the fantastic Rocket Park playground for toddlers and smaller kids to excellent picnic facilities.
You'll find picnic tables, BBQ facilities and a shade sail for kids' parties.
There are clean public toilets on-site, a few drinking fountains, shared pathways, plenty of car parks and lots of space for kids to let off steam!
So bring along your picnic basket and have some fun at Ray Bastin Reserve with your family!
Mornington Park
Address: Mornington Park, Mornington VIC 3931
Opening hours: Open all day
Dogs must be on a leash
Mornington Park is a perfect picnic area for families. The beautiful park in the Mornington Peninsula near the main shopping street and beaches has ample space to play and a lovely children's playground featuring the wooden ship structure to climb on, slides, swings and more!
There is plenty of open grass space to run around and throw a ball or frisbee. The park is well maintained, making it an ideal picnic spot with sheltered and unsheltered BBQ facilities, free electric barbecues, public toilets on-site, plenty of picnic tables, benches and space for a picnic.
From Linley Point Lookout nearby, you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Mornington Peninsula coast, bay and beaches.
Seawinds Gardens, Arthurs Seat State Park
Address: Purves Rd, Arthurs Seat VIC 3936
Opening hours: 9 am – 6 pm daily
Dogs are not allowed.
Head to Seawinds Gardens in Arthurs Seat State Park for a picnic with amazing views of Port Phillip Bay.
The 34-hectare reserve at the Summit of Arthurs Seat, which is 305 metres above sea level, offers walks, beautiful gardens, and ample outdoor space, perfect if you are looking for the best picnic spot!
Just a short walk from the Arthurs Seat Summit and near Seawinds National Park and Enchanted Adventure, this 34-hectare park offers spectacular views of the bay and the Mornington Peninsula.
You'll find ample picnic facilities there, including many picnic tables, barbecue facilities, car park spots and public toilets on-site.
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Williamstown Botanic Gardens
Address: Williamstown Botanical Gardens, Giffard St & Osborne St, Williamstown VIC 3016
Opening hours: open all day.
Dogs are allowed on a leash.
Botanical Gardens Williamstown is one of the best picnic spots in Melbourne and a great place to spend some time with family.
There is plenty for all ages - the scenery and the botanical gardens, a lot of shade and plenty of benches and multiple green lawns to relax, accessible walking paths and a lovely kids' area.
Williamstown Botanical Gardens are located next to the beach esplanade, so the panoramic views are gorgeous! There are public toilets on site, plenty of parking and shaded BBQ facilities across the road.
Melton Botanic Garden
Address: 40 Lakewood Blvd, Melton VIC 3337
Opening hours: Open all day
Dogs must be on a leash
Melton Botanic Garden is a beautiful place to visit if you're looking for a perfect picnic ground or an outdoor adventure with your family.
With plenty of native plants, flowers and trees, birdlife and frogs, lovely lake walk paths and picnic spots, Melton Botanic Garden is one of the best picnic spots near Melbourne.
This beautiful garden offers an educational and fun experience for the whole family. The kids will have a blast exploring nature and spotting all the incredible wildlife around the lake, while adults will enjoy the free picnic facilities!
There are public toilets on-site, BBQ facilities by the lake, picnic tables and benches, and car parks.
So grab your picnic rug and basket and enjoy this peaceful place to walk and relax in nature, as this is the spot for the whole family!
Ballarat Botanical Gardens
Address: Gillies St N, N Ballarat VIC 3355
Opening hours: 7:30 am - 6 pm daily
Dog-friendly park.
Take a break from Melbourne's hustle and bustle and head to Ballarat Botanical Gardens for some peace, relaxation, and natural beauty.
The stunning gardens are one of the best picnic spots in Victoria! Home to 40 acres of lush greenery and beautiful flowers on display changed regularly, Ballarat Botanical Gardens also features the Robert Clark Conservatory, Conservatory Displays, Prime Ministers Avenue and the Statues collection.
Kids will love the gardens too! There is plenty of space to walk around and play, including a Lake Wendouree Adventure playground and an all-abilities adventure playground right by the lake!
The whole family will enjoy BBQ and picnic facilities in this scenic area as well as explore the lakeside with gorgeous black swans.
Being also one of the best free things to do in Ballarat, these stunning Botanical Gardens are a great choice for your next family picnic!
Jubilee Lake, Daylesford
Address: Jubilee Lake Caravan Park, 151 Lake Rd, Daylesford, VIC 3460
Opening hours: Open all day
Dogs must be on a leash
When asking, "What to do in Daylesford, Victoria?" Jubilee Lake is the first thing that comes to mind
Jubilee Lake in Daylesford is a beautiful picnic area and a fantastic spot for family activities, swimming, fishing, bushwalking and more. It's just a few minutes drive from the town centre of Daylesford.
Jubilee Lake features BBQ facilities, picnic tables, a playground, plenty of space to let off steam, a 30-minute circuit walking trail, a mineral spring tap, a kiosk, a cafe and public toilets. Take your furry friend with you, too, as dogs are allowed on leash there.
You can't beat the beauty of Jubilee Lake in Daylesford. For just one dollar, you get an amazing bagful of bird food to feed your feathered friends - the roaming ducks and the peacock!
The lake is also famous as an excellent family-friendly fishing spot near Melbourne, Victoria, due to rainbow trout being stocked regularly. We also recommend hiring canoes and paddle boats on this peaceful and beautiful lake to provide even more scenic views and an enjoyable time for the whole family!
Kids will enjoy their time at the Jubilee Lake playground close to the lake. The playground features plenty of play equipment, such as a flying fox, fireman's pole, curved ladder, spiral ladder, two wave slides, chain traverse, spring balance beam, chain bridge, swings and more!
Stanley Park, Mount Macedon
Address: Stanley Park, Mount Macedon, VIC 3441
Opening hours: Open all day
Dogs must be on a leash
Stanley Park Mount Macedon is lovely for families and has a large reserve with native plants. It has nice picnic areas and a hidden waterfall that runs through the beautiful park, allowing you and the kids to explore this natural wonder up close.
There is a wooden viewing platform where you can view the top of the falls, and if you're seeking a better view of the falls, there are stone steps down to the fern gully to enjoy a lovely bush walk.
The kids will love the space to run around! The playground features plenty of play equipment that suits younger kids to have fun while exploring the Stanley Park surroundings, too!
Stanley Park Mount Macedon features excellent picnic facilities - barbecue facilities, picnic tables, shaded areas, shelters, and public toilets.
Maroondah Reservoir Park, Yarra Valley
Address: Maroondah Reservoir Park, Yarra Valley, Victoria 3777
Opening hours: 8 am - 5 pm daily
Dogs: on-lead and limited access (dogs are not allowed on the forest walking tracks and on the dam wall)
Maroondah Reservoir Park offers scenic views of Maroondah Lake and surrounding bush. The park is located about 65 km east of Melbourne. With many rotundas, benches and tables, and 6 BBQ facilities, Maroondah Reservoir Park is one of Victoria's best picnic areas and free things to do in Yarra Valley.
The forest walking trails overlooking the lake and in the forest are lovely!
Kids will love this park, and the whole family will have a fun day out. There are many open spaces to run around, throw a ball or frisbee. The playground is closed at Maroondah Reservoir, though.
There are plenty of public parking spots available and public toilets on site. So bring along a picnic blanket to enjoy your day out at this family and kid-friendly park outside Melbourne!
Whether you’re looking for a lovely family-friendly picnic ground, Melbourne and Victoria have plenty of beautiful picnic spots to choose from. So pack your picnic basket and picnic blanket and enjoy a day out with family and friends at one of these amazing locations!
Have you been to any of these beautiful picnic spots in Melbourne and Victoria? Let me know which one is your favourite.
