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This dreamy cherry-blossom festival in Victoria is about to bloom

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
Flowers, fruit-picking and a whole lot of fun.

It’s that time of year. The winter chill is finally easing. Brave Aussies are starting to shed a few layers. Buds are beginning to bloom, and the sweet scent of spring is officially in the air. And there’s no better place to celebrate than CherryHill Orchards, which is hosting its cherry-blossom festival to welcome the season.

What is Bloom & Graze Festival?

Bloom & Graze, Victora
Welcome spring among the cherry blossoms at Bloom & Graze.

In Victoria’s bucolic Yarra Valley, CherryHill Orchards sits pretty on the outskirts of Coldstream township. The family-owned fruit farm, which has a sister property in nearby Wandin East, is officially opening its gates ahead of harvest season with the Bloom & Graze festival. Running across the second weekend of spring, the colourful celebration is returning after a successful debut in 2025.

A range of market stalls run by local businesses, producers and creators will take over the orchard as it begins to bloom, with wine, cheese, jewellery, flowers and tea. This year’s exhibitors include The Botanical Brothers, Yarra Valley Dairy, Watts River Brewing, Truffle Valley and more.

CherryHill Orchards in Victoria
Sample a variety of delicious treats served up by local producers.

Each vendor will run its own workshop or demonstration, sharing expert advice on everything from cocktail mixology to candle-making. There will also be live music, kids’ entertainment, food trucks and a cherry-inspired farmgate store.

“This is all about bringing our incredible community of producers, makers, and creators together to showcase the very best of the Yarra Valley," says Mike Appleton, CherryHill’s general manager of customer experience, tourism and events. “Set against the breathtaking backdrop of our 100-acre Coldstream orchard as our cherry trees begin to bloom, it’s the perfect way to celebrate spring."

What else is on at CherryHill this spring?

CherryHill Orchards in Victoria
CherryHill’s spring calendar is blooming with fun events in 2026.

If you can’t make it to Bloom & Graze, you don’t have to miss out. CherryHill Orchards is hosting a bloomin’ good line-up of events that rivals Australia’s best spring festivals.

The weekend after Bloom & Graze ends, the ever-popular Blossom Festival kicks off with 12 days of floral fanfare, just as the entire orchard enters full bloom. Running from 18 September – 4 October, it transforms the Wandin East property into a festival of fun for the whole family.

CherryHill Orchard's Blossom Festival in Victoria
Picnic among the petals at CherryHill’s Blossom Festival.

Guests will enjoy a range of themed experiences, like live music, local food and wine tastings curated by the region’s best vineyards, plus plenty of kid-friendly activities.

Come October, the beloved Comedy in the Vines festival kicks off back in Coldstream. Guests can look forward to four days of stand-up, live music, wine tastings and gourmet dining, with appearances from comics including Rhys Nicholson and Mel Buttle from 22–25 October.

And finally, as spring fades into summer, the flowers that have been admired for weeks slowly grow into their final form. It’s that time on Australia’s seasonal fruit-picking calendar – cherries are officially ripe for the picking! Grab your favourite straw hat and stroll through rows of fruit-heavy trees, basket in hand.

CherryHill Orchards in Victoria
Both Yarra Valley orchards welcome visitors throughout cherry-picking season.

Both the Coldstream and Wandin East orchards will be open to the public for cherry-picking. BYO picnic to enjoy lunch in the sun, paired perfectly with your fresh fruit. There will also be cold drinks, food and ice-cream available at both onsite cafes. It’s cherry-flavoured goodness, all spring and summer long.

Dogs are welcome at all times, with a $3 entry fee per furry friend. Tickets for each spring event are available now via CherryHill’s website.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
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8 reasons locals will tell you the Mornington Peninsula is incredible in winter

    Gemma Kaczerepa Gemma Kaczerepa
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    The Mornington Peninsula might be synonymous with summer, but winter offers equally compelling reasons to visit.

    Come winter, the Mornington Peninsula transforms into a relaxing and rejuvenating escape. Think misty trails and dramatic ocean views along the rugged coastline, drinking and dining by crackling firesides, fewer crowds and a more small-town feel – the perfect ingredients for a slow and restorative weekend.

    If you want a truly local winter experience, here’s where you need to go.

    1. Sample spirits at local distilleries

    JimmyRum distillery on the mornington peninsula
    Sample small-batch rums and cane spirits at JimmyRum. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    No matter your tipple, you’re bound to find a Peninsula distillery to suit. Chief’s Son is beloved by locals and visitors alike for its award-winning range of single malt whiskies. Make sure to try the Black Forge – a heady combination of whisky and coffee.

    JimmyRum is the Mornington Peninsula’s first and only craft rum distillery. Enjoy a tasting to sample small-batch rums and cane spirits, or book a table to feast on generous share plates and creative cocktails.

    Bass & Flinders is another must-visit, and something of a local icon. It was the Peninsula’s first distillery and remains a favourite for craft gins, brandies and fruity liqueurs. Pick up a bottle (or two) to take home and toast your winter getaway.

    2. Warm up in the hot springs

    man in pool at Alba Thermal Springs & Spa
    Dive into Alba Thermal Springs & Spa.

    Locals know winter is the best time to visit the famous hot springs. With the air cool and crisp and the springs reaching temperatures up to 43 degrees, the experience is akin to a warm embrace.

    If you’re travelling with kids or want something more laid-back, Peninsula Hot Springs is your best bet. Spanning 42 acres and with an organic vibe, the complex has hillside pools, saunas, bath houses and family-friendly spaces perfect for all ages.

    Alba Thermal Springs & Spa is slightly more luxe, with 25 thermal pools amid architectural surrounds. The on-site restaurant, Thyme, is a highlight, featuring seasonal lunch dishes, high teas and picnics, and a beautifully designed interior.

    3. Coastal walks feel more dramatic

    Millionaire's Walk in sorrento
    Take in gorgeous seaside scenery on Millionaire’s Walk. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    The Peninsula is situated between Port Phillip Bay and the wide expanse of the Southern Ocean, giving it front-row access to stunning sea vistas. In winter, and especially on rainy days, the outlook is incredibly dramatic, with waves crashing against the clifftops and a steely hue. The trails hugging the ocean are also much quieter and mostly filled with locals.

    Make sure to drop by Cape Schanck Lighthouse on your coastal walk – the lighthouse was built in 1859, making it one of Victoria’s oldest. Climb the stone stairs all the way to the top and take in panoramic, windswept views.

    Millionaire’s Walk in Sorrento is another local favourite. This easy 1.5-kilometre coastal trail takes you past gorgeous seaside scenery and some of the grand homes the town is famous for.

    4. Sip on world-class pinot noir

    green olive winery at red hill on the mornington peninsula
    Stop by Red Hill’s cellar doors, like Green Olive. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    If you’re a fan of the light-bodied and elegant red, your winter escape should include a stop at one of the Peninsula’s many cellar doors.

    The hinterlands around the township of Red Hill are particularly renowned for pinot noir (and chardonnay) thanks to their cool maritime climate and red clay soils. There are more than 50 boutique cellar doors to choose from, where you can sample a selection or do as the locals do: take a bottle back to your accommodation to savour by the fireside.

    5. See misty rolling hills from above

    Arthurs Seat Eagle on mornington peninsula
    Get a bird’s-eye view on Arthurs Seat Eagle. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Peninsula winters bring with them a thick mist and fog, which make for atmospheric and dreamlike scenery. Shroud yourself in the clouds with a gondola ride at Arthurs Seat Eagle. The summit is 305 metres high, giving you a genuine bird’s-eye view of the entire Peninsula region and Port Phillip Bay in their moody and misty glory.

    6. Dine beside a roaring fire

    table full of dishes at Rare Hare Wine & Food Store
    Enjoy food and wine beside a roaring fireplace at Rare Hare Wine & Food Store. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    The Peninsula is an essential part of Melbourne’s “food bowl”, with 70 per cent of the region a designated Green Wedge zone. It’s little surprise, then, that there are so many opportunities to try its fresh produce. Visit farm gates like Torello Farm, Hawkes Farm and Tully’s Corner to sample the region’s winter harvest: apples, root vegetables, mushrooms and truffles.

    Nothing beats a fireside feast in winter, and several local dining venues offer exactly that. Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill is a two-hatted restaurant with a roaring fire, Crittenden Estate does seasonal dishes and estate wines amid a cosy indoor space, and Rare Hare Wine & Food Store has a double-sided fireplace that anchors the warm and welcoming dining room.

    If the sun is out, enjoy a picnic amid the sprawling grounds of Montalto Winery. You’ll kick off with a tasting before heading outdoors to a covered picnic table, where you’ll feast on starters, mains, desserts and more wine.

    7. Go whale watching at Cape Schanck

    whales in victoria australia
    Look for whales between May and October. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Beyond the spectacular lighthouse views, Cape Schanck is also an excellent place to watch whales migrating through the Bass Strait. Between May and October each year, particularly during June and July, Southern Right and Humpback whales make their way past the area, and can sometimes be spotted just 150 metres from the shoreline. Many locals watch for free from the cape’s boardwalks and viewing platforms, but you can also book a boat tour.

    8. Explore Point Nepean National Park

    Point Nepean National Park is on the Mornington Peninsula’s tip
    Follow over 80 walking and cycling tracks. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Point Nepean National Park is on the Mornington Peninsula’s tip, just outside Portsea. Set right beside the clifftops, it’s wild, windswept and defined by its rugged terrain.

    Locals love the national park for its more than 80 walking and cycling tracks, and you’ll often spot them getting a winter workout in. But if you’ve never been here, make sure to discover its rich history.

    It forms part of an Indigenous cultural landscape on the lands of the Bunurong People, and holds significance as a site for early settlement and military operations. Numerous historical buildings – including the heritage-listed Quarantine Station – still stand today.

    Start planning the ultimate winter escape at visitmorningtonpeninsula.org.