Melbourne is blooming, and there’s so many wonderful places to frolic among the flowers, from Wattle Park to Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden. And if you can’t resist seeing some cherry blossoms, and you can’t make it to the Blossom Festival in the Yarra Valley, there’s a sweet spot to see them that’s just 30 minutes away from the CBD. Make your way over to Banksia Park in Bulleen, and wander beneath the delicate blossoms of the Cherry Grove. These white and soft pink petals are only visible for a few weeks in the year, making them extra precious. They typically bloom from late September to October. Since it’s in a park, it’s free to visit!
Cherry Grove at Banksia Park in Bulleen
Back in 1980, the Japanese Government donated 100 cherry trees to the people of Victoria, as a way to mark the visit of Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira. Now, over 40 years later, they are carefully maintained and cared for by a group of volunteers, known as the Cherry Friends, and Parks Victoria rangers.
The Cherry Friends began in 2015, when a group of Japanese-born residents began to feed and water the trees, improving the health of the grove. If you’re interested, you can join the group, and help out with weeding, pruning, fertilising and watering. Volunteers are welcome on the 2nd Monday and 4th Sunday of the month.
If you’re more interested in admiring the trees, keep an eye on the Cherry Friends Facebook page, where they usually post updates during the cherry blossom season.
The trees that were donated were the Japanese flowering cherry (Prunus serrulata), which has gorgeous, clustered flowers, ranging from white to pale pink. You’ll also find a mix of other pretty trees, such as the weeping cherry and the Yoshino cherry, as well as double flower varieties like the shogetsu and the shirofugen, which was planted more recently. Crabapple trees can also be found in the grove, adding to the spring splendour. With these different types of trees, you’ll find a mixture of blooming times, extending the beautiful cherry blossom season.
Things to do in the area
There is a loop walk around the Cherry Grove, so you can take a stroll and admire the dainty blossoms. Pack a picnic to enjoy from the comfort of a picnic table, or simply settle in on one of the sprawling lawns.
Dogs are welcome to come along, as long as they’re on a lead. If they’re full of zoomies, there is an off-leash dog park right next to the Cherry Grove. It’s a fully fenced, one-hectare space, that comes with a drinking fountain and dog bowl.
When you’re not admiring the blossoms, amble along the Yarra River, bring your kids to the Banksia Park Playground or visit Heide Museum of Modern Art nearby. There’s plenty of sculptures to admire for free on the outside, or you can duck into the gallery, which is $27 for adults.
Getting there:
If you’re driving, take the Eastern Freeway (M3) from Melbourne CBD. You’ll find Banksia Park on Templestowe Road, with plenty of car spaces for parking.
Otherwise, if you’re using public transport, you could take the train to Heidelberg Station, and then hop on the 903 bus towards Mordialloc. Get off at the Bulleen Road/Manningham Road bus stop, and walk the rest of the way.
For a more scenic experience, ride your bike along the Main Yarra Trail.
