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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of the Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges, Victoria
Warratina's free-entry lavender farm peaks mid-November to late December, near the 40 km Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail and November cherry farms.
8 places · updated October 17, 2026
🌱 What’s happening now
Updated October 17
🪻 In season now
CherryHill Orchards · Blue Hills Berries & Cherries
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Wandin, Seville and Silvan sit on the hilly seam between the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges, about an hour east of Melbourne. It is cherry and berry country: family farms here have grown cherries since the 1890s, orchards run tractor tours through hundreds of fruit varieties, and the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail threads through the towns. To the south, the Dandenong Ranges' mountain ash forest hides small waterfalls and lyrebirds, and to the north are Healesville and the valley's dairies and galleries.
Warratina Lavender Farm on Quayle Road is the lavender stop, with homestead gardens, rows of lavender, a drying shed and a tea room known for lavender scones. Entry is free and it opens Wednesday to Sunday, 10 to 4. Peak flowering runs from mid-November to the end of December, which lines up with the start of cherry season on the neighboring farms.
The lavender farms
- Warratina Lavender FarmLavender farm · Wandin North
early November to late summer, peak mid-November to end of December
Open Wednesday to Sunday with free entry; tea room sittings can be booked; group visits by enquiry.
Best time to visit
Southern Hemisphere seasons apply: come mid-November to late December for Warratina's lavender at its peak, when Wandin Valley Farms' cherry shop reopens (from November 7, 2026) and booked cherry picking starts at CherryHill (from November 2026) and Blue Hills (late November to early January). Spring (September to November) brings blossom: Blue Hills' Cherry Blossom Show ran September 25 to 27 in 2026, and Warratina's homestead gardens fill with bulbs and hellebores. Summer (December to February) is cherry and berry season and good for riding the rail trail early in the day. Through autumn and winter (March to August), Rayners Orchard still offers fruit tastings, and Sherbrooke and Olinda falls flow best after rain. In the Dandenong Ranges National Park, some areas close on nights from August 16 to November 19, 2026 for deer control.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail🥾 Trail · Wandin · about 1 mi, 5 min drive
A 40 km former railway line for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, mostly fine gravel; the Wandin to Seville section is about 4 km, and a 175 m restored bridge crosses Woori Yallock Creek further east.
free
- Wandin Yallock Creek Reserve🏞️ Park · Seville · about 3 mi, 6 min drive
A 1 km creekside trail at 40 Seymour Street, Seville, that links to the rail trail; an easy leg-stretch between farm stops.
- Olinda Falls Picnic Area💧 Waterfall · Olinda · about 9 mi, 20 min drive
A picnic area in Dandenong Ranges National Park that is the gateway to Olinda Falls, best seen after rain. Dogs are not allowed.
- Valley Picnic Ground (RJ Hamer Arboretum)🌷 Garden · Olinda · about 9 mi, 20 min drive
A quiet picnic ground off Mount Dandenong Tourist Road where walks lead into fern-filled forest at the RJ Hamer Arboretum.
Picnic grounds 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during daylight saving, 9 to 4 otherwise
- Sherbrooke Falls💧 Waterfall · Sherbrooke · about 12 mi, 30 min drive
A walk through mountain ash, stringybark and tree ferns to a small falls half hidden by ferns; lyrebirds are common. Start at Sherbrooke Picnic Ground, 2 km along Sherbrooke Road.
Best after rain; the national park closes on Extreme fire danger days
- Puffing Billy Railway🏛️ Historic site · Belgrave · about 15 mi, 35 min drive
Steam trains on the original mountain line from Belgrave toward Gembrook; Belgrave to Lakeside runs daily, and longer trips run Friday to Sunday. Passengers can again sit on the carriage sills.
Daily except Christmas Day; pre-booking essential
- TarraWarra Museum of Art🏛️ Museum · Healesville · about 15 mi, 30 min drive
A modern and contemporary art museum among the vines at 313 Healesville–Yarra Glen Road; the exhibition Inside the Mirage closes November 1, 2026.
Tuesday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Healesville Sanctuary🏞️ Park · Healesville · about 19 mi, 35 min drive
A native wildlife park with Tasmanian devils and a daily Spirits of the Sky bird show of raptors, owls and parrots included with entry; kids visit free.
Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 365 days a year
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Wandin Valley FarmsCherry orchard · Wandin North
Cherry growers since 1893 with a farm gate shop open daily 9 to 5 from November 7, 2026; no picking, but fresh cherries, jams and cordials.
- Rayners OrchardU-pick farm · Woori Yallock
Orchard with more than 450 fruit varieties, 1.5-hour tractor tasting tours from 10 a.m., farm animals and the Peach Café, open daily 9 to 5.
- CherryHill OrchardsCherry orchard · Wandin East
Booked cherry picking returns from November 2026 and often sells out; also hosts Comedy in the Vines, October 22 to 25, 2026.
- Blue Hills Berries & CherriesCherry orchard · Silvan
Silvan pick-your-own farm with booked cherry sessions from late November to early January, from A$18 plus fruit by weight.
- Yarra Valley DairyFarm market · Yering
Farmhouse cheesemaker open daily 10:30 to 5, making Persian fetta and fresh goat's cheese, with picnic boxes to take away.
- Paynes Rise WinesWinery or vineyard (21+) · Seville
Seville winery in the 1860s homestead of the town's first settler, with lunch Thursday to Sunday.
- Killara EstateWinery or vineyard (21+) · Seville East
Upper Yarra winery and café with mountain views and a log fire in winter, open Wednesday to Sunday.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMWarratina Lavender Farm
Walk the gardens and lavender rows, then book a morning tea in the tea room (10:30 to noon); about 1 hour 15 minutes.
- 11:20 AMWandin Valley Farms · about 5 min drive
From November 7, 2026, pick up fresh cherries at the farm gate shop; about 20 minutes.
- 11:55 AMRayners Orchard · about 15 min drive
Lunch at the Peach Café, then take the 1 p.m. tractor tasting tour (book online); about 2.5 hours in all.
- 2:45 PMWandin Yallock Creek Reserve and rail trail · about 10 min drive
Walk the creek trail and a stretch of the rail trail at Seville; about 40 minutes.
- 3:50 PMYarra Valley Dairy · about 25 min drive
Taste and buy cheese before the 5 p.m. close; about 30 minutes.
- 4:35 PMTarraWarra Museum of Art · about 15 min drive
A short look at the galleries before closing at 5 (closed Mondays).
Tips
- Warratina is closed Monday and Tuesday; entry is free, and tea room sittings can be booked for morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea.
- Cherry picking at CherryHill and Blue Hills is by pre-booked ticket only, and sessions often sell out.
- Dogs are not allowed in Dandenong Ranges National Park, including Sherbrooke, Olinda Falls and the picnic grounds.
- Puffing Billy needs pre-booking, and the longer runs to Gembrook operate Friday to Sunday only.
- The national park closes on Extreme fire danger days, which are most likely in summer; check before heading up the mountain.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When is Warratina Lavender Farm in bloom?
Peak flowering is mid-November to the end of December; the farm says lavender begins to bloom from early November.
Does Warratina charge for entry?
No, entry is free. It is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
When does cherry picking start near Wandin?
CherryHill's picking returns from November 2026, and Blue Hills runs booked sessions from late November to early January; Wandin Valley Farms sells cherries (no picking) from November 7, 2026.
Are dogs allowed at Sherbrooke Falls?
No. Dogs are not allowed anywhere in Dandenong Ranges National Park, apart from assistance dogs.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
Open the Passport🏡 Own a farm, café or inn here?
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