Herald on Sunday

DIFFERENT STROKES

-

Autumn leaves at the Botanic Garden

Although it foreshadow­s colder weather, autumn is one of the loveliest seasons of the year and Van Gogh’s favourite. A short walk from the NGV is the Royal Botanic Gardens, where autumn foliage produces the best layers of yellow, orange and red in the city. As night falls, take a tour of the starry southern skies at the Observator­y. ● rbg.vic.gov.au.

Hot springs in a Victorian winter

Internatio­nal visitors often overlook regional Victoria for the big-city charms of Melbourne but they shouldn’t. Van Gogh would have found plenty to paint in Daylesford, 80-minutes from Melbourne and set in the thermal spa region. Head to Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, on an ancient volcano, in winter to witness or paint the woodland gardens and winter blooms such as hellebores. ● wombathill.org.au.

In Bloom: Springtime in Victoria

After a drive through the quaint villages and lush landscapes of the Dandenong Ranges (under an hour’s drive from the NGV), arrive at the National Rhododendr­on Gardens in spring for a walk through cherry blossoms. With views across endless mountains, grab a paintbrush and canvas and spend the day in the fragrant surroundin­gs. With 41ha to explore and the prettiest pinks in bloom, your ideas are sure to flow. ● visitdande­nongranges.com.au

Summer Days in the heart of Melbourne

Escape the heat of the city streets at Fitzroy Gardens in the heart of the CBD. It’s here you’ll find Captain Cooks’ cottage with its fragrant kitchen garden filled with forget-me-nots and horseradis­h, as well as a “fairy tree” with sculpted fairies and a miniature Tudor village donated to Melbourne in gratitude of food parcels sent during World War II to Lambeth in London. The cottage, which belonged to the explorer’s parents, was moved from England in 1933. There’s also the beautiful 1930s Spanish mission-style conservato­ry, where Van Gogh would have soaked up the colourful clouds of hydrangeas and fuschia every November to February. ● fitzroygar­dens.com.

 ??  ?? Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens.
Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens.
 ??  ?? Captain Cooks’ Cottage in the Fitzroy Gardens.
Captain Cooks’ Cottage in the Fitzroy Gardens.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from New Zealand