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Melbourne’s wisteria is out and I’m so happy! We drove out to Barrett Reserve in Doreen on Tuesday, took the dog with us, and it’s blooming so beautifully right now, bunches and bunches of purple hanging off the arch, purple everywhere you look. It’s free too, and hardly anyone was there, so it felt like we had the whole place booked out just for us.
I also worked out a family day around it, so scroll down if you want to copy it.
The wisteria
The wisteria hangs down from the arch in these long bunches, and walking under it feels like walking through a purple tunnel.
The sun comes through the flowers and makes spotty shadows on the path, and the ground is covered in fallen purple petals. Every photo looks like a wallpaper! And the smell, I wasn’t expecting that, but the second you step under the arch you can smell it, a soft sweet flower smell.
The pear blossom next door
Right next to it there’s a little row of pear trees in flower too, all white and so fresh looking, and with the purple beside it, it felt like spring had really arrived.
So few people
So quiet! So quiet! So quiet! There were basically no tourists there at all, so I could take as many photos as I wanted, it felt like I’d booked the whole flower tunnel for myself. Go on a sunny day if you can, the wisteria looks so much brighter with the sun on it.
Where it is
Barrett Reserve is at 26W Barrett Place, Doreen, in the Laurimar estate, and it’s free. There’s no toilet in the reserve itself, the closest public one is at Laurimar Hilltop Park, about 690 metres away, so go before you head over. I took my dog, and I’d check the signs for leash rules.
If you want to make a day of it
Morning, the wisteria
Go to Barrett Reserve first thing while it’s quiet, and let the kids run down the path, and take photos of them with the flowers.
Midday, Hoopla South Morang
Then head to Hoopla South Morang for lunch. It’s a huge indoor play centre, so it’s great if the weather turns, and there’s a dining area so you can eat while the kids play. Hoopla’s website says the session is two hours now.
Late afternoon, kangaroos
Around 4 or 5 in the afternoon, go to Jubilee Crescent in Mill Park to look for wild kangaroos. They often come out in groups around dusk, grazing and hopping and even fighting each other, but they’re wild, so keep your distance.
Evening, dumplings
Finish with dinner at Lucky Little Dumplings in Bundoora, 14 Chancellor Avenue. It’s close, the food is good, and kids love dumplings. The restaurant’s own website says it’s open 11am to 3:30pm and 4:30pm to 9:30pm every day, a bit later on Thursday to Saturday.
When to go
Go soon, the petals on the ground in my photo show it’s already starting to drop. Pick a sunny day and bring a hat.
Is it worth it
Yes! It’s free, it’s quiet, and it’s one of the prettiest spring spots I’ve seen in Melbourne. Go early and bring the camera.
If you love spring flowers, have a look at our posts on the Bendigo Tulip Festival and the Tesselaar Tulip Festival, and our indoor play centre list for more rainy day ideas.
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