The Best Picnic Spots in Melbourne for Alfresco Dining Adventures

There’s a reason picnics feel better than bookings. No clocks, no reservations, just grass underfoot, sun on your face and a spread you actually want to eat. From riverside lawns to heritage gardens and quietly glorious neighbourhood parks, these are Melbourne’s picnic spots worth packing for.

The Best Picnic Spots in Melbourne: CBD & Carlton

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Carlton Gardens

Carlton Gardens feels worlds away from the CBD, despite sitting right beside it. Broad lawns stretch beneath the Royal Exhibition Building, making this an easy, elegant escape when the city buzzes a little too loudly.

1-111 Carlton Street, Melbourne

Lincoln Square 

A calm pocket in the heart of Carlton, Lincoln Square is defined by old trees, open grass and a slower pace. Spread out beneath the canopy and let the afternoon unfold without an agenda.

Lincoln Square, Carlton

Argyle Square

With its patterned paving and subtle European cues, Argyle Square carries a gentle piazza mood. Sun filters through the canopy, locals pass through, and lunch feels unrushed.

Argyle Square, Carlton

The Royal Botanic Gardens

An all-time classic for good reason. Wander until you find your own corner — beneath towering trees, beside the lake or near the glasshouse — then settle in and stay longer than planned.

Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra

Fitzroy Gardens

Shaded, hushed and deeply atmospheric, Fitzroy Gardens invites long pauses. History lingers here, and time seems to loosen its grip once the rug is down. Set down your rug and embrace an oasis that feels both timeless and immediate.

Wellington Parade, East Melbourne 

Treasury Gardens

A heritage-listed haven framed by Parliament House views, Treasury Gardens shines on warm afternoons when shade matters most. Arrive early, leave late.

2-18 Spring Street, East Melbourne

The Best Picnic Spots in Melbourne: Northern Suburbs

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Fairfield Park Boathouse

Notebook energy, Melbourne edition. Row out on the Yarra or stay riverside with a blanket as the light softens. Rowboats drift past, rugs dot the riverbank and afternoons stretch without effort, whether you stay on land or take to the water.

Fairfield Park Drive, Fairfield

Edinburgh Gardens

Pizza and wine picnic, anyone? The place to see and be seen come summertime, Edinburgh Gardens, or ‘Eddy Gardens’ as locals call it, is the picnic spot of choice for stylish North-siders (and their equally hip pets). Lush, green and complete with tennis courts, a skate park and bowls club for added action – the gardens get extra points for being surrounded by some of Melbourne’s best bakeries, bottle shops and independent grocers should your stock run low. 

Alfred Crescent, Fitzroy North 

Darling Gardens 

Something of a local favourite (and a fiercely guarded one at that), the quaint Darling Gardens is the stuff of picnickers’ dreams. Flat green grass, lots of space and large, shady trees make it the perfect spot for a fancy picnic for two, with an ice-cold bottle of sparkling and an elaborate cheeseboard.

Gold Street, Clifton Hill

Abbotsford Convent 

Abbotsford Convent’s heritage garden and grounds provide a picturesque setting for a picnic straight out of Downton Abbey. Extra points if you wear lace, pack a brolly for sun protection, and bring along a wicker basket filled with cucumber sandwiches and Pimm’s. Try to lay your rug under the iconic Quercus robur (English Oak) on-site.

1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford

Quarries Park

Open grass, city views and takeaway close by give Quarries Park its easy charm. Come late afternoon when the skyline softens and the park fills slowly. Golden hour does most of the work here.

Ramsden Street, Clifton Hill

Darling Square 

A small, contained green framed by heritage homes. Darling Square feels calm and considered, with dappled light and space just big enough for a rug and a pause. A lovely option for quieter afternoons close to the city.

1-41 Darling Street, East Melbourne

Queens Park

Lakeside paths, open lawns and a steady hum of local life define Queens Park. Families gather, walkers loop the water and picnics blend seamlessly into the rhythm of the day. It’s generous, welcoming and easy to return to.

9 Kellaway Avenue, Moonee Ponds 

Darebin Parklands 

Wide skies, native plantings and a sense of space that surprises this close to the city. Lay your rug near The Nest sculpture and let the landscape stretch out around you. Dogs roam, birds settle and afternoons drift naturally.

Separation Street, Alphington

Coburg Lake Reserve 

This one’s a hit with the local neighbourhood, offering a great variety of activities including picnicking, playgrounds, barbecue facilities, walking and bike paths and nature play all set in a beautiful heritage setting overlooking Coburg Lake.

Sitchu Tip: We’re partial to a post-picnic game of bocce at the lake’s public court. 

2A Gaffney Street, Coburg North

Westerfolds Park

Large, green and utterly immersive, Westerfolds Park rewards slow exploration. Choose a riverside patch, wander the trails or settle near the barbecues and let the day take a laid-back turn, surrounded by nature’s finest.

Fitzsimons Lane, Templestowe

The Best Picnic Spots in Melbourne: Eastern Suburbs

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Fawkner Park 

Fawkner Park carries an English village green sensibility, its 1875 design largely unchanged. Formal pathways wind past generous lawns and avenues of Moreton Bay figs, elms and oaks, each turn offering a new picnic prospect. Settle in near an Art Deco sporting pavilion, along the edge of a playing field, or beneath a deep canopy of leaves.

On summer weekends, the soft thwack of cricket provides a familiar soundtrack. Fire up the free barbecues, gather friends, and claim a lawn-side spot where the game and the park’s easy-going energy unfold together.

24-88 Commercial Road, South Yarra

Como House & Garden

Manicured grounds and generous space lend themselves to slower picnics with a sense of occasion. Bring your own spread, then stretch out beneath the trees and let the setting do the rest.

Como House & Garden, South Yarra

Anderson Park

City views crown the hilltop, while heritage trees frame the open lawns below. Anderson Park suits long lunches and even longer afternoons, with enough space to spread out and no rush to leave.

5 Anderson Road, Hawthorn East

Hedgeley Dene Gardens

Leafy, intimate and atmospheric, Hedgeley Dene Gardens suits solo visits or pared-back picnics for two. Winding paths and an ornamental lake create a sense of removal that encourages staying present

Sitchu Tip: For another serene picnic destination in Malvern, the Malvern Public Gardens, with its serpentine paths, grand English oaks, and ornamental pond, is equally a must-visit.

Tollington Avenue, Malvern East

Heidelberg Park & Gardens

This is a park for unhurried visits. Spread a rug beneath the trees, keep the spread simple, and let the calm do the work. It draws locals walking dogs, families passing through, and anyone seeking a softer pace away from busier inner-city gardens.

Burgundy Street, Heidelberg

Ferntree Gully Quarry Reserve

Keen on a daytime picnic with a sense of adventure? This is the spot. Bring a sturdy rug, keep the spread simple, and get comfortable beneath the cliffs before heading off for a wander. It feels expansive, grounded and refreshingly different from manicured inner-city parks.

22 Stringybark Drive, Ferntree Gully

Caulfield Park

The spacious Caulfield Park has something for everyone, making it an easy choice for your next picnic in Melbourne. There’s a lake with duck and geese, play areas, a cricket field, and barbecue areas. This ensures a full and fun day out, so don’t skimp on adding extra snacks into the basket. 

Fun fact: Many of the large trees at the park’s western end are more than a century old, and the park boasts a richer mix of native and exotic plant species than any other in Victoria, second only to the Royal Botanic Gardens.

280 Balaclava Road, Caulfield North 

Victoria Gardens 

Between High and Murray streets, Victoria Gardens is Prahran’s leafy pause. Designed in 1885, the two-hectare park pairs shady trees, stone gates and wrought iron with a sunken oval, playground and paths; everything needed for an unhurried picnic session today.

361-381 High Street, Prahran

Alexandra Gardens 

Edwardian landscaping, open lawns and family-friendly energy shape Alexandra Gardens into a reliable favourite. Easy to settle into, easy to stay.

70 Cotham Road, Kew

The Best Picnic Spots in Melbourne: Bayside Suburbs

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St Vincent Gardens

Refined and intimate, St Vincent Gardens suits smaller gatherings and unhurried afternoons. Framed by beautiful streets, it carries a sense of easy confidence that doesn’t need embellishment.

St Vincent Place, Albert Park

St Kilda Botanical Gardens

This is a strong choice for low-key picnics, reading sessions and afternoon resets rather than big gatherings. Bring a pared-back spread, find a shaded patch near the lake or palms, and let the hours pass quietly. Dogs are welcome on leash, and there’s a relaxed, neighbourhood feel throughout the week.

11 Herbert Street, St Kilda

Catani Gardens

Grass meets salt-tinged air at Catani Gardens. Claim a spot facing the water, watch locals drift past, sip wine and snack on olives and cheese as the bay breeze moves through and the afternoon unfolds at an easy, seaside pace.

Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda West

Green Point & Brighton Beach Gardens

Shaded lawns and bay views combine for relaxed coastal picnics. Late afternoon works best, when the light softens and the water takes on a silver calm.

Brighton, Melbourne 

The Best Picnic Spots in Melbourne: Western Suburbs

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Williamstown Botanic Gardens

Formal paths, rare trees and sea breezes create a picnic setting that feels gently transportive. Wander first, choose later, then settle in beneath the canopy.

Giffard Street & Osborne Street, Williamstown

Footscray Park 

River bends, skyline glimpses, and generous lawns define Footscray Park. Collect bánh mì nearby, spread out in the shade and let the afternoon drift by slowly.

40 Maribyrnong Boulevard, Footscray

The Best Picnic Spots in Melbourne: Out of Town

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Rosalind Park

Located in the heart of Bendigo, Rosalind Park anchors the city with historic trees, heritage structures and landscaped grounds that reflect its character. Spread out on the cool green lawns or retreat to the fernery with a full basket, then wander the avenues, uncovering relics, monuments and the beautifully preserved conservatory along the way.

Pall Mall, Bendigo

Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens

Part of the historic Burnham Beeches estate, Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens is shaped by flowing water features and winding paths beneath towering Mountain Ash trees. Follow the trails to the lake and boathouse, then settle in nearby with a picnic before wandering through seasonal blooms and layered greenery that shift beautifully throughout the year.

1A Sherbrooke Road, Sherbrooke 

Loving our pick of the best picnic spots in Melbourne? Make sure you check out our favourite beaches, waterfalls, and scenic hikes around Victoria, all ready and waiting for you to explore.