Travel Guides and Stories

This was probably my most “proper” recent outing in Melbourne—it was in November. The strawberry farm we visited is called “SunnyRidge,” located directly south of Melbourne. If you start from the CBD, it takes about an hour and a half to drive there.

Entry to the strawberry farm is AU$8.00 per person, and everyone gets a take-home box (see below), which holds about 500g. You can go pick your own strawberries—if you pick more than what fits in the box, the extra is charged at AU$12.00/kg. That price is about the same as at the supermarket, but the quality and freshness here are absolutely worth it! Our haul:

We didn’t linger long at the strawberry farm. Heading west, then north up Purves Rd from Main Creek Rd, it’s just 10 minutes to Arthurs Seat State Park. From this high vantage point, you get a sweeping view of the famous Mornington Beach.

           Brighton Beach

The cable car that once carried passengers now only transports goods up and down the mountain.

           Brighton Beach

Next stop: “The Enchanted Maze.” Since I can’t post a front photo, here’s a sneaky shot from behind...

The maze map outside the gardens. The big one looked straight out of Harry Potter—it took us 20 or 30 minutes to get out!

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Right inside the entrance was the first little “attraction”: water ballet dancers

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Here’s a schematic of a small maze inside the gardens:

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

There’s... there’s a head in there...

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Now this is the real “Grand View Garden” (adult ticket: AU$15.00)~

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Can you tell? That’s Santa’s reindeer team!

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

I’d like to know what these two are doing... performance art, maybe?

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

There was even a field of lavender!

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Personally, I don’t like this type...

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Even a nest—though just a decorative one—still looks charming!

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Another maze—the rule is you can only walk along the little paths.

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Yep, it’s a snake...

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

This is actually quite famous... but I forgot the name...

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Nude woman and frog (must be a local story). There’s a device inside the frog’s belly that goes “gulu gulu”~

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

People said I posted too many blue photos before... fine, here’s a bunch of green!

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Deep in the bamboo grove

           Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne