A cute-as-a-button day trip from Melbourne that will only cost you $5.

Located just one and a half hours northwest of Melbourne, Lavandula Farm is a historic property near Daylesford promising a taste of idyllic Swiss-Italian village life. Here, delight comes in many forms: a cheese and wine bar in an 1870s stone barn, geese waddling through fragrant orchards, grazing alpacas and crusty woodfired pizza in an open-air courtyard. The 40-hectare farm has recently reopened with a host of new dining and shopping experiences, giving Melbourne day-trippers even more reasons to visit.  

Whether you’re here for the furry friends, homemade goods or shady picnics surrounded by rows of lavender and olive groves, Lavandula Farm is the ultimate place to reconnect. We think the $5 entry price for adults (or $1 for children five and up) is a small price to pay for a day of unlimited joy. 

Why you’ll love Lavandula Farm

An obvious drawcard that will have you melting inside, Lavandula Farm’s resident animals are well-loved by visitors – you’ll find them roaming freely around the farm during the day. Meet adorable Highland cows munching on hay, meandering pheasants and the gaggle of honking geese. You’ll even see emus and alpacas wandering the property.  

January to March is the perfect time to visit if you’ve got your heart set on witnessing the farm’s stunning lavender crops. Time your visit from 10–12 April to witness the popular annual lavender harvest and experience the blooms at their most fragrant. 

Scout out a sunny corner near the fields and set up your own picnic (you’re welcome to BYO or purchase a picnic basket packed with bites from the cafe and deli). Or perhaps head to Tinetti’s Dairy Barn & Wine Shoppe, which nods to the farm’s history as a dairy farm. Enjoy spritzes, locally made wines and grazing boards under the pitched roof to round out the afternoon. For classic pizzas under the trees and lingering conversations, opt for Woodfire – another casual yet elegant restaurant on Lavandula Farm.  

The Farm Shop is where you’ll find homemade keepsakes and artisan goods spanning everything from bath products to produce grown onsite, from lavender jam and honey to lavender lollies. The shop is designed to feel like a charming apothecary with sensory discovery and a deep connection to the farm’s continuing production heritage. 

What’s new at Lavandula Farm

A newly opened space, The Post Office Deli & Larder has been reimagined as a gourmet takeaway stop-in. Buttery, country-style sausage rolls and Italian paninis are the perfect lunchtime pick-me-up to bring along as you wander the gardens, while the farm’s iconic lavender scones will keep sweet tooths more than happy. 

Also brand-new at Lavandula Farm is The Homestead Store. Set inside a 160-year-old stone building where Aquilino Tinetti lived with his wife and 13 children, the store combines heritage and modern luxury. Sifting through the handpicked homewares, artisan pieces and array of locally made gifts is a wonderful way to escape the sun for a little while. 

Named after the farm’s founding matriarch, Maria Tinetti, Maria’s Trattoria offers seasonal, Mediterranean-inspired menus in a beautifully rustic stone-walled setting. While the checkered tablecloths and hearty Italian dishes remain fan favourites, the restaurant has recently launched a Lavender High Tea. The two-hour morning experience treats visitors to oven-warm cakes, dainty sandwiches and delicious quiches with a choice of lavender-flavoured beverage: spritz, tea or lemonade. 

For those enamoured by tales of the past, there’s more good news – Lavandula Farm will launch history tours offering visitors a deeper dive into the property’s European settler heritage that dates back 160 years. 

The details

Entry cost: Adults $5, children (5–18 years) $1, season pass $10, free for children under five  

Address: 350 Hepburn-Newstead Rd, Shepherds Flat VIC 3461 

Opening hours: 10am to 4pm (Monday to Friday), 9am to 5pm (Saturdays and Sundays)

Parking: Free and onsite 

Accessibility: The farm is wheelchair and pram accessible with ramp access and wide paths.