Walking into Better Wellbeing: Five Spring Walks in Heritage & Nature

Studies show that just 10 minutes in nature can boost your mood—so imagine what an afternoon wandering through heritage gardens, volcanic peaks, or fern-filled gullies could do. We’ve curated five walks where heritage and nature meet, offering beauty, biodiversity, and a deeper sense of place. 

1. Rippon Lea Estate – Gardens of Grandeur and Calm

Only 20 minutes from Melbourne, Rippon Lea Estate is a rare slice of living history—a late-19th-century mansion set in 5.7 hectares of pleasure gardens. Wander past sweeping lawns, ancient trees, a tranquil lake, and the Southern Hemisphere’s largest fernery. In spring, the orchard hums with life, boasting over a hundred heritage apple and pear varieties. 

For a mindful experience, join a Forest Bathing class or try Nature Journalling under the dappled light of the gardens. You might also take a guided Garden Tour to uncover the estate’s layered history and botanical treasures, or a Bird Spotting Tour to explore this biodiversity hotspot—home to an extraordinary variety of feathered residents. 

2. Endeavour Fern Gully – Mornington Peninsula’s Rainforest Heart

Step into the cool, green hush of Endeavour Fern Gully, the Mornington Peninsula’s original temperate rainforest. The 2km loop trail meanders past a fern-fringed creek, towering eucalypts, and delicate orchids. Kangaroos, wallabies, and even Powerful Owls call this sanctuary home, while colourful fungi and wildflowers bring bursts of spring colour. 

This remnant rainforest is more than beautiful—it’s a cultural landscape. The Austral Mulberry found here was traditionally used by the local Indigenous community to make djiel warrk (firesticks). Volunteers continue to re-vegetate and protect the gully, ensuring its role as an important habitat link in a region shaped by urban growth. 

To deepen your connection to heritage, plan your walk alongside a visit to nearby McCrae Homestead or Mulberry Hill—two National Trust properties that offer a unique glimpse into the past. 

3. Mooramong Nature Walk – Life on the Volcanic Plains

In the heart of the Victorian Volcanic Plain—of which just 3% of natural vegetation remains—Mooramong offers a rare window into a thriving ecosystem. The 2.6km Lower Dams Nature Walk weaves through grasslands, wetlands, and woodlands, with Blacks Creek and its seasonal waters bringing constant change to the landscape. 

Here, every step reveals a new detail: kangaroos grazing in the distance, waterbirds skimming the surface, birds of prey circling above, and wildflowers and insects hidden at your feet. The walk is also a place of deep cultural significance for the Wadawurrung People, who have cared for this Country for thousands of years. 

For a restorative ‘off-grid’ escape, book a stay at the Holiday Cottages or Tiny Homes. This unique accommodation offers a chance to immerse yourself in the tranquillity of the heritage homestead—perfect for journalling, meditating, or sipping local wines beneath vast starry skies. 

4. Great Otway National Park – Giants of the Grove

At the end of our Melbourne to Otways Trail, you’ll find the hushed beauty of the Great Otway National Park. In a secluded grove, Californian Redwoods planted in 1936 now tower over 60 metres high. Their straight trunks rise like pillars, their canopy casting a soft green light that invites quiet reflection. 

Listen to the river’s murmur, feel the cool air, and let the forest’s timeless presence still the mind. 

The Melbourne to Otways driving trail is a rich tapestry of nature, heritage, and gastronomy, with National Trust-preserved sites to explore along the way—making this walk an ideal highlight of a spring road trip. 

5. Mt Leura & Mt Sugarloaf Reserves – Peaks with a Story

On the edge of Camperdown, these twin volcanic peaks rise from a landscape rich in geological and community history. Saved from quarrying in the 1970s by local and National Trust campaigns, the reserves now offer 50 hectares of walking trails, birdwatching, and panoramic views across the Victorian Volcanic Plains. 

In spring, the slopes are painted with fresh greens and bright wildflowers. Interpretive signs tell stories of the land’s formation, its cultural significance, and the remarkable revegetation efforts that have transformed the area since 1995. Climb to the summit and feel the wind on your face—it’s a view that rewards every step. 

Find Your Space to Bloom

Each of these walks offers more than a path through nature—they’re invitations to slow down, notice more, and reconnect with the land and its stories. Whether it’s the tranquillity of a heritage garden, the mystery of a rainforest gully, or the thrill of a volcanic summit, these places remind us that spring is not just a season—it’s a state of mind. 

Make this the season you deepen your connection to nature and heritage by joining the National Trust. Sign up during your visit to any National Trust property and we’ll waive the $40 joining fee—so you can keep exploring, discovering, and blooming all year round. 

So lace up your shoes, take a deep breath, and step into the season. Your space to bloom is waiting.