Holiday houses in Berwick

Berwick is a former village that has grown to become an outer suburb of Melbourne, around 40 minutes from the city centre on the southern coast of mainland Australia. The district blends urban life with its location at the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges — an area of natural beauty surrounded by rainforests, fern gullies, and imposing mountain scenery. Although it’s now part of greater Melbourne, Berwick’s High Street and adjacent roads have retained a 19th-century English village feel, with several historic buildings — the post office and courthouse date from 1885 — manicured gardens, and streets lined with deciduous trees. There are also several suburban parks to explore, including the scenic and tranquil Wilson Botanic Park and Pioneers Park.

Berwick also provides a great base for visiting the popular Yarra Valley Region — famous for being Victoria’s oldest wine-growing area and home to some of Australia’s finest wineries, microbreweries, and restaurants. The wider area is also renowned for its abundance of fresh produce and local makers of cheese and chocolate.

Spring and autumn are the most popular months to secure an accommodation in Berwick, when the days are generally warm and sunny and the nights are mild. Nearby Cherry Hill Orchards is home to Victoria’s largest cherry blossom festival, which is held across a two-week period every spring. You can stroll through endless rows of beautiful cherry blossoms in full bloom, with live music, games for kids, workshops, and food trucks. Summer in Berwick offers up hot days and nights, so make sure to pack your hat and sunscreen. However, Melbourne does have a reputation for changeable weather, so it’s a good idea to pack a jacket as well. In February, the Berwick Show hosts competitions, live music, entertainment, rides, and fireworks. Although winter brings colder temperatures, rain is rare.

Puffing Billy

Victoria’s iconic Puffing Billy Steam Railway winds its way through the region’s towns and villages. A 20-minute drive will take you to Belgrave, where you can climb onboard Australia’s oldest and best-preserved heritage steam railway. The journey slowly makes its way through the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, with lush fern gullies brushing past the open side carriages and Mountain Ash trees towering overhead.

Wilson Botanic Park

Wilson Botanic Park is a haven of tranquillity within Berwick. The 39-hectare green space offers peaceful picnic areas and several walking paths, which weave through cliffs, gorges, valleys, lakes, and even a North American-style marsh. There is plenty of birdlife to spot as well as some endangered plant species, from cape chestnut trees to clamorous reed warblers.

The Old Cheese Factory

The Old Cheese Factory is a two-storey complex, including a homestead and an old kitchen and washhouse, that was built in the 1860s using local materials. The factory is now an art gallery, and the kitchen is a craft shop. There is also a 2-hectare English Garden with lawns to explore, as well as a herb garden, ornamental pond, and historical displays.