Explore the gardens at your own pace on a self-guided tour of the Garden Discovery Trai;; a standard admission ticket includes access to all of the gardens, and all three of the mazes. Kids can take part in the Woodland Fairy Walk or the Great Gnome Hunt, during which clues direct you to gnomes hidden throughout the park. Admission to Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens is free with a Melbourne City Card, which also grants you access to top city attractions such as Melbourne Zoo, Carlton Brewery, and Melbourne Cricket Ground.
From central Melbourne, Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens are a 1-hour drive via the M1 and Mornington Peninsula Freeway. There is no direct public transport to the maze; from Melbourne CBD, you take the train to Frankston Station and catch a Route 782 bus with Peninsula Bus Lines, which stops a 10-minute walk from the maze.
Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens are open year-round Monday-Sunday, except on Christmas Day. Though the lavender flowers bloom regardless of the season, the most picturesque times to visit are during the fall and spring, when natural colors are at their brightest.
After visiting Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens, continue the family fun with a visit to Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm, where you can pick your own strawberries during the warmer months of November through April. Other kid-friendly places include the Main Ridge Dairy, where you can pet goats, and the Messy Shed, where kids can enjoy messy play sessions.
