The air is fresh and cool, the sun is shining as new buds form into flowers spreading colours rich and soft throughout the landscape. Mamma loves a road trip at any time, but spring is a particularly great time to head outdoors and enjoy some beautiful and fun destinations with family and friends.

Check out our list below of some great ideas - our top spring road trip destinations!

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geelong gaol museum, geelong

Ok, let’s start from the beginning - this imposing old gaol, in the middle of Geelong first opened in 1853 and only closed its doors in 1991. Up until then it housed Victoria’s worst criminals and the shadiest of characters - including the likes of Chopper Read and bushranger Frank McCallum. There were 6 people executed here in the gallows that are literally in the centre of the jail.

daylesford spa country railway, daylesford

Toot toot - all aboard the Daylesford train!

If your kiddos love trains like Mamma’s little ones do, this adventure will be a MUST visit on your list when you’re in the Daylesford area!

deep blue hot springs, warrnambool

Mamma has been wanting to visit here for so long and it did not disappoint. Deep Blue Hot Springs is more than just some hot pools. It’s a sanctuary of health and well-being and you will come out of it feeling rested and rejuvenated. You CAN bring the whole family here like Mamma, and of course you can just come with your partner or mates.

horse shepherd equine sanctuary walking tours, gordon

Walking tours now open! This gorgeous farm sits on 200 hectares of land and is dedicated to rehabilitating all kinds of farm animals but particularly horses. Found neglected, discarded after racing or aged and unwell, Horse Shepherd takes them on, provides them vet care and allows them to happily live out their days with the rest of the menagerie at the farm.

ballarat wildlife park, ballarat east

If you have an animal lover and lets face it most kids are - this is an excellent place to get up close with some of Australia's most loved animals, and Maneki and Satu the Sumatran tigers.

tuki trout farm, smeaton

Anunforgettable adventure at Tuki Trout Farm—a genuine Pond to Plate Experience! Mamma says: it's not just a great outing; it's an incredibly memorable journey for the kids.

fyansford paper mills, geelong

Mamma loves a good hidden adventure discovery, and the Fyansford Paper Mills was one of those. This is an art, food, culture and beverage precinct in amongst what remains of the old paper mill.

roraima nursery and gardens, lara

Discover Roraima Nursery in Lara, home to exotic plants, stunning sculptures, and even dinosaurs! Our top-pick attraction is a must-visit for plant enthusiasts and nature lovers. Don't miss out – plan your visit today and experience the crowd-pleasing beauty of Roraima Nursery.

portarlington bayside mini rail, portarlington

Mamma really does love a mini rail. They are a perfect adventure for the little ones, with pretty scenery and a gentle ride.
This mini rail is right on the water, so it is different from all the other ones Mamma has been to.

werribee park mansion tours, werribee

Travel back in time and imagine what it may have been like to live without air con, without wifi, without electricity! The kids love to explore the old rooms, all decked out as they might have been in the 1800’s. Guess what’s behind each door and have a go at the butter churn in the servant’s quarters as you take the self-guided tour!

the bellarine railway, queenscliff

Mamma LOVES a train ride and when the views are this amazing even better! The Bellarine Railway is such a stunning way to explore the area and this is by far the best way plus on special occasions, you can ride on the Thomas train too.

wander walk - dementia friendly forest and sensory trail, ballarat

This peaceful pocket of the Woowookarung National Park has wide paths for easy access for wheelchairs, assistance dogs and groups, plus plenty of places to stop and reflect and listen to the the sounds of the bush, and it is also a relatively easy and flat 450m loop.

narana aboriginal cultural centre, geelong

The prefect stop on the Surf Coast Hwy, have coffee at the cafe, play on the playground and feed the wallabies and emus!

fairy park, anakie

The amazing Fairy Park was built in 1959 when the displays were predominantly made by hand and despite being updated it still holds its magical kitschy qualities. Fairy Park is the ultimate in family fun.

the nook, sunbury

The Nook will make you feel as if you’ve stopped to rest at a quaint country town. A 20 minute walk from the centre of Sunbury, it features Jacksons Creek waterhole and a beautiful, natural open space.

hanging rock llama treks, woodend

What a magical and truly unique family experience! The Hanging Rock Llama treks is wonderful.

halls gap, the grampians

Mamma loves nature, country pubs and hiking! Halls Gap is lovely little country town nestled in the mountains of the beautiful Grampians National Park. Truly a spectacular place to take the family.

gold rush mini golf, ballarat

This gold mine themed course is so much fun, with 18 easy holes to manoeuvre your little ball into. It’s great for the littlies as it’s all close together and not too many obstacles on the greens. There are two courses here - outdoor and the spookier but really cool Lost Worlds themed course indoors so chose your own adventure.

forest glade gardens, mount macedon

This has to be our favourite garden to visit - we have been so many times and seen it in all the seasons. It’s magical at any time of year.

grahams dam walk @ lerderderg state park, bacchus marsh

Spend an hour here, or the whole day - you can tailor your fun and do as much or as little as your family can manage.

splitpoint lighthouse, aireys inlet

An icon of the West, immortalised in the old TV show Round the Twist and more recently Masterchef. Dubbed 'the white queen', she sure is majestic.

bellarine adventure golf, wallington

A few tips were required and a few unorthodox plays were exhibited ...maybe a few holes skipped but overall a great time was had. The Bellarine Adventure golf is old school and cool with lush greenery, and timber structures and lots of secret passage ways and fun places for the ball to travel.

the garden of st erth, blackwood

The Gardens of St Erthe are great to discover at any time of year and the seasons dictate which beautiful blooms come next. Nestled next to the Wombat State Forest - these gardens and cafe are a must!

hanging rock reserve, hanging rock

You WILL need good, solid, comfortable footwear that grips, you WILL need to bring some water bottles, you WILL DEFINITELY need your camera

organ pipes national park, keilor north

The Organ Pipes themselves are beautiful huge rock columns formed by the cooling and cracking of molten lava from over a million years ago and are the feature of the park.

lavandula lavender farm, shepherds flat

As soon as you step into this magical place you could be forgiven for thinking you've somehow stumbled into the European countryside. Mamma has loved this place for many years and the love affair is still going strong.

animal land children's farm, diggers rest

Animal Land has so much to see and do - kiddies get a Pony ride plus visit the animal nursery and then you can feed the ducks on the pond, feed the donkeys and cows and chickens too! A visit to Animal Land Farm is a great family fun day.

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mackenzie falls, grampians

If you are on a trip to the Grampians or staying in Halls Gap, you must add MacKenzie Falls to your list. It was the highlight of our adventure!

ballarat botanic gardens, ballarat

Mamma loves a good garden and this is one of our families favourite spots to picnic, play and chill out. It has everything you could imagine that a botanical garden has - shady trees, lush green grass, gorgeous plants, ponds, fountains, gazebos, statues, fernery and more!

sheoak falls, lorne

Just past Lorne on the way down the iconic Great Ocean Road you will see a small unassuming sign indicating that the Sheoak Falls lay just off the bend in the road. What you will find is a stunning, picturesque waterfall amongst gorgeous bushland.

buckley falls, highton

Hiding out the back of Geelong is Buckley Falls - a little surprise package of fun, adventure and beauty! These falls are a great way to spend a few hours exploring.

malmsbury botanical gardens, malmsbury

Discover the hidden gem of Malmsbury's botanical gardens - a surprise package waiting to be explored! Mamma's favourite spot boasts a stunning lake at its heart, complete with an island accessible via a charming bridge. Pack a picnic now and experience the beauty and serenity of Malmsbury's botanical gardens.

jebb's pool, cumberland river

Mamma loves a hidden adventure! Jebb’s Pool is a stunning oasis behind the Cumberland River Caravan Park. It’s a part of the Erskine River and over time the river has created these lovely pools and smooth rocks - including a mini waterfall or as some say - a nature waterslide!

geelong botanic gardens geelong

Yes, here is yet another botanical garden to add to the picnic list!

castlemaine botanic gardens and playground, castlemaine

This spectacular park has all you need to spend a day in the beautiful outdoors.

wombat hill bakehouse and botanic gardens, daylesford

Mamma adores garden adventures and this is a magical wonderland on top of Wombat Hill, an ancient volcano, which is perfection. With rolling green hills made for a play and tumble - and natural cubby houses made by the draping lush greenery. Climb to the top and be rewarded with colourful begonias and breathtaking views of Dayelsford.

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northvale park, sunbury

Discover Northvale Park, one of the exciting new parks in the Sunbury area located within the Redstone Estate. This fantastic playspace offers endless fun for kids with its two huge enclosed slides and engaging climbing towers featuring adorable rock climbing enclosures. Little ones will also enjoy the variety of swings, spinners, musical chimes, and a dedicated toddler area complete with slides and climbing ropes. Experience endless adventures and make lasting memories at Northvale Park in Sunbury.

bacchus marsh racecourse recreation reserve, bacchus marsh

Discover the ultimate family park at Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Recreation Reserve! This must-visit destination in Bacchus Marsh offers a massive playground tower, perfect for kids with climbing obstacles and huge slides. There's also a designated area for little ones with trampolines, seesaws, and more. Enjoy a large sandpit with water activities, musical instruments, flying foxes, and various swings. With BBQ facilities, ample seating, shade, water taps, and on-site toilets, Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Recreation Reserve is the perfect spot for a fun-filled day out.

frontier park @ woodlea estate, rockbank

Look at that! Rainbow soft fall, water play and giant towers...welcome to Frontier Park!

kingsfield park, sunbury

With a huge playground, basketball court, skate park and picnic tables (with shade) there's something for everyone to enjoy at Kingsfield Park Playground in Sunbury

bridge road traffic school park, melton south

Attention parents! Take your kiddies to the Bridge Road Traffic School - we give it the MAMMA guarantee they will LOVE it!

eureka gardens playground, ballarat east

The kids will quickly pick up the theme here - soldiers, horses and a huge playground with the Eureka flag perched at the top! Adventure is the name of the game here.

lake wendouree adventure park, lake wendouree ballarat

Adventures parks are fantastic and this one is in a league of its own - it is positively teeming with people on the weekends and its location on the banks of Ballarat's Lake Wendouree makes this the perfect family destination.

portarlington park playground, portarlington

This park has had a relatively new makeover and it is stunning. This nature inspired play space has all the faves like flying fox, climbing structures, swings and pump water play - but Mamma really loves the ocean themed carved tree sculptures that really capture the feel of the area

lorne beach playground, lorne

You can’t beat a beautiful wooden playground. The Lorne Beach Playground is a nautical themed play space with the main structure mimicking a pier.

long gully splash park, bendigo

‘Gold Rush’ themed Long Gully Splash Park is super cute - relatively small but has everything you could need! And the treated water is solar heated!

eaglehawk play space, eaglehawk (bendigo)

This place is about as wonderful as wonderful playgrounds can possibly get!

armstrong district park, mt duneed

Well, here my friends, is a top notch playground! This stunning new play space is chock full of fun!

john mcmahon reserve, sunbury

Mamma just loves a playground with a scooter run! The track has steep enough spots to satisfy older kids on bikes but is safe enough for little ones on scooters.

galaxyland playspace, sunbury

You’ll be in another world when you launch into Galaxyland Playspace! This amazing playground boasts lots of vast play areas for all age groups

kyneton community park and water play, kyneton

Wow, this park is so perfect and has so much character and WATER PLAY!

kingston park, ocean grove

Kingston Park - Ocean Grove! Wow. Wow. Wow. What a fantastic park. Mamma and the kids spent some time here and they have given this a 10 out of 10.

woodend children's park, woodend

What a gorgeous playground! Firstly, its HUGE, and has so many zones, that kids of all ages will love it here.

bacchus marsh adventure playground - maddingley park reserve , bacchus marsh

There is something really special about adventure playgrounds. This playground in particular is a Mamma favourite!

poppy kettle playground, geelong waterfront

Poppy Kettle park has the most stupendous view along the waterfront in Geelong plus puff the magic dragon and of course that awesome slide and climbing tower.