Rippon Lea Estate, Elsternwick

Just 20 minutes from the central business district, Rippon Lea Estate offers visitors a rare look inside a 19th century grand suburban estate. With a garden area of over 5.7 hectares (14 acres), the site features manicured lawns and Southern Hemisphere’s largest collection of native ferns. The estate also includes a large orchard, with more than 100 varieties of heritage apples and pears. Bring a book and a light picnic lunch and enjoy some relaxing time on the grass, or roam through the sprawling estate to see what life in the 19th was like for wealthy Australians. Don’t forget to climb the mansion’s lookout tower, which offers panoramic views of the area. To visit Rippon Lea Estate on your trip to Elsternwick, use our Elsternwick journey planner.