When the summer sun is shining bright, it’s hard to resist the call of one of Melbourne’s green and shady parks. As any Victorian knows well, when the sun is out, we must take advantage of it – before the inevitable change comes in. And with so many rescheduled reunions, it’s the perfect time to plan a park picnic.

So ready your cheese boards and crusty rolls, pack your baskets with sunscreen, torches and water, gather your Aperol Spritzes and designated driver – here’s where to spread out and exhale this summer.

Fairfield Park Boathouse
At this peaceful bend in the Yarra, you’ll find a leafy and well-appointed spot to park yourself for an afternoon. There are barbeques and picnic tables, leafy lawns and even a few sporting facilities for those restless picnickers. If you end up gazing out at the water long enough you might convince yourself to hire a skiff or a kayak from the boathouse. The hand-built skiffs are replicas of the 19th-century craft that would have once floated lazily along the Thames.

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Royal Botanic Gardens
Your neighbourhood park might fill up on the odd weekend, but with 38 hectares at the Royal Botanic Gardens, you shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. The 170-year-old gardens are endlessly varied, with plots of rainforest flora, cacti, camellias and a collection of rare and endangered species. Stake out a shady spot and raise an Aperol Spritz to one of Melbourne’s greatest treasures.

Yarra Bend Park, Kew
The scale of Yarra Bend Park is truly remarkable. With over 200 hectares of park and bushland, it’s a great way to lose the city for a while without ever actually leaving. There are endless picnic-perfect grassy spots (as well as tables and barbeques), rowboats for hire at Studley Park Boathouse, and plenty of walking trails for the slightly more adventurous. Yarra Bend Park is also home to Melbourne’s massive bat population, and it’s well worth sticking around until the early evening to watch them take wing.

Landcox Park, Brighton East
A pretty little spot in Brighton East, Landcox Park is a true neighbourhood park. There’s a playground for the kids and dogs are welcome too (on the lead), making it a great choice for family-friendly picnicking. Barbeques are available if you don’t fancy bringing a sandwich, and there’s a lovely duck-filled pond that makes a great centrepiece.

Edinburgh Gardens, North Fitzroy
Melbourne’s unofficial party park seems to draw the crowds whenever the sun is out. It’s easy to see why, with sporting ovals, a skatepark, a basketball court, a table-tennis table and an endless parade of amazing dogs in its leafy grounds. Being adjacent to St Georges Road means a chance for some upscale picnic fare over the road. Just Falafs and the newly opened and aptly named Picnic
are great options – or else grab some fresh rolls and deli cuts from Piedimonte’s and do it the old fashioned way.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Aperol. With 100,000 Aperol Spritzes up for grabs this summer to help celebrate being together again, find out how to claim yours.