Enjoy the warm sunshine and gentle breezes of the Australian spring at the new 27-hole Greg Norman–designed course at The Eastern Golf Club in Melbourne, Victoria, which opens on Oct. 16. Stay nearby at Yering Gorge Cottages, set amid the beautiful Yarra Valley and just steps from the course. While in the region, take a trip to Warrnambool for whale watching or visit Middle Island to see the little penguin colony protected by Maremma dogs that guard them from foxes. For a memorable meal, dine at the historic Proudfoot’s Boathouse, established in 1886, where executive chef Christopher Grace serves modern cuisine alongside sweeping views of the Hopkins River.
Although gardens in North America may be winding down, visitors to the Tesselaar Tulip Festival in Victoria can still enjoy a vibrant display until Oct. 6. Held in Silvan in the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne, the festival is an annual tradition since 1954 and features more than 120 varieties and around 100,000 blooms, complemented by food stalls and live music. Victoria’s food scene also offers new experiences, such as the Tram to Market walking tour that highlights the Queen Victoria Markets. Recent additions to the dining landscape include clean‑food emporium Hunter’s Roots, 5 & Dime Bagels, and Mr. Huang Jin. For fine dining, Brae remains a must-visit, where chef Dan Hunter was honored as Chef of the Year by Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine.