Visiting Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm, Daylesford: The Complete 2026 Guide
Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm has undergone profound changes in recent years. This page outlines what's changed, what to see and do, hours, fees, and tips for your visit.
UPDATED AUGUST 2026
Ten minutes' drive north of Daylesford, down a poplar-lined driveway and through a timber country gate, lies Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm, a 100-acre lavender farm and heritage property in the hills of Shepherds Flat.
It's one of Daylesford's premier attractions, and if you visited a few years back, it's worth knowing: Lavandula has had a proper glow-up.
New ownership has smartened the place up considerably - think less rustic farm, more polished retail spaces, a rebranded on-site restaurant, a genuine wedding and events business, and a much more curated, "Melbourne" sensibility than the rustic farm-shop feel it used to have.
That being said, the bones - the original stone buildings, the lavender fields, the Swiss-Italian heritage - are all still there, it’s just the experience around them has levelled up.
Here's our fully updated guide.
LAVANDULA AT A GLANCE
WHERE |350 Hepburn-Newstead Rd, Shepherds Flat
FROM MELBOURNE | ~90 minutes' drive
HOURS | Mon–Fri 10am–4pm · Sat–Sun 9am–5pm · open 7 days
GATE FEE | $5 adults · $1 children (5–18) · under 5 free · $10 season pass
DOGS | Welcome on-lead
ACCESSIBILITY | Wheelchair and pram accessible
BEST TIME TO VISIT | January–March for peak lavender bloom
LAVANDULA SWISS-ITALIAN FARM HISTORY
Lavandula's story starts in 1870, when Swiss-Italian immigrants Aquilino and Maria Tinetti established a 100-acre farm here, which they named "Shepdale." Aquilino had arrived in Australia a decade earlier during the goldrush years, before returning to Switzerland to marry Maria and bring her back to settle in Shepherd's Flat.
The Tinettis built their farm buildings in the traditional stone style of Ticino, the Swiss canton they'd come from - barns, a farmhouse, and a working dairy that ran for generations.
After the family moved on, the property fell into disrepair through the 1970s and 80s, until a local artist rediscovered it and began the slow work of restoration. By the 1990s, it had been reborn as a working lavender farm, and the name Lavandula stuck.
That heritage is still very much the heart of the place, and you'll find the original stone buildings intact, and the vast surrounding fields of lavender.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO LAVANDULA SWISS-ITALIAN FARM
GETTING THERE
Lavandula is a 10-minute drive north of Daylesford, along Hepburn-Newstead Road. From Melbourne, it's about a 1.5-hour drive west via the Western Freeway - the route is well signposted once you're in the area.
Daylesford and Hepburn Springs are perfect for an epic road trip from Melbourne. If you don't own your own car, or if you're a traveller in Australia and need to hire a car, we recommend searching via Discover Cars.
BOOK |Search car rentals in Australia via Discover Cars
As you arrive, you'll cross a small one-way ford over the creek into the car park - go slowly, and watch for local wildlife (kangaroos and wallabies do cross the road out here).
GATE FEE
There’s an entry fee of $5 per adult, $1 for children aged 5–18, and under 5 free.
A $10 season pass is also available.
The fee goes toward feeding the animals and maintaining the gardens and buildings - bookings at Maria's Trattoria or for events don't require a separate gate fee.
OPENING HOURS
Monday–Friday 10 am–4 pm, Saturday–Sunday 9am–5 pm, open 7 days a week year-round
WHEN TO VISIT LAVANDULA
It would be remiss of us to suggest you visit anytime outside the lavender season, because that’s the whole reason to come, right? Well, yeah, kinda, but Lavandula is also amazing outside the lavender season.
Still, we recommend visiting during January - March, when the flowers are in full bloom and the weather is nice and warm.
Make sure you arrive early, as the crowds can build up throughout the day - we’d recommend arriving at 10:30 am and strolling the grounds, before settling down for a long lunch. Alternatively, if you’re a photographer, you’ll want the later afternoon light for some nice photos of Daylesford’s lavender farm!
Personally, we love visiting in Autumn when the leaves are changing, the mornings crisp, and the days generally sunny and warm(ish).
ESSENTIAL INFO
Wear closed-toe shoes and sun protection - this is a working farm, and snakes can be present in warmer months, so stick to the paths.
Dogs are welcome on-lead, though they'll need to stay out of indoor dining areas.
The farm is wheelchair and pram accessible, with ramp access and wide paths. If you have specific accessibility needs, it's worth contacting the farm ahead of your visit.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO AT LAVANDULA
EXPLORE THE GARDENS (AND LAVENDER FIELDS)
The 100 acres of gardens are still the main event, with stone paths, floral archways, and rows of lavender that actually do feel like a slice of Provence dropped into regional Victoria.
Peak bloom runs from January through early autumn; in summer, you'll also see the lavender being harvested and dried in the courtyard, which is a great photo moment in itself.
MEET THE FARM ANIMALS
New since our last visit, Lavandula now has a proper resident menagerie, and it's become one of the drawcards.
Highland and Swiss Brown cows, alpacas, emus, geese, bantams and guinea fowl are all part of the farm now, which is wonderful for those of you like us, with kiddies.
LUNCH AT MARIA’S TRATTORIA
The farm's original café, La Trattoria, has been rebranded as Maria's Trattoria, open 7 days at the rear of the courtyard.
Expect Italian fare, including seasonal lunches, the famed woodfired pizzas on weekends and school holidays, and a good antipasto board - still very much worth a long, lazy lunch under the grapevine pergola.
There are also a few original menu items, including the ubiquitous lavender scones. They’re huge, so order one serving to share amongst two.
There's also a newer, more casual option: the Post Office Deli & Larder, housed in the original Shepherd's Flat Post Office building, for coffee and grab-and-go food if you're not after a sit-down meal.
PACK (OR PRE-BOOK) A PICNIC
If you'd rather eat on the lawn than at a table, Lavandula now offers pre-bookable curated picnic baskets from the Post Office Deli, which are worth arranging ahead if you're visiting on a warm-weather weekend.
The benefit of a picnic is the ability to stretch out on one of the many lawns as you relax under the sun.
SHOP THE FARM STORE
It’d be remiss to visit a lavender farm and not buy a few lavender-based products, wouldn’t it? And recently, the gift shop has had a serious upgrade
It's now stocked with 100+ handcrafted, farm-made lavender products: essential oils, balms, candles, bath and body products, and even a lavender pillow mist.
Grab a few products before you hit the road and have your house (or you) smelling wonderful for months.
WHERE TO STAY NEAR LAVANDULA (DAYLESFORD AND SURROUNDS)
Daylesford is absolutely teeming with high-quality, aesthetically pleasing boutique accommodation options, whether you’re looking for Airbnbs, comfortable hotel stays, or an all-out luxury experience.
A few favourites for a slow weekend away:
Room + Board | a design-led open-plan barn for two, hosted by stylist Lynda Gardener, right in the heart of town
The Garden Loft @ Poet's Lodge | a two-storey retreat for two built from reclaimed materials, on the grounds of an 1852 miner's cottage
Hotel Frangos | mid-range boutique hotel right on Vincent Street
For the full rundown, see our complete guide to the best Airbnbs in Daylesford.
LAVANDULA FAQ
Is Lavandula still a working lavender farm? Yes, Lavandula remains a working farm as well as a visitor destination, with lavender harvested and dried on-site each summer.
Do I need to book ahead to visit Lavandula? General entry doesn't require booking, but a table at Maria's Trattoria, a picnic basket, or a photography session are all worth booking in advance, especially on weekends.
Is Lavandula dog-friendly? Yes, dogs are welcome on-lead across the grounds, though not inside indoor dining areas.
Is Lavandula wheelchair and pram accessible? Yes, the farm has ramp access and wide paths throughout.
How much does it cost to visit Lavandula? Gate entry is $5 for adults and $1 for children aged 5–18, with under 5s free. A $10 season pass is also available.
EXPLORE VICTORIA WITH OUR TRAVEL GUIDES
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