Where To Escape in Melbourne’s Inner North for Greenery and Connection

The phrase “concrete jungle” feels more appropriate for Melbourne’s inner city by the day. The endless spate of new high-rise apartment buildings might suit some, but it does seem to take us all further from the open green spaces of the outer suburbs. Luckily, there are still a few spots in the inner north to escape the bustle and touch grass – if you know where to look.

Moreland Hotel

The term “beer garden” tends to be disappointingly dishonest in most cases – nothing more than a plant or two and some picnic benches to fill the outdoor space. At the recently revived Moreland Hotel, though, true garden greenery is the focus, both indoors and out.

Flanking the pub’s famous replica of Michelangelo’s statue of David, which has retained pride of place in the bar following the refurb, are trees, shrubs and canopy plants lit by a massive arched skylight, creating what has been billed as an indoor beer garden. Outside, the leafy space sits right on Sydney Road – at the front rather than tucked away out back.

The new incarnation of the Moreland Hotel also serves stone-baked pizzas alongside a menu of pub classics and shareable small plates, reason enough for locals to settle in with a cold pint and a slice of pizza in a year-round beer garden especially ideal for those of us without the space for greenery at home.

Ceres

It seems an unlikely prospect: a leafy urban farm in busy Brunswick East on the banks of Merri Creek. Across the 4.5-hectare site you’ll find some 200 chickens clucking, a community garden, a dam, a market garden crisscrossed with vegetable patches, and a variety of quiet green spaces to enjoy as you like.

If you fancy more than just a stroll through the greenery, Ceres also runs regular workshops on everything from urban gardening to home fermentation. It’s not a total escape from the crowds – the cafe and regular markets are big draws – but with plenty of grassy space to share and an unrivalled creekside setting, Ceres is one of the best places to forget about the pressure and relax.

The Plant Society

Sometimes the best green space is the one you make yourself – at least, that’s the philosophy of Collingwood’s self-described plant community, the Plant Society. For a decade now, founding duo Jason Chongue and Nathan Smith have been preaching their gospel of green, helping inner-city dwellers spruce up their spaces with a curated selection of indoor and outdoor plants.

The Plant Society range includes some rare and unique foraged plant species alongside the perennial favourites, plus an ever-expanding line of homewares and beauty products, to help you create your own green sanctuary, even if space is at a premium.

Yarra Bend Park

One of Melbourne’s most recognisable sights is the nightly migration of bats across the twilight sky. If you’ve ever wondered where they come from, it’s Yarra Bend Park – a green space that hugs the winding Yarra River through Abbotsford, Kew and Fairfield. The park itself is a warren of walking tracks that should satisfy those looking for a hike without leaving the inner city, including routes that detour through bat country for a closer look at our famous natives.

Beyond the trails, Yarra Bend Park is flush with sporting ovals, shady riverside spots, a golf course, cafes and, at Fairfield Boathouse, the chance to hire a kayak or vintage-style rowing skiff, letting you follow those Yarra bends from the water.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with ALH.