Cactus Country

This incredible slice of Mexico is just a few hours north of Melbourne in sunny Strathmerton. A self-guided tour of Cactus Country will take you along eight separate paths, each showcasing plants from different regions of the world. The property, previously a peach orchard, houses well over 10,000 varieties of cacti and succulents and includes some enormous plants which are over 50-years-old that look like they’re straight out of a Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote showdown. Once you’ve weaved your way through the maze of gardens and chosen a few prickly souvenirs, head to the Cactus Café . There you can browse some Mexican homewares, use the free Wi-Fi to upload your happy snaps, sip on a quality coffee and indulge in a mouth-watering slice of homemade cactus cake.