Five awesome parks around Melbourne for a picnic and a frothy

Drink: Single Fin Summer Ale
Eat: Fish and chips from D’Lish Fish
Enjoy: Dipping your feet in the bay

Tourists rave about St Kilda Beach but we’re fans of the less crowded, just as enjoyable beaches at Port Melbourne. Westport Reserve is a winner, with plenty of space to roll out a picnic blanket and relax as the sun sets over the bay. Dip your feet in the water (or your whole body if it’s a hot day) then chill out back on land with a a box of old school fish and chips from D’Lish Fish just up the road. The family-run fish and chip shop is a favourite among locals and serves vegetarian and gluten-free food as well – plus deep fried Mars Bars if that’s your thing. Gage Roads' Single Fin Summer Ale pairs beautifully with seafood, so put a six pack in the esky before heading out. 

Drink: Side Track XPA
Eat: Meat Smith Butcher’s sausages
Enjoy: A leisurely barbecue underneath the trees

Edinburgh Gardens is a remarkable 140 years old, and in that time it has cultivated a forest of leafy trees, spacious lawns and (more recently) skate parks filled with families as well as pros. The gardens are also just a hop, skip and a jump away from North Fitzroy café strip, making it an ideal location for a lazy weekend picnic or barbecue. We suggest popping into specialty butcher Meat Smith on your way to Edinburgh Gardens and grabbing a tray of the house snags to throw on one of the park’s barbies. Add some white bread, sauce and a six-pack of Side Track All Day XPA to make the most of your day in the sunshine – it's low alcohol without compromising on flavour, which is ideal if you're in it for the long haul. 

Drink: Little Dove New World Pale Ale
Eat: Mr Crackles roasted pork belly rolls
Enjoy: Possum spotting

Treasury Gardens sits at the easternmost edge of the CBD, which makes it a favourite haunt of office workers at lunch and brushtail possums at night. And not only at night – many of the possums are active during the day so there’s always the chance you’ll see one peeping out between the trees. Do as city locals do and order a roast pork belly roll from Mr Crackles (and a side order of crackling) on your way to the park and pair it with a can of Little Dove New World Style Pale Ale, a pale ale made with Australian and NZ hops varietals that is dry-hopped for an extra boost of aromatic character. Just don’t share it with the possums.

Drink: Small Batch Lager
Eat: A bratwurst roll from Bratwurst Shop and Co
Enjoy: A game of lawn bowls

Did you know that Flagstaff Gardens is Melbourne’s original public garden and once offered views to Port Phillip Bay? It's also conveniently located just next door to the famous Queen Victoria Market, making it easy to grab lunch and then relax on the bountiful lawns (frequented by many a friendly dog we might add). Head to the eternally popular Bratwurst Shop and Co to score a delicious bratty then team it up with a European-style Small Batch Lager back in Flagstaff Gardens. Once your food has settled you can even challenge your mates to a game of barefoot bowls at the City of Melbourne Bowls club located in the park.

Drink: Hello Sunshine Cider
Eat: A cheese platter from Harper and Blohm
Enjoy: A kick-to-kick at the home of the Blues

Princes Park isn't just home to the Carlton Football Club but also tennis courts, soccer fields and a stack of exercise stations around a 3.2 km long running track. Peppered throughout park are also shady green spots perfect for eating alfresco. Stop by Sydney Road cheesemongers Harper and Blohm before hitting the park and pick up a cheesemongers' selection pack. They feature enough cheese for anywhere between two and eight people and can even include an assortment of crackers and cheese accompaniments. Buy a six-pack of Hello Sunshine Cider for fruity and refreshing addition to your picnic.