Rippon Lea is one of those grand old English houses with sculptured gardens that dot Melbourne and it is an ideal place for a picnic on a sunny day. And if you're a resident of Glen Eira or Port Phillip, you have garden access for free (though making a donation is appreciated).

The gardens are interesting enough for about an hours amble, though note that not all the areas are wheelchair accessible. The landscape is textured and there are areas with quite different styles, though the theme is generally English countryside. With quite heavy rain this week, some of the paths had flooded and were closed off, but there was always an alternative and it did not detract from the enjoyment.

Given the lake, pool, and lots of spaces for them to hide, the gardens cannot be considered 'kid safe' in the sense that you could just let younger children roam free and easily watch them all the time. Apart from the large lawn, where many toddlers and slightly older siblings were rushing about, enjoying the grass.

Being in the middle of the suburbs, traffic, trains (the Brighton line runs close past a boundary), and planes are a constant background noise, but it is generally a hum rather than an intrusion.

Rippon Lea has toilet facilities but no onsite parking and street parking on a nice day is hit and miss. Ripponlea station is less than a ten minute walk and the 603 bus stops at the door. The nearest tram is the 67 route and the Coleridge St/Brighton Rd stop is less than a ten minute walk as well.

Take a rug, take a book, take a picnic...Rippon Lea is one of those historical gems that elevates a sunny day lazing on the lawn into the best feeling in the world.