Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Overview

The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne is one of the finest botanical gardens in the world, spanning 38 hectares along the southern bank of the Yarra River. Home to over 8,500 plant species, it is an oasis of calm minutes from the CBD.

Highlights

• Ornamental Lake: A serene centrepiece surrounded by weeping willows, home to black swans, eels, and long-necked turtles.
• Fern Gully: A cool, shaded gully of ancient tree ferns evoking the rainforests of Victoria's Otway Ranges.
• Children's Garden: An award-winning nature-play garden designed to immerse children in the plant world through tunnels, bamboo forests, and water play.

History

Established in 1846, the gardens were designed by successive directors including William Guilfoyle, who transformed them between 1873 and 1909 into the sweeping landscape seen today. They are among the oldest scientific gardens in the Southern Hemisphere.

Visitor Tips

• Aboriginal Heritage Walk: A guided walk led by Aboriginal people exploring the traditional uses of plants — book through the gardens' website.
• Moonlight Cinema: From November to March, the outdoor Moonlight Cinema screens films on the gardens' lawns.
• Duration: 1.5–2.5 hours.