Parks & gardens

Witness an explosion of colour as flowers burst into bloom throughout the magnificent gardens of the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. 

Swap the rugged bushland around the region for more manicured nature, with the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges boasting some of Melbourne's greatest gardens.

Gardens through the seasons
Come in springtime to see the riot of colour in the National Rhododendron Gardens, which contain thousands of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and daffodils.

Seek shady respite on hot summer days in the woodlands of the RJ Hamer Arboretum. Watch the colours turn on the deciduous trees dotted around the feature waterfalls in the Alfred Nicholas Gardens, and in winter get soaked by dripping tree ferns hiding clay sculptures in the tranquil William Ricketts Sanctuary.

Open gardens
Celebrate special occasions in the public gardens year-round, and peep into private gardens when they open their gates as part of the Open Garden Scheme, and pick up some regional history, too.

Be advised, some private gardens open their gates once or twice a year as part of the Australian Open Garden Scheme. For further details phone 03 9397 8841.