After 20 years of planning, construction and planting, the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne vibrant Australian Garden is now complete.

An additional six hectares of landscaped garden sees the entire Australian Garden almost double in size, bringing the total size of the Garden to an impressive 15 hectares.

The new area comprises 11 new precincts and new facilities including a visitor kiosk at the northern end of the Garden, boardwalks and viewing platforms on Howson and Gibson Hills, and an amphitheatre for education programs and performances.

The aim of the Royal Botanic Gardens in creating the Australian Garden is to share with visitors the beauty and diversity of Australian plants. It is a place where you can explore the evolving connections between people, plants and landscapes. The Australian Garden is also a place where you can discover inspiration and information about how to use Australian plants in your garden.

Tours, activities and programs in the Australian Garden provide a range of informative and exciting experiences for visitors of all ages.

From the Australian Garden, head into the bushland and picnic areas or visit the Gardens Shop, Boon Wurrung Cafe or Kiosk.

The Woodland Picnic Area is a fantastic space for family, friends and community groups. It has free gas barbecues, picnic tables, a huge children's playground and large open spaces for ball games. Entry to the Woodland Picnic Area is free. The Woodland Picnic Area can be accessed from the Australian Garden car park by foot, only 400 metres walk.

The ten kilometres of walking tracks, abundance of native animals and Trig Point, a lookout tower, the gardens are an ideal place for natures-lovers to enjoy the Australian bush.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is located just 45 minutes' from Melbourne by car.

Cost

This is a free attraction.

Local directions

Melway Map 133, ref K10. Drive from Melbourne along the Monash Freeway, M1 to the South Gippsland Highway, M420. Signs to the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne will direct you to Ballarto Road.

Facilities

Activities

Opening hours

The Australian Garden is open every day except Christmas Day. The rest of Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is closed on Christmas Day and days of total fire ban and extreme weather. Entry to the Australian Garden is now free!

Daily
9:00am -5:00pm

Memberships

• Aboriginal Tourism Australia
• Inbound Tour Operators Association
• National Trust
• Tourism Alliance Victoria
• Tourism Council Australia

Disabled access

Contact operator for further details.

Additional business information

Eucalypt Festival, 8 - 9 April 2012
Australia’s iconic plant – the Eucalypt – will take centre stage at the Australian Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. The Eucalypt Festival has something for all the family to do over the two days, from kids’ activities to walks, talks and workshops. Easter Sunday is themed as Family Day and Easter Monday as Gardeners’ Day. The focus of the Eucalypt Festival on Easter Sunday is on families and what better way to celebrate than the free Easter Bandicoot Hunt. The kids will love the art and craft activities, live music, face painting, roving performers, and Bug Blitz workshops. On Easter Monday the focus is on gardeners with a range of guided walks, Eucalypt-themed tours, and hands-on gardening workshops on offer, as well as more live music and roving performers. Plus, enjoy a sneak preview of Stage 2 of the Australian Garden, which is due to open in late 2012. Get a closer look at some of the completed areas, find out more about the final areas under construction, and gain a rare insight into what the second and final stage of this modern botanic garden will look like. And with entry fees no longer applicable for the Australian Garden, the Eucalypt Festival is a fun and wallet-friendly day out for the whole family! Some of the highlights of the Eucalypt Festival include: - 'The Eucalypts' art display, which includes beautiful artworks by illustrator Sandra Sanger from the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne Botanic Illustrators group, will be open from 9am - 5pm on both days. FREE - Get into the Easter spirit with the Easter Bandicoot Hunt for chocolate bandicoots in the Woodland Picnic Area. Sunday 8 April, 9.30 - 10.30am. FREE - Easter Bandicoot Bush Ball featuring Shenanigans band and bush dancing. Both days, 12 - 2pm. FREE - Stroll through the Eucalypt Walk on a guided tour with renowned Eucalypt expert Leon Costermans. Monday 9 April, 11am - 12 noon. $19.20 adult, $16.70 concession. Bookings are required. - Didgeridoo performance and workshops - discover how a didgeridoo is made and have a go at playing one! Both days, 12 - 2pm. FREE - Australian Wildlife Display featuring animals from our eastern Eucalypt forests and highlighting the diversity of our forests. Both days, 10am - 4pm. FREE ... and much more! Check out the website - www.rbg.vic.gov.au - for the full program of events. Please note: bookings are required for the Guided Tour with Leon Costermans and Mini-beasts program. Call the Visitor Centre on (03) 5990 2245 for bookings and further details.