Attracting over 1.6 million visitors annually, the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne is a treasured part of Melbourne's cultural life and a valuable asset to the heritage-rich city. With its stunning vistas, tranquil lakes and diverse plant collections, the Gardens are a place of continual discovery and delight.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne is home to both amazing and diverse plant collections such as camellias, rainforest flora, succulents and cacti, roses, Californian species, herbs, perennials, cycads and plants from Southern China. The newly opened Guilfoyle's Volcano in the Gardens offers visitors a fabulous new precinct to explore.

The Gardens also provide a natural sanctuary for native wildlife such as the black swans, eels, bell birds, cockatoos and kookaburras. A popular attraction is The Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden.

The Children's Garden has everything that children could possibly want to help them discover the natural world: plant tunnels that they can crawl through, rocks that they can climb and a bamboo forest in which they can hide.

The RBG holds a number of walks and tours which introduce visitors to the history, cultural significance and horticultural diversity of Melbourne's finest garden.

Located at Observatory Gate, the Visitor Centre is the meeting place for all tours. Information Officers will inform visitors about special features, tours and activities to suit their needs. Visitors can enjoy the magnificent Gardens setting whilst feasting on delicious meals at the Terrace Tearooms and the Observatory Café.

The award-winning Gardens Shop is the place to shop for botanical-inspired souvenirs and gifts including stationery, skincare, books and greeting cards.

During the warmer months, the Royal Botanic Gardens becomes a vibrant cultural venue with outdoor cinema, theatre performances, and exhibitions regularly scheduled.

Local directions

From Flinders St Station, catch tram numbers 3,5,6,8,16,64,67,or 72 down St Kilda Road and get off at Domain Junction, walk past the Shrine of Remembrance to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Or catch tram no 8 and get off at Domain Road, cross the road to the Royal Botanic Gardens. The Royal Botanic Gardens is a 10 minute walk, down St Kilda Road, from Flinders St Station.

Facilities

Activities

Opening hours

The Ian Potter Foundation Childrens Garden is open 10am - 4pm Wednesday to Sunday. It is closed for maintenance for two months at the conclusion of the Victorian July school holidays. The rest of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne is open during this time.

Daily
7:30am -8:30pm
Open every day from 7.30am to sunset.

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

Aboriginal Heritage Walk ~ Spirit ~ Connection ~ Land
The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne rest on a traditional camping and meeting place for the local custodians of the area - the Boonwurrung and Woiworrung people. The Aboriginal Heritage Walk is a rich and vibrant cultural experience. Share in the wealth of local plant lore and see the land through the eyes of your Aboriginal guide. Group tours available daily at all times. General public tours every Tuesday and Thursday and the first Sunday of each month. 11am-12.30pm Meet at the Visitor Centre, Observatory Gate. $25 adult $21 concession $10 child (aged 6 -17) Bookings essential: (03) 9252 2429

Lunar Tours at the Melbourne Observatory
Be enchanted by the mystical Moon with our expert astronomical guides at the Melbourne Observatory. The first quarter is an ideal time to explore the Moon's surface which is studded with craters and strewn with rocks and dust. Discover lots of amazing facts about the Earth's only natural satellite and why the Moon can appear to wobble! Recommended for families with children aged 8 years and above. General public tours on Monday evenings 8-9pm or 9-10pm during spring. Meet at the Melbourne Observatory, outside the Visitor Centre at Observatory Gate. $14 adult $10 concession $40 family (two adults and up to three children) *Bookings essential

Spring Open Day 2011
Spring Open Day at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Sunday 25 September 10am – 5pm Major partner: City of Melbourne Spring Open Day is the biggest event on the Royal Botanic Gardens' calendar and a once-a-year opportunity to wander behind the scenes at the Gardens. Best of all, the tours, activities and entertainment are all FREE! Some of the highlights of this year’s event include: - NEW! The ‘Green Room’ - a hub of gardening advice featuring landscape architect Andrew Laidlaw - NEW! Tours with our inspiring Horticulturists through their plant Collections - NEW! Bug Blitz family discovery walks, including DNA soil sampling - NEW! Meet the charming talking animals of The Wind in the Willows as we celebrate 25 years of this perennial family favourite at RBG Melbourne - NEW! ‘Forest Fantasy’ craft exhibition by Plant Craft Cottage to celebrate its 30th anniversary - The ‘Secrets of the Herbarium’ tour returns in 2011, offering a very rare glimpse of the workings of this scientific institution - Insider guided tours of the Nursery with expert RBG staff - Tours of historic Gardens House, home to the first Directors of the Gardens - 'Spirit of the Land' tour with an Indigenous guide and bush tucker tastings - Live African music, roving entertainers, hula hooping workshops - For the kids: plant a seed in the Children’s Garden, make ears and tails from plants, Hey dee ho live performance, story time, balloon animals and fairy floss - Growing Friends’ Plant Sale – take home a piece of the Gardens for your home garden. Last year’s event drew more than 11,000 visitors for a day of free family fun. Don’t miss out this year - pack a picnic, bring the family and celebrate spring at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. All activities are free to the public but numbers for all tours are limited. To avoid disappointment, visitors are advised to book by contacting the Visitor Centre on (03) 9252 2429. Program details are available at www.rbg.vic.gov.au or call the Visitor Centre on (03) 9252 2429 for more information.