Press Releases

The Australian Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne has been named the top new tourist development in Australia in the 2006 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.

The prestigious Awards salute the tourism industry’s leading operators, businesses and individuals.

The awards were announced at a gala evening in Sydney on 23 February.

Dr Philip Moors, Director and Chief Executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens, said: “This award is overwhelming confirmation that botanic gardens are an important part of tourism in this country.”

“In less than a year of the Australian Garden opening, thousands of people have visited this world-class public garden that celebrates the beauty and diversity of Australia’s plant life.”

The Australian Garden is the first public garden of its scale to have been created in Victoria for more than 150 years.

Its unique design, transformed from a former sand mine, features a stunning Red Sand Garden, a 90 metre long Escarpment Wall and five exhibition gardens. The Australian Garden has a range of facilities including a Visitor Centre, café and retail outlet.

More than 100,000 Australian plants and trees in 15 different settings are incorporated into this fresh look at the Australian landscape – with areas representing desert, dry river beds, arid areas and eucalypts.

“This award will certainly continue to boost the reputation of the Australian Garden as a must-visit place not just for local people but also for interstate and international visitors,” said Dr Moors.

Col Hughes, Chairman, National Tourism Alliance said "Congratulations to all of the winners of the 2006 Qantas Travel and Tourism Awards. Each of the winners have demonstrated the quality and exceptional performance of tourism operator's right across Australia."