Family Fun

The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden

The Children’s Garden is the perfect place for kids who love to get their hands dirty. There’s lots of fun places to explore including the Ruin Garden, the Meeting Place (which has a water feature that sprays up out of the ground in summer!), a Wetland Area, Bamboo Forest, The Gorge, Plant Tunnel, Kitchen Garden (full of yummy vegetables!) and the Rill (a gentle waterway that runs through the Garden).

Find these magical places on the map and guide, along with everything you need to know to enjoy your visit.

Opening Hours

Open:
10am - Sunset, Wednesday to Sunday and all public holidays
10am - Sunset, seven days per week during Victorian State School holidays

Closed:
Monday & Tuesday during Victorian State School term time

Splish splash! Who’s making a dash through the water-play areas?

Kids just love water – and with a small stream running through the lawn and bubbling rock fountain you can expect the kids to get wet! If the day is forecast to be over 25 ̊C the spurting fountains will be in operation. Toddlers love splashing and running their hands through the water. The Rill (stream) operates everyday from 10am - 4pm. If the day is forecast to be over 25 ̊C the spurting fountains will be in operation from 10am - 4pm.

Good idea to bring a change of clothes and aqua nappies are recommended for smaller children. Please understand that this is a public space and children do need to remain clothed at all times and always remember to slip slop slap! Water features are turned off at approximately 4pm.

Where’s a good spot for a picnic?

Picnics take up lots of space in the Children’s Garden, which is needed for jumping, running and playing!

So step out into the Gardens and try these spots to throw down your picnic rug and enjoy the beautiful views:

• Oak Lawn, beneath the mighty oaks there’s lots of space to play. A favourite for kids in autumn as the colourful leaves fall to the ground.
• Princes Lawn, has views down to Central Lake and a gentle hill to roll down
• Try the aptly named ‘Picnic Point’ for a lakeside experience and look for eels, black swans and see who’s getting their feathers wet!

Are four-legged friends welcome?

Yes, absolutely, bring your four-legged friends for a walk in the Gardens, just remember to keep them on a lead and pick up any doggy deposits! Please note that dogs are not allowed in the Children’s Garden and they cannot be tied to the gates/fence surrounding the Children’s Garden.

Who lives in the lake?

The Ornamental Lake is full of interesting wildlife and a great place for children to explore, have a look at birds in the Gardens and start spotting! Look out for fairy wrens and cockatoos and hear the high pitched ‘bell’ noise of the bell minor. Look into the lake and you may be lucky enough to see short-finned eels or even a long-necked turtle.

It’s starting to rain. Where do we go?

• Why not step into the Tropical Glasshouse? Older children will enjoy the self-guided tour which looks at weird and wonderful plants from the rainforest; find out which plant eats bugs!
• Head to the Observatory Café or The Terrace for some delicious afternoon tea or a slice of cake.
• Drop into the Visitor Centre and sign up for some upcoming programs and events.
• Enjoy the rain and have a rain dance in the Gardens, its Melbourne!

• Try Fawkner Park for some traditional play equipment and space to kick a ball around (no ball games are allowed in the Royal Botanic Gardens)
• Artplay in Birrarung Marr near Federation Square has some exciting outdoor play equipment

Events and activities

The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden

There is always plenty of family fun each season in the Children’s Garden. Check out What’s On and book in for a school holiday program that may set you dancing and shaking in the Garden, enjoy a toddler music program or some budding green thumb gardening activities.

Plant Craft Cottage

Make a ‘fantastic friend’ from seedpods or gum-nuts; just one of the exciting school holiday programs that are run at Plant Craft Cottage, located near ‘H’ gate.