What's on

Come along and see members of the Craft Groups demonstrate their work.

Visitors are welcome to watch and ask questions of any member of the Craft Groups. However, visitors are not permitted to take part in any demonstrations.

Please note: The Garden demonstrations are between 10.30am - 12 noon.

Tuesdays in autumn – open from 10.30 am to 2pm
(Garden demonstrations are between 10.30am – 12pm)

• 2 February, 4 May - Basketry
• 9 February, 9 March, 13 April,11 May - Fibre
• 16 February - Counterpart Craft
• 23 February - Garden
• 2 March - Natural dye
  
• 16 March - Papermaking
  
• 9, 23 & 30 March / 13 & 27 April / 11 & 25 May - Garden
• 30 March - Plant Card
  
• 20 April - Pot Pourri
• 18 May - Counterpart Craft
  

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!

Suitable for families with children aged 8 and over.

Retreat to the warm, humid tropics inside the Tropical Hothouse.

Experience the feeling of walking through dense vegetation and discover the weird and wonderful plants of the tropical rainforests.

Take a step back in time and be astonished by early plant life, which has evolved from before dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Pick up a brochure from the hothouses located near E Gate on Birdwood Avenue.

Journey into the ancestral lands of the Kulin nation and explore their rich and thriving culture on this award-winning walk in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

Experience a traditional smoking ceremony with our Indigenous Guides and discover traditional uses of plants for food, tools and medicine.

Would you like to stroll in the Royal Botanic Gardens with the Director of Melbourne Gardens or unearth botanical secrets with the Manager of Horticulture?

This exclusive tour provides an opportunity to gain a rare insight into the iconic Gardens and concludes with a Devonshire Tea overlooking the Ornamental Lake.

Step deep into the Australian bush with an Indigenous guide and explore the myriad of native bush foods that can be found in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

Listen to ancient plant lore and experience these plants from the bush to the plate by tasting a selection of authentic and delicious seasonal bush foods, herbs and spices prepared by celebrity Indigenous chef Mark Olive and Black Olive Productions. 

Tjanabi means to celebrate life. Begin your celebration journey into the ancestral lands of the Kulin nation and explore their rich and thriving culture on the award-winning Aboriginal Heritage Walk in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

Experience a traditional smoking ceremony with our Indigenous Guides and discover traditional uses of plants for food, tools and medicine.

After the walk, make your own way to the popular Tjanabi restaurant, located at Federation Square in the heart of Melbourne. Enjoy a delicious lunch featuring the tastes of Australian game and wild foods.

Take a snapshot of the picturesque Royal Botanic Gardens on this short guided walk. Admire the sweeping vistas, discover what's in bloom and uncover some unusual trees and striking plants.

A wonderful opportunity to discover Plant Craft Cottage, the oldest building in public gardens in Victoria. This heritage-listed building is open to the public on the third Sunday of the month.

On display will be some of the wonderful hand-made items created by the volunteers at Plant Craft Cottage, with some craft goods available to purchase.

Experience the amazing plants in the Gardens that are used for food on this delectable walk and discover the essence of chocolate! Spice up your senses with stories and recipes of cinnamon, cardamom and the delicious vanilla bean.

This aromatic adventure ends with a delicious chocolate treat overlooking the tranquil Ornamental Lake. 

Take a guided tour around the picturesque Ornamental Lake, a natural sanctuary for native wildlife such as Black swans, eels, Bell miners and cockatoos.

Discover the wide variety of plants around the lake, including Long Island, an area that displays a collection of plants indigenous to Melbourne.

Ideal for a short tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne!

Enjoy the outdoors and visit our coffee and ice cream cart outside The Terrace entrance. Perfect for a take away and to enjoy in the great outdoor.

Discover seasonal highlights, unusual plants, spiky trees and some spectacular sweeping views of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

Walk with one of our expert Guides to their favourite spots, uncover hidden treasures and discover what's in bloom

Invite an expert Voluntary Guide from the Royal Botanic Gardens to visit your venue and take you on a virtual journey down the Gardens' paths!

This engaging presentation will inspire home gardeners and anyone interested in the past and present of Melbourne's favourite public garden.

The Terrace's location in the heart of the Royal Botanic Gardens, located on the edge of the  Ornamental Lake is one of Melbourne's great treasures.

Enjoy all the summer events at The Terrace and all year round at this special venue.  We welcome you soon.

For details visit www.thegardensshop.com.au.

The Twilight Concert Music series is held at The Terrace on the first Thursday of each month and presents some of Australia's gifted musicians in an unforgettable evening of music, complemented by stunning views of the Gardens.

Take the time to sit back, relax and enjoy the experience. Visit our website for the dining menu and details.

Be on the look out for our weekend specials at The Tearooms and treat yourself to something special from the menu.

Available for your picnic in the Gardens.

Let us do the work for you and pack you a beautiful hamper to enjoy. Phone to order or order online and collect on the day. Easy and enjoyable!

Available seven days a week with 48 hours notice.

Drop into The Terrace for morning tea during the week and enjoy our special Mother’s Club morning tea offer.

Choose from a scone/muffin and tea/coffee (no hot chocolate) and a baby cappuccino for just $8. Catch up with friends and relax in a beautiful setting as the kids play in the sunshine.

The Terrace is now serving traditional high tea.

Come and enjoy our homemade scones, miniature cakes, chocolate dipped strawberry's and ribbon sandwiches. A must, for an afternoon of palate pampering.

See our menu on our website. Available seven days a week with 48 hours notice. Great idea for special occasions. Book a party or hens day!

Enjoy our outdoor barbecues every Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon. Choose from delicious bratwurst, beef burgers and vegetarian burgers to go with your ice creams and drinks.

Take a cool walk on a hot summer's day with one or our friendly guides. Take in the magnificent vistas and discover the history and cultural significance of Melbourne's favourite gardens.

Our outlets at RBG Melbourne and RBG Cranbourne offer a botanic shopping experience with a range of Royal Botanic Gardens branded merchandise including greeting cards, chutneys, jams and sauces, Maxwell and Williams tableware and RBG clothing.

Autumn comes alive with our wonderful botanically-themed merchandise to brighten up your home. This season’s highlights include exquisite handmade clay orchids of different sizes, a range of beautiful botanic artwork and an in-depth collection of books.

As usual, our Artists-in-Residence program will be running at both sites. For details visit www.thegardensshop.com.au.

Royalties from all purchases assist the Gardens in its mission to advance the knowledge and enjoyment of plants and to foster their conservation. Enjoy the present and protect the future, and help ensure that the Gardens will continue to delight visitors for many years to come.

The Gardens Market continues at RBG Melbourne, with over 100 stallholders selling quality products in beautiful surroundings.

The Gardens Market offers a beautiful selection of botanic-themed products including plants, seasonal produce, food, garden sculptures, craft, music and much more.

Ford Fiesta Moonlight Cinema and the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne present THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR PARNASSUS.

In Heath Ledger’s last starring role before his tragic death, he reteams with the terrifically trippy director Terry Gilliam (FEAR & LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS), co-starring with CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER, JOHNNY DEPP, JUDE LAW and COLIN FARRELL in this captivating, explosive and wonderfully imaginative film.

All proceeds go to the Royal Botanic Gardens so support Melbourne’s iconic Gardens that we all love and enjoy. 

Download PDF flyer.

Suitable for children aged 3-4 years; adult participation is required.

Sing some songs, shake out some rhythms... come and enjoy music inspired by plants and animals of the garden. Created especially for 3 to 4 year olds, this program provides fun with song and movement in The Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden.

Enjoy a colourful autumn walk with one of our friendly guides and discover the history, cultural significance and stunning beauty of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

Come and view Mars, the Red Planet through one of our historic telescopes. See the red hue of its rocks, soil and sky. Mars was once thought to have been Earth¬like, but its surface is now known to have volcanism and periodic dust storms that engulf the entire planet. Join our astronomers as they guide you through a universe of stars, planets and clusters at the Melbourne Observatory. Suitable for families with children aged 8 and over.

Suitable for children aged 18 months – 2 years. Adult participation is required.

Sing along with Hey dee ho as they bring percussion, music and movement to the Children’s Garden. Listen to the rustlings of plants, discover the world of bugs and dance around the trees in this nine week music program designed for toddlers.

Fundraiser for ACF’s Sustainable Seafood Program

Imagine a world without seafood! Come and sample the best of Australia’s sustainable seafood whilst hearing the lowdown of sustainability. Bookings essential $65 per person seafood degustation menu and glass of wine. $5 donation for additional wine

RSVP Beth Gould on 03 9345 1127

An introduction to Basketry – coiling a coaster to a fruitbowl. All materials and notes provided.

Suitable for children aged 4 – 8 years. Adult participation required.

Sing about autumn and all things colourful! Play a guessing game before uncovering some of the secret places in the garden where creatures make their homes, then make a nest of your own to take home.

Suitable for children aged 4 – 8 years. Adult participation required.

Explore some of the treasures of the garden, like seeds, flowers, bark and leaves. Collect your own garden treasure and then decorate a treasure collection box. Sow a collection of seeds to take home and grow.

The Terrace will be raising money for the Royal Children’s Hospital with pot painting hosted on Easter Saturday.

Your donation will go to the Royal Children’s Hospital. Hot cross buns will be available from the Terrace café and a BBQ will be held over the Easter weekend, weather permitting.

Look out for the kids’ Easter egg scramble on Sunday.

Create a fantastic friend using a range of items straight from the garden, including gum nuts, seed pods and banksias. This activity runs continuously and is recommended for children pre-school age and above.

Join us for sparkling wine and hors d'oeuvres as we celebrate the opening of Guilfoyle’s Volcano by twilight.

Guilfoyle’s Volcano, hidden for decades, is now erupting in full glory. Lava flows of plant material surge down from the crater. A bold, contemporary landscape design features fascinating and unusual plants – succulents, arid-zone and native species – all adapted to survival in a changing climate. Climb easy-access ramps for stunning views of Melbourne. Look inside the volcano (in fact, an 1876 water reservoir) and see floating gardens that act as a natural water treatment system. Experience Guilfoyle’s grand design as you walk down the lava¬flow lawns to Nymphaea Lily Lake. A plant will be given to you as a memento of this new and inspiring feature in the Gardens.

Guilfoyle’s Volcano, hidden for decades, is now erupting in full glory. A bold, contemporary landscape design features fascinating and unusual plants – succulents, arid-zone and native species – all adapted to survival in a changing climate. Climb easy-access ramps for stunning views of Melbourne. Look inside the volcano (in fact, an 1876 water reservoir) and see floating gardens that act as a natural water treatment system. 

Experience Guilfoyle’s grand design as you walk down the lava flow lawns to Nymphaea Lily Lake. A plant will be given to you as a memento of this new and inspiring feature in the Gardens.

Suitable for children aged 4–5 years. Adult participation is required.

Experience the magic of gardening in autumn. An opportunity for little people to explore the world of plants and gardening by getting their hands in the soil and enjoying a range of fun, plant-related activities. A chance to grow a little with The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden.

Enjoy home baked ANZAC cookies and if the weather is fine, a traditional Aussie barbecue with sausages and beef burgers at 12 noon.

‘ANCIENT DYES ‘ Workshop Using wool and silk samples and working with a selection of dyes, cochineal fustic, indigo, logwood and madder. All materials are provided.

A special Mother’s Day brunch menu will be available to spoil your Mum with. Look out for our Mother’s Day specials and bring her along to The Terrace to celebrate.

Ford Fiesta Moonlight Cinema is an outdoor cinema screening latest release, classic and contemporary films.

Gather a group of friends and relax with a picnic as the sun sets before the screen lights up.

The Australian Shakespeare Company proudly presents Glenn Elston's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

‘Beautiful and wickedly entertaining' THE AGE

"The course of true love never did run smooth!" (but it can be very funny) - especially as the sun is setting over the Royal Botanic Gardens this summer and you're sitting under the stars, the picnic hamper is a lot lighter and the fairies are about to come out to play mayhem with the innocent lovers and well-meaning fools in the madcap world of A Midsummer Night's Dream.