Spring 2008

Aboriginal Heritage Walk: Spirit ~ Connection ~ Land

When:

Every Thursday and Friday in spring.
11am-12.30pm 

First Sunday of the month in spring
(October and November).

Where:

Meet at the Visitor Centre, Observatory Gate.

Cost:

$18 adults, $14 concession, $9 children (aged 6-17),

$50 family (2 adults and up to 3 children)

Bookings & enquiries:

Tel: (03) 9252 2429. Bookings required.
Group bookings can be made by special arrangement.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne rest on a traditional camping and meeting place for the local custodians of the area - the Boonerwrung and Woiwurrung 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.

Boomerangs and bush tales ~ Family Tour

When:

First Sunday of the month in spring
(October and November).
2pm-3.30pm

Where:

Meet at the Visitor Centre, Observatory Gate.

Cost:

$18 adults, $14 concession, $9 children (aged 6-17),

$50 family (2 adults and up to 3 children)

Bookings & enquiries:

Tel: (03) 9252 2429. Bookings required.

Womin Ji-Ka Womin Ji-Ka (Welcome, Welcome).

Step into the land of the Boonerwrung and Woiwurrung people. Join our Indigenous guide for a traditional tanderum or welcome ceremony. Learn about traditional tools and how boomerangs were used for hunting. Then sit beneath a shady tree and listen to ancient bush tales whilst children enjoy ochre painting and string making.

Spring Discovery Walk

When:

Everyday except Monday, 11am and 2pm.

Where:

Meet at the Visitor Centre, Observatory Gate.

Cost:

FREE

Bookings & enquiries:

Tel: (03) 9252 2429. Bookings not required.

Group bookings can be made by special arrangement and fees will apply.

Beyond the garden gate

When:

By arrangement (any day except Monday)

Where:

Offsite presentation

Cost:

$50 group rate
$20 concession rate per group for aged care facilities

Bookings & enquiries:

Tel: (03) 9252 2429. Bookings required.

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 both home gardeners and anyone interested in the past and present of one of Melbourne's favourite gardens.

Lunar tours ~ Old Melbourne Observatory

When:

Thursday:

6 November: 9 – 10pm

Where:

Meet at the Visitor Centre, Observatory Gate.

Cost:

$14 adults, $10 concession,
$40 family (2 adults and up to 3 children)

Bookings & enquiries:

Tel: (03) 9252 2429. Bookings required.

Group bookings can be made by special arrangement

Be enchanted by the mystical moon with our expert astronomical guides at the Old Melbourne Observatory. The ‘first quarter' is an ideal time to explore the Moon's surface, 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!

Moons and storms of Jupiter ~ Old Melbourne Observatory

When:

Where:

Meet at the Visitor Centre, Observatory Gate.

Cost:

$18 adults, $14 concession,
$50 family (2 adults and up to 2 children)

Bookings & enquiries:

Tel: (03) 9252 2429. Bookings required.

Group bookings can be made by special arrangement.

Jupiter is the fourth brightest object in the sky and by far the largest planet. It is more than twice as large as all the other planets combined - it's eleven times bigger than the Earth! Join us as we look through our historic telescopes and see the storms of Jupiter. You might be lucky enough to gaze at the Great Red Spot - a giant anticyclonic storm that is known to have existed since at least the seventeenth century!

We will also look for the four large moons called the Galilean moons that were discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610.

Movin' and groovin' in the Children's Garden
The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden

When:

Wednesdays:
9.30 – 10.15am or 10.30 – 11.15am

12, 19, 26 November
3 and 10 December

5- or 10-week programs available.

Where:

Meet at the Visitor Centre, Observatory Gate.

Cost:

$130 for all ten sessions.
$65 for five sessions.

Bookings & enquiries:

Tel: (03) 9252 2429. Bookings required
A maximum of 15 children per group applies.

Presented by Hey Dee Ho

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 beetles and dance around the trees in this new 10 week music program designed for toddlers. (A five week option is also available.)

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

Budding green thumbs
The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden

When:

11 November

10am -- 11am (4 sessions)

Where:

Meet at the Visitor Centre, Observatory Gate.

Cost:

$40 includes all four sessions.

Bookings & enquiries:

Tel: (03) 9252 2429. Bookings required

Make a little spring gardening magic with Budding Green Thumbs. Activities include planting, harvesting and caring for vegetables in the Children's Garden. There's fun with stories and a range of garden crafts. A chance to grow a little with the Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden.

Suitable for 4 - 5 year olds. Adult participation is required.

Shake, rattle and stroll
The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden

When:

13 and 25 November:

10 – 10.45am or 11 – 11.45am

Where:

Meet at the Visitor Centre, Observatory Gate.

Cost:

$7 per child.

Bookings & enquiries:

Tel: (03) 9252 2429. Bookings required

Make a spring song and dance with music and rhythms inspired by plants and animals of the garden. A program for 3 or 4 year olds to have fun with music and movement, and celebrate spring in the Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden.

Suitable for 3 - 4 year olds. Adult participation is required.

The Art of Botanical Illustration 2008
Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Inc.

When:

8-23 November

10am to 5pm daily

Where:

Domain House Gallery
Dallas Brooks Drive, South Yarra

Cost:

Entry FREE all works for sale

Opening Cocktail Party Friday 7 November 6-8pm
Cost: $30 (Friends $20)
Exhibition 8 - 23 November 10-5 daily

Guided Tours with Louise Coronel Thursday 13 or Tuesday 18 November at 10.00am
COST: $20 MEMBERS ONLY
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

Tel: (03) 9650 3235. Bookings not required.

Sunday 16 November
10am-3pm

Tel: (03) 9650 3235. Bookings essential.

The Gardens Market

When

Saturday: 9am - 2pm
13 December

Where:

Observatory Site, Birdwood Ave, Sth Yarra

Cost:

FREE entry

Bookings & enquiries:

Contact (03) 9899 5979
www.marketsinthegarden.com.au

The Gardens Market is on again at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. Over 100 stallholders selling quality products in beautiful surroundings!

The Gardens Market offers a beautiful selection of botanic themed products including jewellery, garden sculptures, plants, ceramics, mosaics and much more.

Now at RBG Melbourne and RBG Cranbourne!

When:

Monday to Sunday: 9.30am - 5pm

Where:

Observatory Gate Precinct
RBG Melbourne (Birdwood Ave, South Yarra)
Lakeside
opposite the Ornamental Lake, RBG Melbourne
(enter via A or B gates, Anderson Street)
Australian Garden
RBG Cranbourne

Cost:

Various.

*Australian Garden entry fee does not apply to the Cranbourne shop.

Bookings & enquiries:

The Gardens Shop, RBG Melbourne
Tel: (03) 9252 2341

The Gardens Shop, RBG Cranbourne
Tel: (03) 5990 2246

Our outlets at Melbourne and Cranbourne offer a ‘botanic' shopping experience with a range of Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne branded merchandise available. These include greeting cards, chutneys, jams and sauces, Maxwell and Williams tableware and clothing so you can take a little piece of the Gardens home.

March at the Melbourne Shop will see a special focus on art. In addition to the Artist in Residence program there will be many new prints available to view and purchase. The shop will offer specials and discounts on selected prints during the month. This is your opportunity to add to your collection of beautiful art prints from many Victorian and Australian botanic and wildlife artists.  

The Eucalypt Festival at Cranbourne (21 Mar to 6 Apr) will showcase a range of Eucalypt-themed gifts at the shop. Handcrafted by local artists, these include Eucalypt jewellery, ancient River Red Gum gifts, gum leaf bookmarks and more.     

The Gardens Shop also has a variety of events in-store including food tastings, skincare demonstrations and book signings. For details visit www.thegardensshop.com.au.

The Gardens Shop at Observatory Gate is now in the Hall of Fame following its win in the Tourism Retailing category over three consecutive years in the Melbourne Airport Victorian Tourism Awards.