Terms and Conditions

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria has set Regulations that have been carefully designed to ensure that visitors can safely enjoy their experience at the Gardens. All visitors to Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria agree to abide by these Regulations, which can be viewed here.

Acceptance of Terms 

By booking, paying for, or participating in a tour, experience or event operated by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to comply with these Regulations and Terms and Conditions. 

A “Program” refers to any activity booked, paid for, or participated in, including but not limited to a tour, experience, or event.  
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria may be referred to as RBGV, “we”, “us”, or “our”. 

Terms and Conditions for individual programs and events may be subject to change without notice. Please refer to individual event and ticketing pages on RBGV website. 

Booking and Payment

All bookings must be made through our authorised booking platform or directly with RBGV. 

Full payment is required prior to participation, unless an alternative arrangement has been agreed to in writing. 

Prices are quoted in Australian Dollars (AUD) and include GST unless explicitly stated otherwise. 

By purchasing tickets online, you give the RBGV the right to email you a booking confirmation and/or information relating to your visit.  

Ticketing Categories 

The following ticket categories apply to all tours unless otherwise specified:

  • Adult: 16 years and over
  • Child: 4 to 15 years
  • Infant: 3 years and under – free of charge. Infants must be included in the booking for capacity and safety purposes.
  • Concession / Seniors: Available to holders of a valid Australian Government-issued concession or seniors identification card. A valid card must be presented at check-in. Failure to present valid identification may require payment of the applicable full adult fee. 

Additional Requirements:

  • RBGV reserves the right to request proof of age.
  • Children must be accompanied by a paying parent or legal guardian unless otherwise specified. The supervising adult accepts responsibility for the minor’s conduct and safety.
  • All ages are calculated as at the date of the tour. 

Public Holiday Surcharges 

A 10% public holiday surcharge applies to all tours and experiences operating on Victorian State and National public holidays. This surcharge supports the payment of applicable staff penalty rates. 

Public holidays include, but are not limited to: 

  • New Year’s Day (January 1)
  • Australia Day (January 26)
  • Labour Day
  • Easter weekend (Good Friday to Easter Monday)
  • King’s Birthday
  • AFL Grand Final Day (Victoria)
  • Melbourne Cup Day (First Tuesday in November)
  • Christmas Day (December 25)
  • Boxing Day (December 26)
  • New Year’s Eve (December 31)

The applicable surcharge will be clearly communicated at the time of booking. 

Cancellations, Changes and Refunds 

Cancellation or change of booking by participant 

All bookings cancelled or changed with less than 48 hours’ notice or failure to join the tour will incur a 100% cancellation fee. 

Guests can change their visit date more than 48 hours prior to the tour commencing, subject to availability.  

Where a booking is amended, the original booking date and time will still be used to determine whether you are eligible for a refund. Changes to a booking does not extend or reset the applicable cancellation period.  

If a booking is changed to a new date and subsequently cancelled, the original cancellation policy will be applied based on the original booking date not the amended date, and no refund will be issued.  

Cancellation by us 

We reserve the right to cancel, postpone, or reschedule a tour due to: 

  • Severe weather
  • Safety concerns
  • Insufficient participant numbers
  • Illness or unforeseen circumstances 

In such cases, participants will be offered: 

  • A transfer to an alternative date, subject to availability; or
  • A full refund.  

This clause operates subject to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. 

Stellar Nights Cancellation Policy 
Bookings for Stellar Nights are subject to a 100% cancellation fee if cancelled 7 days or less prior to the event.  

Guests can change their visit date more the 7 days prior to the tour commencing, subject to availability. 

Stellar Nights is an all-weather event and occurs both indoors and outdoors, please dress accordingly for all conditions.  

Third Party Ticketing Providers  

Tickets purchased through third party ticketing providers for events held within the Gardens are subject to the terms and conditions of the relevant event organiser and may be issued separately from RBGV ticketing systems. Visitors should refer to the applicable external website for full event details, including booking terms and conditions. 

Weather Policy 

Programs operate in most weather conditions. However, participant and staff safety is our priority. 

We monitor the Bureau of Meteorology for forecasts and warnings and reserve the right to cancel or amend programs at our discretion to ensure the safety of staff, participants, and the protection of the Gardens environment. 

Programs may be postponed, rescheduled, or cancelled where extreme or unsafe weather conditions are forecast or occurring at the discretion of RBGV, including but not limited to: 

  • Extreme heat (including days of Total Fire Ban or temperatures exceeding safe outdoor thresholds) 
  • Severe storms, lightning, or high winds 
  • Heavy rainfall or flooding 
  • Poor air quality (including smoke events)
  • Any weather event deemed unsafe by management or relevant authorities 

If a tour is cancelled by us due to weather: 

  • Participants will be offered a transfer to an alternative date, subject to availability; or
  • A full refund will occur.   

Participants are responsible for checking their email and/or phone for cancellation notifications prior to attending in uncertain weather conditions. 

Programs will not be cancelled for light rain or mild weather variations. Participants are expected to dress appropriately for forecast weather conditions. 

Authorised Tours and Commercial Activity  

All tours and organised activities conducted within RBGV must be delivered by authorised RBGV staff or approved representatives. 

External organisations are not permitted to conduct guided experiences, commercial activities, educational activities, or organised group experiences within RBGV for commercial gain, regardless of whether they are for-profit, not-for-profit, or hold charitable status. 

RBGV reserves the right to refuse entry to, or discontinue, any unauthorised tour or organised activity occurring within the Gardens. 

First Peoples-Led Experiences  

RBGV is committed to providing culturally respectful and safe First Peoples-led experiences. 

By participating in the Aboriginal Heritage Walk or other First Peoples-led programs, guests agree to the following conditions: 

Cultural Respect and Conduct 

Participants must behave respectfully at all times and follow all guidance and cultural protocols provided by the First Peoples guides. Disrespectful, disruptive, or inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated. This includes (but is not limited to) offensive language, intrusive questioning, or failure to follow instructions. 

Cultural Authority and Knowledge Sharing 

Cultural knowledge shared during the experience is place-based and provided at the discretion of the guide. Participants must respect cultural boundaries and refrain from requesting information that is not offered, including sensitive, restricted, or culturally specific knowledge. 

Right to Refuse or Remove Participants 

RBGV reserves the right to refuse participation or remove any guest whose behaviour is considered inappropriate or disrespectful. In such cases, no refund will be provided. 

Photography and Content Sharing 

Participants must seek permission from the guide before taking photographs, recording, or sharing content related to the experience. 

Program Changes and Cancellations 

Out of respect for cultural obligations and community responsibilities, RBGV reserves the right to cancel, postpone, or reschedule a program at short notice. 

Where this occurs, participants will be offered: 

  • A full refund; or 
  • The option to transfer to an alternative date (subject to availability) 

Participant Responsibilities 

Please refer to the information provided on your ticket or in your pre-program email for program details and instructions. 

Participants must: 

  • Behave respectfully towards staff, other participants, and members of the public.
  • Wear appropriate clothing and footwear suitable for outdoor walking.
  • Check their email and/or phone for cancellation notifications prior to attending. 

We reserve the right to remove any participant whose behaviour is unsafe, disruptive, or unlawful, without refund.

Health and Fitness 

Tours may involve walking, standing, and exposure to varying weather conditions and public environments. By participating, you acknowledge that you are physically capable of taking part in the tour. Participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for ensuring they are fit to participate. 

For information on accessibility please view our Melbourne information here and our Cranbourne information here.   

Liability 

Participants are responsible for their own personal belongings at all times. RBGV accepts no liability for:  

  • Loss, theft, or damage to personal items
  • The acts or omissions of third parties
  • Events beyond our reasonable control 

Cloakroom facilities are not available, and bags or personal belongings must not be left unattended at the Visitor Centre.

Child Safe Commitment  

RBGV is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all visitors, particularly children and young people. We prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all individuals, including those who may be vulnerable or face barriers to participation.  

By engaging with our programs and visiting the Gardens, you agree to adhere to our commitment to child safety. We encourage all visitors to review our Child Safe Policy and Child Safety Code of Conduct for more information. 

Excursions, Learning and Education  

Educators must agree to RBGV Learning Terms and Conditions before submitting a booking request. View the full learning terms and conditions here.

Pets 

Pets are not permitted on any programs to ensure the safety, comfort and enjoyment of all participants.  

This restriction does not apply to registered assistance animals. Participants attending with an assistance animal may be required to provide appropriate accreditation in accordance with Victorian law. 

Leashed domestic pets are permitted at Melbourne Gardens outside of tours and programs, while no domestic pets are permitted at Cranbourne Gardens.

Photography and Media  

We encourage participants to take photographs of the beautiful plants and landscapes within the Gardens. 

If you wish to photograph or record other guests or the tour guide, you must first obtain their permission. Please be respectful of the privacy and cultural considerations of others during programs.  

Photography is not permitted during some events and experiences. This will be advised at time of booking and in pre-program communications.  

Promotional photography and filming  

  • We may take photographs or video during programs for promotional purposes
  • By participating, you consent to being photographed or recorded unless you notify us in writing prior to participating or advise a Gardens staff members prior to a program commencing
  • You grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use such images for marketing, promotional and educational purposes across digital and print platforms 

Privacy 

We collect personal information to process bookings and deliver services.

Information is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.