This spring, live music, astronomy and orchid conservation take centre stage at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.
Longer days, magnificent blooms and unforgettable experiences await at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria as the spring 2026 event program arrives. Across Melbourne and Cranbourne Gardens, visitors can enjoy everything from live music under the stars and contemporary art installations to conservation tours, First Peoples experiences, family activities and wellbeing programs inspired by nature.
At Melbourne Gardens, a major highlight of the season is the return of Live at the Gardens; Melbourne's acclaimed open-air concert series. This year's line-up includes Australian and international acts DMA's, Cat Power, Wolf Alice, Hoodoo Gurus, Dizzee Rascal and more. The Push returns to celebrate 40 years of this iconic festival with an all-star lineup including Bodyjar, Frenzal Rhomb, Killing Heidi, Magic Dirt and Regurgitator.
Spring also brings a strong focus on creativity inspired by the natural world through Design X Nature, an outdoor exhibition presented as part of Melbourne Fringe. Set within the Australian Drylands Precinct at Melbourne Gardens, the exhibition showcases new commissions that explore how nature can influence design, innovation and ecological thinking. Walks, talks, and workshops will extend the experience, inviting audiences to consider new ways of understanding the relationship between people and the environment. On selected exhibition dates, visitors can also enjoy a refreshing drink from the Brunswick Aces Gin Pop-Up, featuring The Arborist, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria's exclusive botanical gin collaboration with Brunswick Aces.
Visitors to Cranbourne Gardens can step behind the scenes of the world's largest Orchid Conservation Program with an expert-led tour, while guided experiences focused on climate science, biodiversity, native wildlife and habitat creation offer practical ways for the public to participate in protecting Australia’s unique ecosystems.
Across both Gardens, spring provides countless opportunities to reconnect with nature and support personal wellbeing. Forest Therapy experiences invite visitors to slow down and engage their senses in tranquil garden settings, while Harp Meditations in Melbourne Gardens offer a unique opportunity to unwind among the striking landscapes of the Arid Garden. Seasonal walks, birdwatching programs and guided explorations further encourage meaningful time outdoors during one of Victoria’s most beautiful times of year.
Families can celebrate the school holidays with free Nature Play events in Melbourne and Cranbourne, where children are encouraged to explore, create and discover through hands-on activities inspired by the natural world. As spring flowers emerge and gardens come to life, these programs offer young visitors' opportunities to build lasting connections with nature through play and curiosity.
The program also continues to celebrate First Peoples knowledge and culture through the Gardens’ popular Aboriginal Heritage Walk, offering visitors the chance to learn from First Peoples guides about the significance of the landscape, native plants and the enduring connection of the Kulin Nation to Country.
For those seeking discovery and wonder, the season offers an extraordinary range of experiences, from daytime and evening astronomy tours at the historic Melbourne Observatory to immersive explorations of Australian flora, wildlife, architecture and garden design. Visitors can also celebrate the abundance of spring at the popular Friends of Melbourne Gardens and Friends of Cranbourne Gardens plant sales, where a unique selection of Australian natives and beloved garden favourites will be available to take home. When it's time to relax and refuel, visitors can enjoy a variety of dining options, from casual bites to café favourites, at The Terrace and The Observatory Kiosk in Melbourne Gardens, or Boon Wurrung Café at Cranbourne Gardens. Whether inspired by science, culture, conservation, creativity or simply the opportunity to spend time outdoors, the spring 2026 program offers something for every age and interest.
Background Information
Andie Dittman
Communications and Media Coordinator
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
communications@rbg.vic.gov.au
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
Live At The Gardens: Melbourne’s open-air concert series returns to the Observatory Precinct, bringing world-class live music performances to one of the city’s most beautiful outdoor venues. Presented in partnership with MG Live, the series features a lineup of acclaimed local and international artists performing under the stars.
Push Over – 40 Years of The Push: The Push celebrates 40 years of supporting young people and Australian music with a special all-ages event at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne on Saturday 21 November. Featuring Bodyjar, Frenzal Rhomb, Killing Heidi, Magic Dirt and Regurgitator, the one-day festival pays tribute to the legacy of the iconic Push Over festival. Exclusive guest collaborations and special performances will make this a unique celebration of Australian music across generations.
Design X Nature Exhibition: An outdoor exhibition in the Australian Drylands Precinct exploring how natural systems inspire creative practice, material experimentation and ecological thinking. Featuring new works by Courtney Coombs, Cara Johnson, Bethany Kiss and Soft Meadow Collective presented by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria as part of Melbourne Fringe.
Design X Nature Walks, Talks and Workshops: A series of artist residencies, nature journaling workshops, ecology walks and panel discussions designed to deepen visitors’ engagement with the Design X Nature exhibition and the relationship between art, science and nature.
Wattle Walk: Celebrate National Wattle Day on a guided walk through a remarkable collection of Australia’s iconic wattles, showcasing their diversity, beauty and ecological significance.
Stellar Nights: A guided evening tour through Melbourne Observatory with passionate guides from the Astronomical Society of Victoria. Visitors can explore the Observatory’s history and view celestial wonders through two of its iconic telescopes.
Solar Tours: An expert-led daytime astronomy experience at Melbourne Observatory offering safe solar viewing through the restored 4-inch Photoheliograph telescope and solar projection with the Troughton & Simms telescope. Visitors can observe sunspots, solar granulation and learn about the history of solar astronomy.
Robin Boyd’s Neighbourhood Walking Tour: An expertly guided 2.5km walk through South Yarra’s remarkable architectural landscape. Beginning at Melbourne Gardens, the tour explores the legacy of renowned architect Robin Boyd and the precinct’s collection of heritage-listed residences.
Forest Therapy: Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing,” this guided wellbeing experience uses nature connection, sensory awareness and mindfulness activities to support mental and physical health, reduce stress and improve wellbeing.
Harp Meditations by Michael Johnson: A relaxing wellbeing experience combining guided meditation, live harp music and storytelling within the tranquil setting of the Arid Garden.
Aboriginal Heritage Walk: Visitors will gain insight into the rich history and thriving culture of the First Peoples of Australia with a First Peoples guide at this significant cultural site for the local Kulin Nation. Topics include Aboriginal plant uses, customs, ongoing connection to Country and significant native plants within the Gardens.
Sonica Botanica: Stories and Sounds from the Gardens by Patrick Cronin: Visitors can bring their mobile phone and headphones and scan the Sonica Botanica QR code to experience six immersive audio episodes exploring special landscapes and plant collections throughout Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, including the Arid Garden, Fern Gully and Long Island.
Secret Life of Birds: This guided walking tour explores the diverse birdlife of the Gardens, including water birds nesting around Ornamental Lake. Participants will learn about local species and receive a take-home bird guide.
ClimateWatch Walk: A free guided walk where visitors can learn how climate change is affecting plants and wildlife while contributing observations to Australia’s national ClimateWatch citizen science program. The collected data helps inform climate change research and responses.
The Explorer Bus Melbourne: An open-air minibus tour through the Gardens where visitors enjoy live commentary while discovering the landscapes, collections and stories that make Melbourne Gardens unique.
Free Guided Walk: Led by knowledgeable volunteer guides, visitors can discover stunning landscapes, fascinating plant collections and stories from one of Melbourne’s most iconic attractions.
Botanical Art: Science, Specimens and Stories: A presentation exploring the connection between botanical illustration and science through rare botanical artworks and specimens from the State Botanical Collection.
Melbourne Friends Spring Plant Sale: A popular annual plant sale offering Australian natives, orchids, herbs, succulents and more, hosted by the Melbourne Friends.
Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne
Orchid Conservation Tours: A behind-the-scenes tour of the world’s largest endangered orchid rewilding program. Visitors gain insight into native orchid conservation, scientific research and the efforts to establish new wild orchid populations.
Forest Therapy: Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing,” this guided wellbeing experience uses nature connection, sensory awareness and mindfulness activities to support mental and physical health, reduce stress and improve wellbeing.
Flora Australis: A guided walking tour exploring the evolutionary history of Australia’s unique plants, from their Gondwanan origins to their adaptation to soils, climate and fire.
Birds in the Australian Garden: A guided exploration of the birds that call the Australian Garden home, focusing on how they shape ecosystems through feeding, nesting and pollination.
Gardens for Wildlife & Bandicoots: A guided walk highlighting Cranbourne Gardens’ role as a refuge for endangered Southern Brown Bandicoots and other native wildlife, while providing practical tips on creating wildlife-friendly gardens at home.
ClimateWatch Walk: A free guided biodiversity monitoring walk where participants learn about climate change impacts on native species and contribute valuable scientific observations.
The Explorer Bus Cranbourne: An open-air electric bus tour that journeys through the Australian Garden, showcasing the iconic landscapes and plant communities of Australia with live commentary from a guide.
Free Australian Garden Walk: A free guided tour through the highlights of the award-winning Australian Garden, introducing visitors to Australia's extraordinary plant diversity and landscape design.
Cranbourne Friends Spring Plant Sale: A community plant sale featuring a wide variety of Australian native plants propagated by the Growing Friends, with proceeds supporting projects at Cranbourne Gardens.
School Holiday Explorer Bus: Children ride half price on The Explorer Bus during the Victorian school holidays at both Melbourne and Cranbourne Gardens.
Nature Play Melbourne: Free nature play experiences encouraging children to connect with the natural world through exploration, creativity and sensory play.
Nature Play Cranbourne: Family-friendly school holiday activities that invite children to discover local plants, animals and habitats through interactive, nature-based experiences.