Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is open

Melbourne Gardens and Cranbourne Gardens are open.

For the safety of visitors and staff, we will operate with a few changes.

Melbourne Gardens
October – March
Daily, 7.30am – 7:30pm
April – September
Daily, 7.30am – 5.30pm
Closed: drinking fountains

Gardens Shops

Observatory shop is open
Lakeside shop will remain closed due to capacity limitations

Dining

Jardin Tan
Cafe with dine-in options and kiosk
Daily, 8am – 3pm
The Terrace
Cafe with dine-in options
Fri to Sun, 9.30am – 3.30pm
Kiosk for takeaways only
Daily, 9.30am – 3.30pm

Cranbourne Gardens
Daily, 9am – 5pm
Closed: drinking fountains and the Boon Wurrung cafe (see dining option below)

Gardens Shop

Cranbourne Gardens Shop is open

Dining

Oliver’s Vintage Coffee Van
Mon to Fri, 10am – 4pm
Weekends and public holidays, 9.30am – 4pm
Located outside the Visitor Centre in the Australian Garden for coffee and snacks.

Groups of up to 100 are permitted.

Face masks are no longer mandatory when you are outdoors if you can stay 1.5 metres away from people that you do not live with. You must use a fitted face mask when indoors, including in our shops and Visitor Centres, so please continue to carry a face mask with you at all times.

To keep visitors and staff safe, capacity in some public areas is restricted. Food and drink are available at both sites.

Narrow garden pathways are now one way so please follow all signage and maintain a safe distance from others during your visit.

During this period, we will continue our standard cleaning service, with supplementary cleaning of high touch areas. We recommend visitors bring their own hand sanitiser and practice good hygiene.

To help protect our invaluable Living Collections, please do not run within the Gardens.

We greatly appreciate your support and understanding during this time.

Science

Conservation

Victoria's flora and fungi are under increasing threat from climate change, environmental weeds, agriculture, forest clearance and urbanisation. Climate change will especially impact on plants restricted to the coldest environments on mountain summits, which are likely to lose their only suitable habitat. At Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, studies of taxonomy, distribution, population genetics, propagation, translocation and seed banking all contribute to the conservation of Victoria’s and Australia's plants and fungi.

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Seedbank

We collect millions of high-quality seeds from native plant species within Victoria for long-term storage, research and restoration programs.

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Conservation

Our scientists work to maintain biological diversity, including genetic variation, essential for functional ecosystems and the long-term viability of species.

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Weeds and biosecurity

Our research helps to identify, document and combat environmental weeds that pose a threat to native ecosystems and biodiversity.

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Protecting our rare and threatened species

In Victoria, there are nearly 700 native species of threatened plants (among the approximately 3,200 species recorded from the state) along with many others that are rare. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria plays a leading role in programs to conserve these endangered species in order to stabilise or increase populations in their natural habitat. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is particularly involved in the conservation of native terrestrial orchids. Victoria is a 'hotspot' for orchid diversity, with 23 per cent of Australia's orchid species occurring in just 3 per cent of the land area. Most of the native orchid species found in Victoria are terrestrial, and at least a third occur nowhere else.

Horticulture

Plant Collections

Botanic gardens throughout the world play a significant role in helping scientists and the public understand the evolution and history of plants, their present day uses as well as what the future may hold for plants in natural environments. Across our two locations at Melbourne and Cranbourne, our experienced horticulture teams manage 45 plant collections as well as a significant area of precious bushland at Cranbourne Gardens. All of our collections feature plant labels which show each plant's scientific name comprised of a genus and species.

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Sustainable Management

Our horticultural and environmental research is focused on responding to future challenges such as water availability and changing climatic conditions and looking at how these may impact on plant and landscape conservation within the gardens.

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Environmental Management

At both Cranbourne and Melbourne our land management teams focus on irrigation management, finding alternate water sources, water quality and biodiversity of the lakes system; reducing weeds, protecting plants against pests and diseases and managing soils.

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Water conservation

We are constantly striving to improve irrigation efficiency, stormwater treatment, lake ecosystems and water quality in the lake system. Recently the Working Wetlands project was completed at Melbourne Gardens, reducing reliance on potable water by 40%.

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Home gardening

How we garden in botanic gardens, how you garden at home and how we all garden as a community has big impacts on the biodiversity and sustainability of urban Australia. The Australian Garden at Cranbourne is designed to showcase how native plants can make a spectacular and waterwise home garden. There is an Australian plant suitable for virtually any situation in your garden, from tall trees to ground covers, aquatic plants to those growing in low light or in full sun. Australian plants attract native birds and butterflies, and brighten up your garden with wonderful seasonal colour. Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria to find inspiration and great tips for using Australian native plants at home.

Visit Cranbourne

Support

Help the Gardens grow

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria has a special place in the hearts and minds of all Victorians. The Gardens has played an important role in the cultural development of Melbourne and can continue to flourish with the help of passionate individuals. There are many ways to get involved with the Gardens and we value any level of support, whether you are a friend or a donor, a member of our Director’s Circle or one of our volunteers. There are also ways to honour those you love by dedicating a tree or a bench within the Garden of your choice.

Support the Gardens

Become a friend

The Friends of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria at Melbourne and Cranbourne Gardens play an active role in raising funds for the gardens through plant sales and programs.

Join the Friends

Donate

It’s easy to help the Gardens. Any donation over $2 is tax deductible and every dollar helps contributes to the work of the Gardens.

Donate now

Honour someone you love

Many people share the Gardens with those they love and some visitors choose to mark a significant occasion by dedicating a tree or a bench to someone special. In the Gardens you’ll notice each bench has a dedication plaque featuring a favourite quote or the recognition of an anniversary, achievement or occasion.

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