Happy Birthday Darwin!
A rare specimen collected by Charles Darwin himself has been discovered in the depths of the Herbarium.
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Working together to help an extinct species
From Melbourne to Montreal, seeds from extinct Toromiro tree have crossed the globe.
Discover the hidden colours beneath these beautiful native flowers
Discover the hidden world of biofluorescence and how it creates such stunning, alien-like flowers.
New deck chair hire arrives in Melbourne Gardens
Unwind in style, enjoy a picnic and embrace nature.
Victorian Government Announces Major Funding Commitment for Gardens
$5 million has be dedicated to a feasibility study for a new Nature and Science precinct. Find out more.
New program helps engage seniors in nature play
Today, in partnership with Regis Aged Care, we launched a new Seniors Engagement Program.
New research uncovers the sweet secrets of the Candy Spider Orchid
Our world-leading Orchid Conservation Program has uncovered some surprising new information about the Candy Spider-Orchid.
Unusual ants captured on camera
Why were ants in Cranbourne Gardens seen ripping off their own wings?
Ian Potter Lakeside Precinct at Cranbourne Gardens receives well-earned upgrade for the Summer
Fantastic new facilities include lawn games, beanbags and more!
Summer school holiday adventures at the Gardens
Botanica returns and new outdoor activities soon to launch for school holidays at the Gardens.
Harp in the Gardens: Flight of the Imagination
Relax to music composed by harpist, Michael Johnson.
ClimateWatch Walk
Learn how climate change is affecting our plants and wildlife. Join this guided walk in Melbourne Gardens.
Watch out for the little ones
With the onset of the deliciously warm weather (and torrential rains) we have seen a recent spike in wildlife activity on our paths and...
Starry Southern Skies
See the amazing Australian night sky brought into focus using our powerful heritage telescopes and discover the history of Melbourne...
Little Seeds: Early Years Nature Play and Gardening Program
Calling all Little Seeds! Come and get your hands dirty and let your imagination run free as you tend to your very own garden patch and...
What’s going on in the Research Garden?
See this great new project in action at Cranbourne Gardens!
It’s snake season at Cranbourne Gardens
Cranbourne Gardens is a special place for people, plants and animals – including snakes.
Celebrate the Duke and Duchess’ visit at Melbourne Gardens
Did you know that our ‘Royal’ prefix was bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II during her visit in 1958?
Red Sand Garden refresh
The cornerstone of Cranbourne Gardens is undergoing a refresh!
Beautiful endangered orchid on display in Melbourne Gardens
It can take ten years for this plant to flower!
Spring Plant Sale - Cranbourne Gardens
Select from a range of native plants to greenify your home.
Garden Explorer - Melbourne
A relaxing way to discover this 38-hectare garden with live commentary and stunning views.
Purple pea back from the brink
Once declared extinct in Victoria, the Nursery team have reintroduced this pea into the wild.
Spring into Nature
Stimulate the senses and enliven the soul with these pop-up activities in the Children’s Garden.
Holidays in the Kids’ Backyard
Enjoy free, nature-based experiences for families these school holidays.
Paper Planet
Join Polyglot Theatre and let your imagination run wild in this planet made of paper and natural materials from the Gardens.
Crawl Me Blood: Gardens, Voices, Histories
Go deeper into the world of Crawl Me Blood with this free talk with the artists.
Discovery of specimen sheets collected by Charles Darwin
The National Herbarium of Victoria joins a shortlist of herbaria that hold collections made by Darwin.
Monterey Cypress damaged by extreme wind
After thorough inspection, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s team of expert aborists have ascertained that unfortunately it will not be...
Cranbourne Friends Expo
July is the time for meeting and making new Friends.
Science Seminar Series: Tanja Schuster: Skimming the Genome
Tanja Schuster: Skimming the Genome – Using High Throughput Sequencing Data to Investigate Australian Biodiversity.
Unravelling the secrets of the orchid
The secret to conserving the endangered Metallic Sun Orchid isn’t in the plants you can see, but the fungi you can’t.
Christmas in July lunch at Boon Wurrung Cafe
Celebrate the mid-year Yuletide with a two course winter-warming feast at the Boon Wurrung Cafe.
Winter Plant Sale
Select from a whole range of species, many of which you will find in the Australian Garden.
Balee Koolin Bubup Bush Playgroup
Cranbourne Gardens welcomes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children to join the unique playgroup.
Card Making with Plant Materials
Crafty kids, let your creativity run wild while making cards decorated with natural materials.
Origami Workshops
In this workshop, learn the basics of origami in a fun and accessible way for kids.
Wangka Kutjara, Tjukurpa Kutju Exhibition
Linda Puna’s paintings combine Tjukurpa (foundation of Anangu life and society) with day-to-day observations.
Storm
Storm presents the work of three artists who have embraced the storm, allowing the wind, rain and snow to influence their actions and...
NAIDOC 2018 Family and Friends Celebration at Cranbourne Gardens – Because of her, we can!
NAIDOC 2018 Family Celebration at Melbourne Gardens – Because of her, we can!
Wildlife Corridors Workshop
Impacts of habitat destruction, and the need for reinstating wildlife corridors.
Science Seminar Series
Entwisleia bella: Hobart’s Wollemi Pine Speaker: Tim Entwisle
Restoring the home of a historic icon
New funding will allow us to reopen the roof of the Great Melbourne Telescope.
Guilfoyle’s Volcano Tours
Statewide plant conservation in full swing
The first Care for the Rare planting took place on Sunday 19 May.
Crawl Me Blood - Sold out
Under the southern sky on the land of the Koolin nation, we invite you to listen to a story about three generations of Caribbean women.
Become a Volunteer Garden Ambassador at Cranbourne Gardens
We are now recruiting friendly plant enthusiasts to join our Garden Ambassador Team at Cranbourne Gardens.
Optimism for the survival of the endangered Euroa Wax Flower
Propagating endangered plants with the help of the Victorian Conservation Seedbank.
Spotting the Death Cap
Mycologists search for Death Cap mushrooms.
Rare specimens illustrate Australia’s botanic explorations
Fancy a peek? We’ve got great news!
How to Spend 72 Unforgettable Hours in Melbourne
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria made the list!
High Tea at Boon Wurrung Cafe
Enjoy a mix of our special homemade sweet and savoury items served with tea and coffee while overlooking the stunning Australian Garden.
Botanic Gardens Day 2018-Ecologist in Action
Join our Ecologist, Dr. Terry Coates to learn how he helps protect the endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot.
National Eucalypt Day Tour
Join us on a guided walk and discover the Garden’s eucalypt collection this National Eucalypt Day.
The Future of Cranbourne Gardens
Join John Arnott for a walk and talk around the Australian Garden to discuss the Cranbourne Gardens Master Plan and what it means for the...
Extraordinary Trees
Explore and discover significant trees in the Gardens, meet some of our oldest, unusual and tallest trees.
FREEZE!
Nick Steur balances rocks; no tricks involved. Share some of his focus, experiencing being occupied with one thing only.
Accessibility
Melbourne Disabled access Melbourne Gardens provides wheelchairs at the Visitor Centre and The Terrace cafe. Wheelchairs are available...
#StateoftheArk Herbarium Discovery Campaign
Have you ever wondered what lies within this building as you jog past on the Tan?
Top 5 things for kids to do
With the school holidays in full swing, check out the top 5 things for kids to do at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.
The Boy Who Loved Tiny Things
Part performance, part museum, The Boy Who Loved Tiny Things invites families to slow down and spend time together exploring the Gardens...
The Boy Who Loved Tiny Things
Part performance, part museum, The Boy Who Loved Tiny Things invites families to slow down and spend time together exploring the Gardens...
Gardens Shop
Our products are available in store, where staff will be at hand to help you select the perfect gift. Christmas is on the horizon! If...
Aboriginal Heritage Walk
Journey into the lands of the Koolin nation with an Indigenous guide. Experience a traditional smoking ceremony and learn about uses of...
Science
Children’s Garden
There’s lots of fun places to explore including the Ruin Garden, the Meeting Place (which has a water feature that sprays up out of the...
Birds in the Australian Garden
Join us for a free walk to identify some of the birds often spied in the Australian Garden.
Eucalypts for the Home Garden
Celebrate National Eucalypt Day with a guided walk and discover the Gardens’ Eucalypt collection.
Public Cooling House Talks
Saturday 23 February, 12.30pm Gardens for Wildlife: Lessons from the Bushland With Ricardo Simao, Manager of Environmental Systems...
Kick back in a cool place for a hot future at Punctum’s Public Cooling House at Cranbourne Gardens
Book now
Botanica competition
Terms & Conditions The prize is one (1) $100 voucher for The Terrace café, valid 16-19 January. 1. The Competition is conducted by Royal...
Macbeth: Shakespeare Under the Stars
The Australian Shakespeare Company unleashes a visceral new production of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy.
Australian Garden picnic area
Enjoy a picnic in the Australian Garden.
New Shoots - A Garden of Poems
Ten Victorian poets invite us to walk, pause, read and reflect. Follow a self-guided tour of the Garden of Poems inspired by plants and...
Basketry Workshop
Let your creativity flow, and construct your very own basket with recycled fabrics and plant materials.
Picardy Gardens
Join Marian on a French-inspired morning tea as she shares stories from her book Picardy: An Australian garden inspired by a passion for...
High Tea at The Terrace
Treat yourself to traditional high tea with views of the stunning gardens, lawns and lake!
Snapshots of Australia
This tour provides you with a snapshot of the very best of the Australian Garden.
Fire & Seed
This exciting program will look at how fire is a part of the Australian landscape, and how plants and animals that live in the bush cope...
Welcome to Biderap
Journey through the Australian Garden on a guided sensory walk, and take in the sights and smells of the native bush.
Beyond the Gardens
Invite a knowledgeable volunteer guide from Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria to visit your venue.
Exclusive Group Tours
Ring in spring and see Melbourne Gardens in full bloom on this private tour.
Free Guided Walk
Explore the heritage and plant diversity of Melbourne Gardens with an expert guide.
Gardens Uncovered
Uncover the stories of one of Melbourne’s most significant historical landmarks.
Harp in the Gardens: Christmas Day Concert
Harpist Michael Johnson presents his eighth concert as a tribute to those who have lost their loved ones.
Solar Tours
View the sun with our expert astronomical guide and learn all about the solar system and the Melbourne Observatory.
The Explorer - Cranbourne
Discover the iconic Australian landscape on this 25-minute, open-air bus tour led by one of our expert guides
The Wind in the Willows
Pack a picnic and join Mr Toad, Ratty and Mole for an exciting adventure!
Secret Life of Birds
Learn about the amazing range of birds in Melbourne Gardens.
Lake Symphony
Join us on a guided walking tour of Ornamental Lake and then experience the Gardens from a unique perspective as you travel on a wooden...
Paws Breakfast
Introduce your four-legged friend to Melbourne Gardens on a guided walk with a difference.
Public Cooling House at Cranbourne Gardens
The Public Cooling House design draws from simple and ancient evaporative cooling techniques; step inside and beat the heat.
Insectopia
Discover the incredible world of insects as we explore Melbourne Gardens.
Outdoor Escapades
Botanica: A Village Among The Oak Trees
Botanica encourages families to work together to build a unique village and community using materials collected from the Gardens.
Climate Change Summit Talks
Climate change threatens the future of both people and the planet. Delve into the role the gardens play in the survival of humanity.
Bushland
A love poem to nature and the body, Bushland is both visceral and meditative. Step out of time and connect to your body as never before.
Visitor Survey
Terms and Conditions 1. The Survey is conducted by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. 2. The Survey is open to participants aged 18 years or...
Moonlight Cinema
Moonlight Cinema returns to the beautiful Melbourne Gardens.