18°C

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne

Attractions Cranbourne

Description


Hours: 9am-5pm, daily. Closed on Christmas Day.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is one of Victoria’s most precious areas of native bushland and offers nature-lovers the chance to explore 363 hectares of untouched heathlands, wetlands and woodlands.

Unearth the Australian Garden with its treasure trove of native Australian Flora, Dramatic sculptures, Exhibition gardens and the Rockpool Waterway, which will delight and educate the youngest imaginations.

A walk through the expansive natural bushland will give visitors an appreciation of many challenging and diverse Australian landscapes and you may even catch a glimpse of the thriving bird and animal life that have made the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne their home.

Ascend the Trig Point Lookout which offers a breathtaking 360-degree viewpoint across south-eastern Victoria and as far away as Mount Macedon.

Each season brings dramatic changes to the landscape and wildlife of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne and is a must-see for all ages, whatever the weather.

Description

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Cranbourne Gardens

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is one of the world's leading botanic gardens and a centre of excellence for horticulture, science and education. 

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is dedicated to the conservation, display and enjoyment of plants and extends over two locations, Melbourne and Cranbourne, and incorporates the National Herbarium of Victoria.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Cranbourne Gardens is one of Victoria’s most precious areas of remnant native bushland and offers visitors the chance to explore heathlands, wetlands and woodlands on the 363-hectare site. It is recognised as a site of State significance for flora and fauna conservation, with over 25 species listed as endangered, threatened or at risk of extinction. Following representations by the Maud Gibson Trust, Cranbourne Gardens was established in 1970 when the Victorian Government acquired the land with a view to developing it into a botanic garden that complemented Melbourne Gardens through the display of native plants and ecosystems.

Today, visitors to Cranbourne Gardens can enjoy a natural bushland experience and visit the Australian Garden. Facilities in the bushland include over ten kilometres of tracks to walk, six kilometres of cycling tracks, a lookout tower, picturesque shelters, barbecues and picnic tables. There is a range of visitor programs, as well as a self-guided walk available throughout the year. The Australian Garden, completed in October 2012, celebrates the beauty and diversity of Australian landscapes and flora and features approximately 170,000 plants from 1,700 plant varieties. Complementing the Garden are a visitor centre, café, gift shop and interpretive displays.

Download Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne map

More Nearby

Nature Café Bar

Nature Café Bar

Walking into Nature Café Bar instantly brings a smile to your face. Vibrant colours burst forth from the walls with lively paintings and hand-painted murals evoking a sense of wonder and playfulness. ...
Deirdre Mair & Harry Stitt - Mirage

Deirdre Mair & Harry Stitt - Mirage

Artists: Deirdre Mair & Harry Stitt Sculpture: Mirage Location: Frankston Beach Materials: Steel Dimensions: 264 x 263 x 615cm About the Artists: Deirdre and Harry are students of archi...
Helena Martin - You're Not Forgotten

Helena Martin - You're Not Forgotten

Mural Name: You're Not Forgotten Artist: Helena Martin Artist Bio: Based in Austin TX, Helena Martin’s vibrant murals can be seen throughout the US and abroad. Portraiture, flora, fauna and a ...
Puzle - Upwords

Puzle - Upwords

Mural Name: Upwords Artist: Puzle Artist Bio: Puzle is a graphic visual artist driven by ideas and a different ways of doing things. Having been a part of Melbourne’s complex street art networ...
Lucy Lucy - Hypnagogia

Lucy Lucy - Hypnagogia

Mural Name: Hypnagogia Artist:  Lucy Lucy Artist Bio: Currently residing in Melbourne, French-Parisian born artist Lucy Lucy has graciously carved her niche in the Australian urban a...
Strike Bowling Bayside

Strike Bowling Bayside

Do you want to experience a whole new type of bowling alley? Located in the heart of Bayside Shopping Centre Strike has a full gourmet kitchen, pool tables plus an indoor and outdoor bar. Strike Baysi...
CTO - Dreaming beyond Duality

CTO - Dreaming beyond Duality

Mural: Dreaming beyond Duality [2021] Enamel and Acrylic on wall.  A speculative inquiry into the possible architecture of reality: Cause and effect; Night and day; Cold and hot; life and death;...
Ballam Park Regional Playground

Ballam Park Regional Playground

Ballam Park provides a great day out for people of all ages, with two regional playground areas, 30 hectares of open areas, a number of tracks to walk and sporting fields including a pr...
Rozzis

Rozzis

Frankston’s Fresh Italian Cafè with organic flavours and ranges of fresh salads, Focaccias, rocketz (calzones), pizzas and pastas. Enjoy premium coffee at Rozzi’s in the heart of Bayside Shopping Cen...
Lucy Bonnin - Mary Jayne

Lucy Bonnin - Mary Jayne

Mural Name: Mary Jayne Artist: Lucy Bonnin Artist Bio: Lucy’s style and work is diverse, usually focusing on painting tonal realism with a signature touch of surrealism. Based in Adelaide...

More Like This

walking trails gardens
Frankston Pier

Frankston Pier

Originally built closer to the base of Oliver's Hill in 1857, the pier was constructed at its current site and extended into deeper waters in 1863, after a public petition.  The Frankston Pier h...
Sweetwater Creek Reserve

Sweetwater Creek Reserve

Sweetwater Creek is a natural habitat corridor from Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve to Port Phillip Bay. Close to the mouth of the creek lies Sweetwater Creek Nature Reserve, a peaceful oasis tu...
McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery

McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery

It is the encounter of art in the natural environment at McClelland that makes it the only place of its kind in Australia. A changing exhibition program focuses on modernist Australian art and contemp...
Kananook Creek Walking Trail

Kananook Creek Walking Trail

Discover the Kananook Creek Walking Trail The Kananook Creek Walking Trail is a hidden gem weaving through one of Frankston’s most picturesque natural environments. Stretching 7.5 kilometres from Fra...
Frankston Waterfront

Frankston Waterfront

Frankston beach is perfect for non-powered water activities including swimming, stand up paddle boarding or even a walk. Celebrate with family and friends with open space, a playground, BBQ facilities...
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Arboretum

Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Arboretum

The Arboretum has become a very attractive local park and it is a great spot for a walk. It is extremely popular for outdoor weddings and photographs. It is an ideal educational facility that can be a...
Seaford Pier

Seaford Pier

Get your camera ready for the picturesque Seaford Pier, built in the late 1920’s. The pier makes the perfect photo around dusk or dawn and is surrounded by crystal blue waters and white sand, perfect ...
Frankston to Baxter Trail

Frankston to Baxter Trail

This off-road ‘shared path’ provides a pleasant recreation experience through a bike ride or walk. It follows the north and eastern side of the Stony Point Railway Line for most of its 7.5 kilometre ...
Kananook Creek Reserve

Kananook Creek Reserve

Kananook Creek runs for 7.5 km parallel to the coastline linking Seaford Wetlands to Frankston Foreshore. The creek reserve is home to many indigenous plants and animals and is one of Frankston's most...
Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve

Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve

Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve is a 98 hectare park in Frankston South. It is perfect for quiet recreational activities including going for a walk, jogging, cycling, photography and nature appr...

Map & Directions

Corner Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive Cranbourne Victoria 3977

Directions

The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne are located at the corner of Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive in Cranbourne, a 50 minute drive from Melbourne.

Drive from Melbourne along the Monash Freeway (M1) to the South Gippsland Highway (M420). Signs to the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne will direct you to Ballarto Road.
Melways Ref: 133 K10