Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne (Cranbourne)

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. These expansive natural gardens are also home to thriving bird and animal life, including several rare and endangered species.

The bushland has over 450 indigenous plant species and includes over 10km of walking tracks, six kilometres of cycling tracks, a lookout tower, picturesque shelters, barbecues and playgrounds.

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne (Cranbourne)

The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is also home to the Australian Garden which is a place where visitors can immerse themselves in Australian flora, landscapes, art and architecture. This amazing new garden features a gallery of exhibition gardens, sculpture and displays - all highlighting the beauty and diversity of our Australian landscape.

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne (Cranbourne)

Things to Do

There is a range of visitor programs, as well as self-guided walks available throughout the year.

Bushland Bike Tracks: There are over 6km of bicycle tracks that weave their way through the beautiful bushlands and open grasslands at the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens. Bring your family, friends, or bike group to explore the Gardens in this unique way.

The Explorer - Cranbourne Gardens: Discover the iconic Australian landscape on an open-air bus tour. From the Red Sand Garden, journey along the east coast of the Australian Garden and around the river bend before winding back through the Peppermint Garden, taking in the wonders of the native bush.

Children ride free on the Kids Explorer during the school holidays. Experience amazing sights, sounds and scents as you cruise through the Australian Garden on this tour designed especially for families. Marvel at the shapes of autumn blooms and breathe in the fragrances of different eucalypt trees as you take in the colours of the landscape and find out why plants are so important for our planet. See Session Times & Costs

Australian Landscape Walk: Venture through the highlights of the Australian Garden at Cranbourne Gardens on this guided walk and discover the uniqueness of Australian plants and how they adapt to our climate. See Session Times & Costs.

What's On Calendar

Opening Hours:

9am - 5pm daily (last entry is 4:30pm). Closed on Christmas Day and days of Total Fire Ban.

Cost:

Free

Free Shuttle

The free Cranbourne Gardens Shuttle Bus can be booked for transport between Cranbourne Train Station and Cranbourne Gardens. The 8 seater bus is comfortable, is wheelchair accessible (x1 chair), and has a fully compliant baby seat (for carers with prams). Please contact the Cranbourne Gardens Visitor Centre on (03) 5990 2200 to make a request. The Gardens will do their very best to assist you, pending driver availability at your desired visit time.

Access for Dogs:

For the safety of your pet and the native wildlife, no domesticated animals are allowed at the Cranbourne Gardens (unless they are a disability assistance animal).

Review:

Some nice woodland walks of varying distances with picnic facilities at various places. The gardens are beautifully laid out with interesting information signs, lovely areas with different types of trees and bushes and lots of birds darting about in the bushes.

Some of the more interesting areas for kids are the "Desert Discovery Camp" with a big sandpit under a roof with a fossil wall, "Rock pool Waterway" where the kids can jump between tiles of different heights in a slow moving river while trying "not" to get wet, a small playground area with a tunnel slide next to an area with shady trees and walking across the giant metal Lilly pads (while avoiding bird poop).

There are kiosks at each end of the gardens and water taps and seats are scattered along the trails.

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