December in the Gardens

The end of another year! And with every ending there is a new beginning as we prepare to welcome in 2018. Whether you're a regular visitor, a donor, a keen gardener or painter - we couldn't do what we do without you! There is always something for everyone from our lovely locals to international guests. For the Gardens, 2018 will bring new events, fresher programs, a message that everyone can get behind - so make sure you stay tuned as we also grow. For all our readers, we hope you have had a wonderful year and wish you all the best for the coming one! Enjoy a safe and warm holiday season!

What's on

Rainbow Lorikeet

Bird Spotting

Secret life of birds

Learn about the amazing range of birds in Melbourne Gardens on a summer evening.
MELB Monthly more

Botanica

Family Event

Botanica

Take time to play and connect with nature. Build a unique village using materials gathered in the Gardens.
MELB Jan more

Plants for your Place

Gardening

Plants For Your Place

Experienced guides share tips that will help you find the best Aussie plants for your place.
CRAN Daily more

Latest news

Plan your summer season at the Gardens!

The summer programs at Melbourne and Cranbourne Gardens bring more wonder and magic. Our children's programs take shape with curiosity, performance and hands-on activities from The Boy Who Loved Tiny Things and Botanica. Melbourne sees the return of our movie and theatre season with Moonlight Cinema and the Australian Shakespeare Company back for the warm evenings. Cranbourne shares the importance of Connecting to Boon Wurrung Culture and some free events for both young and older with Play Me, I'm Yours, a project that has travelled the world and includes a piano calling Cranbourne Gardens home for a few weeks! See full details for all programs on the website. more

Global Plants Initiative

The National Herbarium of Victoria has reached a milestone contribution to the world’s largest plant database. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is proud to announce a significant achievement, having recently imaged 25,000 type specimens on the international JSTOR database at the National Herbarium of Victoria (MEL). The Project is part of the Global Plants Initiative Project, in operation since 2011. This Project works to digitise all known type specimens within the collection at MEL. This lengthy process enables online access to Australian and foreign vascular plant and fungi type specimens, many of which are historically significant or now extinct. Traditionally, this information was only available in hardcopy. more

Support Us

End of Year Appeal

Help the Gardens as together we endeavour to make a positive impact on the environment and safeguard the future of plants. Your gift helps us sustain and promote the pleasures of plants! With climate predictions indicating significantly hotter and drier conditions, we are proud to announce that we have a comprehensive Landscape Succession Strategy to 2070, when we expect things to be very different to how they are today. For example, our planned new Herbarium will allow researchers and scientists to work closely with the Gardens and will provide the opportunity for everyone to interact and participate in our research. more

In bloom

Furcraea quicheensis

Blooming Melbourne

Furcraea quicheensis (Agavaceae) sends up a 4m tall flower stem during summer. Two are in flower near Observatory Gate!

Davidsonia jerseyana

Blooming Cranbourne

Davidsonia jerseyana is about to grow the plum sized edible fruit also known as Davidson’s Plum. Found in the How To Garden.

Gift Shop

Shop

Spend $60 in any of our stores and go into the draw to win a six-piece dinner setting valued at over $550, perfect for Christmas!

Visit Melbourne

Contact us
Maps, Parking and Directions

Birdwood Avenue
Melbourne Victoria 3004

Open

Daily, 7.30am to sunset

Visitor Centre

Weekdays 9am – 5pm
Weekends and public holidays 9.30am – 5pm
Closed: Christmas Day and New Year’s Day

Visit Cranbourne

Contact us
Maps, Parking and Directions

Cnr Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive Cranbourne Victoria 3977

Open

Daily, 9am – 5pm
Closed: Christmas Day

The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria extends over two locations, Melbourne and Cranbourne. We believe that life is sustained and enriched by plants and our goal is to advance the understanding and appreciation of plants.