travel

54 comments

1. 54 Gwen
   Aug 2nd, 2008 at 4:42 pm

   There is nowhere this close to Melbourne, where you can see bandicoots in their natural habitat as well as koalas, echidnas, wallabies and more. The 363 hectares of native bushland are invaluable to all species and will only become more valuable, as Melbourne sprawls towards the outer east.
   The Australian Garden is a beautiful, inspiring landscape that will have you planting natives and practicing sustainable gardening when you get home!

2. 53 John Steward
   Jul 31st, 2008 at 2:27 pm

   This is a sizeable place of tranquility, diverse nature, accessability, and a growing future. Is attached to the amazing, worldclass Australian garden. An oasis gradually being enveloped by housing, but never to be lost.

3. 52 Betty Chapman
   Jul 28th, 2008 at 9:48 pm

   The gardens are such a magnificent effort in landscaping that one is almost in awe of the designer - and all the fantastic people who work there! It is an absolute ‘must’ for both Australian and overseas visitors - and don’t forget, I planted a tree there. Somewhere!

4. 51 Sarah Holmes
   Jul 28th, 2008 at 3:44 pm

   A fabulous place to really experience Australian horticulture in its finest glory. Easily accessible pathways, well set out displays, information well displayed and staff very attentive. Barbecues for those wanting an outdoor experience or restaurant dining for those wanting something catered for. The shop has a good range of giftware. We have also experienced the pleasure of buying plants and taking them home to our own garden where they have grown steadily. The occasional concert out there is worth a visit also.

5. 50 Nick
   Jul 28th, 2008 at 3:03 pm

   If only I had such a nice garden

6. 49 Debs
   Jul 27th, 2008 at 8:27 pm

   Love the design of the gardens.

7. 48 Floris
   Jul 27th, 2008 at 12:58 pm

   Exciting to visit, so varied and at the same time in harmony with the native environment.

8. 47 Kiah
   Jul 25th, 2008 at 10:57 am

   Just around the corner at under an hour from Melbourne’s CBD, this landscape has the best of the local bush and the latest and greatest in award winning garden design and implementation!

   The City of Casey is blessed to have such a diverse drawcard for it’s families and businesses. A special and expansive natural place in an ever-shrinking synthetic world.

   Pop in on your way to Phillip Island, plan a day trip from Melbourne or make your visit an annual event with friends and family and watch the garden grow together.

   The new Woodland Picnic Area and upcoming expansion of the Australian Garden will only further enhance and compliment the unique bushland areas and wonderful biodiversity.

   How lucky we are to have our beautiful Botanic Gardens both here and in Melbourne.

9. 46 Julz
   Jul 24th, 2008 at 7:40 pm

   Insprational!!!
   A must see attraction for all visitors to the area.

10. 45 Phil
    Jul 23rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm

    This garden will inspire you about Aussie plants and incredible landscape designs. It’s terrific for gardeners, families and interstate/overseas visitors!

11. 44 Gill
    Jul 23rd, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    Australian Gardens an imaginative and inspiring display of Australian plants. How lucky we are to be able to see these gardens at their inception and try and imagine how they will be in 100 years time.

12. 43 Ken R
    Jul 23rd, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    A great combination of natural and relocated bush. Constantly growing and evolving. Good facilities.

13. 42 Angela
    Jul 23rd, 2008 at 3:12 pm

    A gem in a suburban jungle. The Australian Garden is inspirational and the natural bush around it is a top asset for Melbourne!

14. 41 Rod
    Jul 23rd, 2008 at 2:32 pm

    the bushland and Aust Garden are a great combo.

15. 40 Fleur Anderson
    Jul 23rd, 2008 at 2:15 pm

    There are not many examples of modern botanic gardens. This and its unique capacity to showcase our superb Australian flora make this a truly top Victorian experience.

16. 39 Helen R
    Jul 23rd, 2008 at 1:57 pm

    A lovely relaxing day for a walk in natural Australian bush or wander around the new Australian garden which gives you a snapshot of the various gardens found around Australia from arid to tropical.

17. 38 Wendy
    Jul 23rd, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    A breath of fresh air within the suburbs of Melbourne.

18. 37 Ali H
    Jul 23rd, 2008 at 12:44 pm

    A beautiful place of tranquility and exploration. And lots of great ideas for gardening with Aussie natives.

19. 36 Alischa
    Jul 23rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm

    This garden has it all!! Beautiful bushwalking tracks to relax your mind, and a fantastic new Australian Garden filled with inspiring ideas to use in your own garden. A ‘must do’ for this weekend!!

20. 35 Sam
    Jul 23rd, 2008 at 12:39 pm

    I love the Australia Garden! How lucky we are to have such a beautiful place that brings to us the variety of Australian landscapes and it’s Flora! Definitely one I will keep going back to. A must see for all nature lovers!

21. 34 Matt J
    Jul 23rd, 2008 at 12:27 pm

    The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne are truly a delightful place to visit, quite a hidden secret only 45 minutes from Melbourne.

    Over 10 kilometres of walking tracks in the remnant bushland and an abundance of wildlife including koalas, bandicoots and a wide variety of birds you could easily spend all day here. Great for a picnic with friends or with a group too!

    The new and exciting Australian Garden that opened in May 2006 is a unique garden that is a brilliant showcase of the beauty of Australian plants.

    With over 100,000 Australian plants, unique landscapes including the incredible Red Sand Garden and the Rockpool Waterway, friendly staff, a variety of great tours, a nice cafe overlooking the garden and a shop that has a great variety of Australian inspired products, this is certainly a great place to visit for all the family!

22. 33 Daisy
    Jul 23rd, 2008 at 12:26 pm

    each season brings out a different shade of color
    each day brings a new light
    a great place to be one with nature
    i will always come back to watch things grow.

23. 32 JMT
    Jul 18th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    Everyone should have a look a this little know gem out in Cranbourne. a wonderful experience

24. 31 cali salzmann
    Jul 10th, 2008 at 11:09 am

    A fantastic Botanic Garden that showcases only Australian plants( from all over, not just Victorian plants) surrounded by 350 hectares of natural bushland, walking tracks, and family picnic areas.

25. 30 Jill Burness
    Jul 10th, 2008 at 11:07 am

    An amazing display of Australian native plants in settings that are a reflection of our iconic Australian landscapes. Established in a former sand quarry, the first eleven hectares were opened to the public in may 2006, The final 9 hectares are currently being planned for opening in 2011.

    Located at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, this is a new botanic garden that is attracting both local and international acclaim as one of the world’s leading displays of Australian plants.

    The winner of the Best New Tourism Development for 2006.

26. 29 Lyn
    Jul 9th, 2008 at 4:53 pm

    The new Australian garden is superb, however there are also many free adventures waiting in the surrounding native bushland. Picnic with the Southern Brown Bandicoots at the Stringybark Picnic area, hunt for orchids in the woodlands and keep your eyes open for Koalas along the way.

27. 28 amanda grey
    Jul 9th, 2008 at 1:25 pm

    An award winning Australian Garden showcasing many and varied plants and landscapes from Australia as well as over 13 kilometers of native bushland full of wildlife to explore.

28. 27 James R
    Jul 9th, 2008 at 9:31 am

    A must see new Botanic Garden for the 21st Century Gardener! The Australian Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is a fantastic mix of new age landscaping, Australian plants, education, home gardening ideas, art and much much more. Also don’t forget to walk in the surrounding indigenous bushland, its amazing in Spring time.

29. 26 Ben
    Jul 9th, 2008 at 8:26 am

    what a fabulous place.
    it needs to be seen to be believed.
    great ideas for using native plants inso many ways
    thanks RBGC.
    from apprentice of the year.

30. 25 Bron
    Jul 9th, 2008 at 7:59 am

    Not only is there the wonderful Australian Garden, but the garden is surrounded by beautiful bushland. There are numeous walks, where visitors can to see animals, such as the endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot. As well as spectacular views accross Melbourne and Western Port Bay from the Trig Tower lookout.

31. 24 Lynn Klavins
    Jul 8th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

    A wonderful way to learn about water conservation and to understand the beauty and diversity of Australian plants. The kids will really love their day!

32. 23 Eva Kowal
    Jul 3rd, 2008 at 4:44 pm

    The Cranbourne Botanic Gardens are a totally innovative experience of the Australian Flora and Landscape. Overseas visitors and Australians will delight in the Gardens.

33. 22 Margaret Palmer
    Jul 3rd, 2008 at 3:59 pm

    This botanic garden is most interesting and exciting in design and concept. It offers a new way of looking at and learning about Australian flora in context.

34. 21 Janet
    Jul 3rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    You don’t often see anything new in gardening…but you do here.

35. 20 Ann
    Jul 3rd, 2008 at 3:34 pm

    A completely different view on the Botanical garden - focussing on Australian Flora - not to be missed for our waterwise era!

36. 19 Virginia
    Jul 3rd, 2008 at 11:16 am

    The Australian Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne is a fabulous opportunity to see Australian plants growing in an amazing setting. A not to be missed for visitors to Melbourne and residents alike.

37. 18 Christine van Schyndel
    Jul 1st, 2008 at 7:14 pm

    The Australian Garden is an area of diverse beautiful plants, water and wonderful experiences.

38. 17 Sharon
    Jun 26th, 2008 at 11:02 pm

    It is not just a garden - it is art, it is education, it is a joy and there is nothing like it in Australia.

39. 16 Jan
    Jun 24th, 2008 at 10:26 pm

    An amazing and inspirational display of the beauty and diversity of Australian plants. It is like no other botanic garden. The adjoining bushland is also a great place to explore.

40. 15 Annie Treasure
    Jun 22nd, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    A revelation about Australian plants and how they might be used in home gardens - discovering our continent’s amazing flora, and beginning to catch up on centuries of affection and knowledge about European and Asian plants.

41. 14 Judith Cooke
    Jun 22nd, 2008 at 7:50 pm

    The Australian Garden is a unique and spectacular asset that promotes our wonderful Australian plants which will continue to gain in value and importance into the future.

42. 13 Kaplan
    Jun 21st, 2008 at 6:43 pm

    The Australian Garden features an exclusive coverage through gleaning the natural landscape pecularities with the wisdom of humankind’s design ability.

43. 12 Alex Smart
    Jun 16th, 2008 at 8:55 am

    The Australian Garden captures the spirit of Australia in a brilliant display. The indigenous garden preserves and displays Victorian plants and provides a vital home for precious birds, animals and reptiles. Wow!

44. 11 Sandi Steward
    Jun 13th, 2008 at 2:13 pm

    Artistic showcasing Australian plants and growing in the home garden. Appeals to adults and children, enjoy tours, biodiversity, unique layout to conserve water, cafe, and shop.

45. 10 Rosie
    Jun 12th, 2008 at 9:55 pm

    An artistic representation of the Australian landscape highlighting the beauty of Australian Flora. These gardens showcase the variety and versatility of Australian Native plants. They inspire us to use Native plants in our home gardens. A must see!!!!!

46. 9 John McMahon
    Jun 12th, 2008 at 9:44 pm

    Great place to see a microcosm of Australian native plants in an imaginative series of landscapes.

47. 8 Clare Vivian
    Jun 12th, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    The Australian Garden is stunning. So many beautiful Australian plants shown to their best advantage. You could spend two hours at least strolling around the site. Well designed and inspirational. When you first enter the Australian Garden the vista of the Red Centre is beautiful.

48. 7 David Atkinson
    Jun 12th, 2008 at 4:31 pm

    Very beautiful gardens are a credit to the imagination and hard work by the dedicated staff and volunteers.

49. 6 Ruth Caple
    Jun 12th, 2008 at 3:55 pm

    A source of delight for lovers of Australian flora, but it’s not just another collection of plants. Everyone will be fascinated by the use of sculpture, symbolic landforms and iconic plants to evoke the essence of our landscape, history and culture. A great place to take visitors. Where else can you see so much of interest in a one kilometre walk and finish up in a cafe with delicious imaginative fare and good coffee

50. 5 Derek de Korte
    Jun 9th, 2008 at 12:34 pm

    Should be in the top ten of Victoria’s places that must be visited. Inspirational!!!!!!!

51. 4 Ray & Rose Tanti
    Jun 5th, 2008 at 11:10 pm

    We drove for about 2 hours to see this place and worth the drive…If you love gardening than this is the place to see…will visit again…the staff were very helpful…thanks

52. 3 Marie
    May 30th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    I actually haven’t visited these gardens yet but after seeing them on TV recently I very much plan to visit. The gardens look absolutely fabulous. I was impressed by how different the gardens are from the English style of gardens we usually see.

53. 2 Sue
    May 21st, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    Well worth the drive. Amazing!

54. 1 Tine Grimston
    May 15th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    These gardens are a work of art. A fabulous showcase of Australian Flora.