VIEW Australia's Floral Emblems Photo Gallery
Less than an hour's drive from Melbourne, the Australian Garden of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is a showcase of Australian native flora with a gallery of exhibition gardens, sculpture and displays.
Located at 1000 Ballarto Rd, Cranbourne, it's a 50-minute drive, on average, from Melbourne via the South Gippsland Highway.
If you're visiting Phillip Island for the penguin parade at dusk, spending the day at the Australian Garden could be well worth the time, particularly if you're interested in Australian native plants, flowers and trees.
The Australian Garden is totally dedicated to Australian flora.
Landscape features
The first 11 hectares of the Australian Garden opened in May 2006 with landscape features such as the Red Sand Garden, Rockpool Waterway, Escarpment Wall sculpture and Eucalypt Walk. A Visitor Centre incorporates information and educational facilities, a café and shop.
The second and final stage of the Australian Garden, covering about 15 hectares, was planned to start later in 2006 and take about three years to design and construct. Additional major landscape features such as a lake, more display gardens, artworks, an events space, and extended educational and visitor facilities are planned for this section.
100,000 plants
The Australian Garden prides itself in having some 100,000 plants, including 1000 trees, in 15 different landscape displays and exhibition gardens.
There are guides who provide tours of the Australian Garden.
Opening hours
The Australian Garden is open every day, except Christmas Day, from 9am to 5pm.
There is an entry fee: A$9 for adults, A$6.75 concession. Children under 16 are admitted free.
Getting there
If driving from Melbourne, take the Monash Freeway and turn off at the South Gippsland Highway. There will be road signs for Cranbourne and Phillip Island.
Drive through the town of Cranbourne. Tourism signs on the southern side of town will point to the turn-off for the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne and the Australian Garden.
There are nearly 190 spaces available for cars in the Australian Garden carpark. There are also eight spaces for coaches.
