Cranbourne Botanic Garden Victoria

Looking for things to do in Cranbourne or a beautiful botanic garden in Victoria? This impressive Cranbourne Australian garden is a must-visit for families with kids. Just an hour drive from Melbourne CBD.

Visit Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria - Cranbourne Gardens in Cranbourne VIC these school holidays for a relaxing walk amongst beautiful scenery. Take in the unique Australian landscape and explore the Australian Garden in Cranbourne and one of the best parks in Melbourne, home to plants and flowers you never knew existed! This is one of the best school holiday activities in Cranbourne for sure!

Cranbourne Gardens, including Australian Gardens, are a free garden with a focus on Australian native flora. The stunning design of the park, the walking trails and paths will inspire you and make you see a new side of Australia. It is such a beautiful garden! An absolute must-see and must-do in Victoria.

Cranbourne Botanical Gardens map

Download the Cranbourne Gardens map here by navigating to the Documents tab in the upper menu on this page. Cranbourne Botanic Gardens map source: rbg.vic.gov.au.

Cranbourne Botanical Gardens opening hours

Cranbourne Gardens opening hours are below:

• The gardens are open daily from 9 am - 5 pm.
• Be sure to leave a few minutes before as the gates close at 5 sharp.
• The gardens are closed on Christmas Day.

Cranbourne Botanic Gardens entrance fee

Cranbourne gardens are free.

Cranbourne Botanical Gardens Playground and water play

Botanical Gardens Cranbourne is a kid-friendly and accessible Melbourne park. Although the garden trails may not be much fun for kids, the Cranbourne Botanical Gardens water-play area and Kids’ Backyard Garden are awesome. 

Feel free to splash around with your kids at Rockpool Waterway, and let them enjoy the slide and other activities in the Garden’s all-natural playground.

Botanical Gardens Playground is perfect for families looking for a fun day out. Walk for about 400m from the parking area to find one of the best Cranbourne Playgrounds! 

With heaps of great play equipment, there's something for everyone at the Botanic Gardens Playground. Be sure to check out the towering climbing rope pyramids, slides and swings (without safety chain), spinners and springers, seats and binoculars, bridge and ramp, the giant sandpit and other fun activities and fantastic equipment for all ages and all abilities!

Note: Supervision is required for children playing in the Botanic Garden Water Play. Swimming and drinking from the waterway are prohibited.

Cranbourne Botanical Gardens cafe and other facilities

There are a cafe and a kiosk at Cranbourne Garden:

• Cranbourne Botanic Gardens Cafe - Boon Wurrung Cafe - provides many food options including delicious meals, coffee, tea, cold drinks, snacks and desserts.
• The Kiosk on the Northern End of the gardens offers snacks, coffee and simple meals. 

There are toilets (including accessible toilets) on-site near the Visitor Centre. 

Botanical Garden Cafe opening hours

• Monday to Friday: 10 am to 4 pm
• Weekends and School Holidays: 9 am to 4.45 pm
• Closed on Christmas Day 

Botanic Gardens Kiosk opening hours

• Weekdays, weekends, public and school holidays: 11 am - 3 pm (weather permitting)
• Closed on Christmas Day

Accessibility

The gardens and Garden Explorer are accessible for:

• Wheelchairs
• Those with limited mobility
• Those with limited eyesight (guide dogs are permitted)
• Strollers and prams

The garden’s carpark has special parking spaces for those with a disability. 

The Australian Gardens Cranbourne entry is using the stairs or a ramp. The lift is currently out of order but it is a good idea to check with the Botanical Gardens directly for updates.

The Garden Explorer

The Explorer circulates the garden every 30 minutes. An open-air bus tour that invites you to explore the Australian landscape and its highlights. 

Garden Explorer tickets:

• Adult A$ 10, 
• Child A$ 0, 
• Concession/Friends member A$ 8
• Senior A$ 8

Note: All children with a free ticket must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Garden Shed

There is a Garden Shed in the Northern Display Gardens, where you can visit the Garden Ambassadors to learn some tips and tricks for your home garden and how you can get involved in Cranbourne Garden activities. 

Garden Shed Opening Hours:

• December to February: daily from 10 am to 2 pm
• March to November: daily from 11 am to 3 pm.

Cranbourne Botanic Gardens Gift Shop

If you want to obtain a memento of the gardens, you can purchase a lovely little gift from the gift shop. There are many botanic-inspired items, the proceeds of which go to maintaining the gardens.

Gift Shop Opening Hours:

• Daily from 9.30 am to 4.45 pm
• Closed on Christmas Day

Cranbourne Botanic Gardens Picnic Area and more

Enjoy a picnic at Botanical Gardens, one of the best Mornington Peninsula picnic spots! Woodland Picnic Area Cranbourne and Stringybark Picnic Area are located very close to Royal Botanical Gardens Cranbourne. 

• There is a playground for kids of all ages at Woodland Picnic Area.
• The walk to the Woodland Picnic Area is around 400m and on a wheelchair-friendly fine gravel path.
• Stringybark Picnic Area is located directly next to the Stringybark Picnic Area car park.
• There are picnic tables, BBQs and toilets in both picnic facilities. 

Note: There are no rubbish bins. So take your rubbish with you to keep the picnic areas clean.

Cranbourne Botanical Gardens dogs

Dogs are not allowed in Cranbourne Botanic Gardens, except for guide or assistance dogs.

Trig Point Lookout

If you're looking for a beautiful view and some peace and quiet, Trig Point Lookout is the perfect spot. Trig Point Lookout is located within the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, and it's set in a natural bushland area with walking and bike tracks. You can enjoy stunning 360° views of the gardens and the CBD on clear days for free! So why not pack a picnic lunch for the whole family and spend an afternoon enjoying nature at its finest?

Cranbourne Botanical Gardens walking tracks

Cranbourne Gardens offer a great variety of walking tracks within its 363 hectares of land. Below is a list of the different walks ranked from low to high fitness level. Walking times are measured at a walking speed of 4 km/hour.

Woodlands Walk

• 400m one way (10 mins) 
• For all ages and abilities

Manna Walk

• 1km loop (20 mins) 
• For all ages and abilities

Wetlands Walk

• 2.4km loop (45 mins) 
• Moderate fitness required

Possum Gully Wildflower Walk

• 3.5km loop (1 hour) 
• Moderate/good fitness required

Wildlife Walk

• 4.4km loop (1¼ hours) 
• Good fitness required 

Wylies Creek Loop

• 5.4km loop (1½ hours) 
• Good fitness required

We recommend taking a water bottle, hat and sunscreen with you on these walks. Be mindful of snakes as the trails are located in bushland.

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