Victoria · Natural Wonder
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
38 Hectares of Heritage Gardens on the Yarra
schedule 2 min read / Updated Apr 2026
Melbourne's signature botanical gardens, established in 1846 on the south bank of the Yarra River. The gardens cover 38 hectares and contain more than 8,500 species of plants from around the world, laid out in the landscape-garden style of the Victorian era.
The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria sit on the south bank of the Yarra River, a short walk from the Melbourne CBD. They were established in 1846 and are considered one of the finest examples of the Victorian-era landscape garden style in the southern hemisphere. The main Melbourne Gardens site covers 38 hectares and contains over 8,500 species of plants laid out across themed precincts including the Guilfoyle's Volcano, the Tropical Glasshouse, the Fern Gully, the Southern China Collection and the Australian Forest Walk.
The gardens are free to enter every day of the year from 7:30am to sunset. The Observatory Gate is the main entry, close to the Shrine of Remembrance and the Royal Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre. The 1854 Plant Craft Cottage, the gardens' oldest surviving building, houses an interpretive display on the history of the site.
Guilfoyle's Volcano, the most photographed single feature in the gardens, is a reconstructed water reservoir built in the 1870s by curator William Guilfoyle and restored in 2010. The volcanic cone shape sits above the surrounding lawn and is planted with Mediterranean and succulent species. The Shrine Vista, a long open lawn, gives a direct view to the Shrine of Remembrance on Domain Road.
The Moonlight Cinema runs in the Central Lawn every summer from December to March, with outdoor film screenings under the gum trees. The gardens also host the Night Market in January and February, and the Children's Garden is a permanent interactive feature in the south-west corner.
Scenic views
Lookouts near Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.
You may also like
Attribution
Sources & credits
Content (1)
Images (3)
- Catalogue of plants under cultivation in the Melbourne Botan... · Guilfoyle, W. R.; Royal Botanic Gardens (Vic.) · Public domain
- Gate G Melbourne Botanic Gardens 20180726-015.jpg · Gary Houston · CC0
- Lake in Melbourne Botanic Gardens 20180726-016.jpg · Gary Houston · CC0
Images sourced from Wikimedia Commons under licenses that permit commercial use. If you are the rights holder and believe an attribution is incorrect, please contact us.