Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne

Grab a picnic rug and head to the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne for Australia's leading outdoor cinema experience. Featuring the best in new release film and classic cinema, the Moccona Moonlight Cinema season runs until 06 Mar 2004.

Tickets

Adult $14.50. Concession $11.50. Pensioner / Child (under 13) $10.00.

Tickets can be booked through Ticketek 132 849, Ticketek online or purchased at the gate from 7.00pm. Service fees apply to pre-booked tickets.

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A huge area of parkland on the edge of the CBD that includes the Botanic Gardens, Shrine of Remembrance, Alexandra Gardens, Governor's House etc. It may not have the location of Sydney's Botanic Gardens, but nevertheless this is the heart and lungs of Melbourne.

It's a wonderful area that mixes formal gardens with bushland landscapes teeming with birdlife - and you may well bump into groups such as Hare Krishna, community dance groups, tai chi and yoga exponents taking advantage of the wide open spaces. And many a picnicker too...

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There are several options when it comes to walks, the one I took takes you past the lookout and the swamp before circling back past the dam.
To be perfectly honest, the panorama from the lookout tower was fairly ordinary. I believe it needs to be about 5 metres taller before it becomes really interesting.
Strolling along the well made tracks I was fortunate enough to encounter an echidna who lurched out of the scrub and made strides towards me (pic 2) before turning into the bush again. They're almost blind so you don't have to worry about them seeing you but they are very sensitive to noise and ground tremor.
The wildflowers, predominantly white, border the tracks in spring (pic 4) and I also managed to snap a butterfly (pic 3).
There's also a picnic spot you can either walk or drive to if you want to spend more time here.
The last picture is of the children's playground area and shows how much imagination has been vested in this area.

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As you cross the Princes Bridge the first two parks you run into are Alexander and Queen Victoria, the Royal Botanical Gardens are at the other end of the park following St. Kilda Road.
Authority: State Government of Victoria (Royal Botanic Garden, Melbourne Board)
Established: 1846
Area: 38.9 ha
Location: Birdwood Ave, South Yarra
Entry Fees: None
Open: Mon to Sun 1 Nov to 30 Apr 7.30 am to 8.30 pm. 1 May to 30 Oct 7.30 am to 5.30 pm
Number of Paid Staff: >100
Number of Volunteers: >100
Planting Records: computer
% of Plants Labelled: 30%
% Native Aust Plants: 10%

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There's a huge garden on one side of the Yarra but, it's actually a number of interlinked gardens; the Queen Victoria Gardens, the Alexandra Gardens (nearest the Yarra), the King's Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Steeped in the tradition of the classic English park, this expanse of cultured plant life is one of Melbourne's most famous attractions and who am I to dispute its drawing power.
Set adjacent to the Yarra on the other side to the CBD it offers a respite from the throb of city life and a variety of plant life unmatched in Australia.
There are many sidelights to the gardens such as the Governor's residence, the Children's Garden, cafes, splendid sculptures and such but overall its emphasis on greenery is never lost.

Could there be a lovelier way to spend an afternoon in Melbourne than here? The Royal Botanic Garden is a true marvel - breathtakingly beautiful, even in wnter - around every bend you keep saying "Oh, oh, oh, look!"

Do NOT miss the gardens, whenever you visit.

Brilliant designs that seem so natural. A stroll can spirit away all the stress of your day - or deepen the sweet pangs of romance.

And bellbirds! You'll get to hear bellbirds!

A late afternoon Devonshire Tea at the cafe by the lake is the perfect way to end the day.

For more photos of these truly lovely Gardens, take a look at my travelogue:
Royal Botanic Gardens

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/6aae1/#TL

These gardens are amongst Melbournes star attractions. Acres of beautiful landscaped grounds full of exotic vegetation set amid numerous ponds and walkways. There are also greenhouses where one can see both native and foreign plants.

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The Botannical Gardens are not far out of town, and are extensive. There are lakes, lawns, cafes, wildlife and all sorts of exotic trees and shrubs. We actually went to see the Fruit Bats that I'd read about but they weren't at home when we were there. I have a feeling they've been trying to keep them away as they ruin the rare trees. Still plenty to see though and we spent a few pleasant hours strolling around.