Royal Botanic Gardens

The Royal Botanic Gardens occupy 38 hectares of impeccably maintained parkland along the south bank of the Yarra River. With more than 10,000 species of plants, the gardens are among the finest in the Southern Hemisphere — genuinely worth seeking out rather than a polite tick on the tourist list. The ornamental lake, the fernery, the herb garden, and the Aboriginal Heritage Walk each offer something distinct.

The gardens sit within the broader Domain parklands, which extend toward the Shrine of Remembrance and provide a connected green corridor from the CBD to the inner south. On summer evenings, outdoor cinema operates here (Moonlight Cinema), and guided bat tours run at dusk when the large colony of grey-headed flying foxes is active. Entry is free; guided tours depart from the visitor centre.

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A story
The gardens sit on land that was originally a swamp beside the Yarra River. The transformation into one of the world's finest botanic gardens was largely the work of one man: William Guilfoyle, director from 1873 to 1909, who replaced the original formal layout with sweeping lawns, curving paths, and a picturesque lake. His design drew on the English landscape garden tradition while incorporating Australian native plants, which were then considered weeds by much of the European establishment.