Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne — Attraction in Melbourne

Beware, this is no longer a good place for families. Avoid visiting.

It makes me sad to have to write this review but in case you are a family thinking of visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne I would recommend giving this one a miss due to the recent decline in the quality of this place.

I have been bringing our family to RBGC for 10+ years and what has happend in the ~12 months since we were last here is tragic.

The area with the stepping stones in the water where kids used to wade with their parents has been shut "due to water quality issues". Do the management of RBGC realise that this was the no.#1 reason families came here!? Instead of wasting money on a pointless extension to the playground which is a 10 mins walk for kids outside of the main gardens why not invest in creating a safe water play area?

There were 3 families when we were there all discussing how they were not going to come back due to the closure of not only the water wading area but also of the playground within the actual gardens itself!! Lots of sad/crying kids. There is nothing now for young kids to do in this gardens. The printed "spot the item" cards that they hand out at the visitors centre are a poorly thought out and uninspiring substitute for actually having a playground and water splash area :(

The 'extension' to the playground which for small kids is a 10 mins+ walk through the carpark and away from the main gardens is the biggest disappointment we have seen. Almost no new play equipment , just some pointless oddly shaped 'hammocks' (what the heck are they?!). Yet, the original play area right next to the new 'extension; is in desperate need of a clean and upgrade.

Many of the hardscaping features in the main garden need replacing. The decking is rotted in many places now and needs to be replaced. This is far more of an OH&S issue than the 'water quality' in the splash area - again this seems like a poor management descision.

The second kisok is now closed all week and public holidays except for Sat/Sun where its only open 10am-2pm. The main cafe was already closing at 3pm when we got there on a Monday and only had choc top ice creams available (very overpriced). The lookout tower was also closed...

It is so obvious that the RBGC are in steep decline, I would be interested in how their visitor numbers change over the next year as I predict that they are going to drop rapidly. The fact that management has chosen to invest in putting down mulch and some pointless hammocks to 'extend' the playground is a heartbreaking waste of valuable resources when the main gardens are in such desperate need of restoration.

Because of the closure of all family play areas in the main garden (with no firm plans that the staff were able to communicate) and the general state of disrepair I will not be bringing our family back here. All three of our daughters said they did not have a good time and did not want to come back (despite loving it here for over 10 years).

I am giving two stars because the general staff are still very friendly, but the management of RBGC is clearly totally clueless or don't care about why visitors actually make the trip out here in the first place!!!

Find a solution for the water splash area, get your playgound fixed and open again, and replace your decaying decking and hardscaping or you are going to have no more happy kids and families...

A Must-Visit Gem for Nature Lovers! 🌿🌸

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, and it was an unforgettable experience! Nestled in the beautiful landscape of Cranbourne, this horticultural haven offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and innovative design.

The Australian Garden is the highlight, showcasing the diversity and resilience of native plants in stunning, elaborately landscaped displays. Walking through the garden felt like a journey across Australia's unique ecosystems—from arid deserts to lush wetlands. The thoughtful design and use of vibrant colors and textures are truly mesmerizing.

The gardens are immaculately maintained, and the interpretive signs provide fascinating insights into the plants and their ecological significance. It's clear that conservation is at the heart of this center, and it’s inspiring to see such dedication to preserving Australia's botanical heritage.

There are plenty of walking trails for those who want to immerse themselves in the natural bushland. I particularly enjoyed the Trig Point Lookout, which offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding area.

The facilities are excellent, with a great café serving delicious meals and a gift shop filled with unique, eco-friendly souvenirs. The staff were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, always ready to answer questions or provide guidance.

Whether you're a plant enthusiast, a family looking for an educational outing, or someone simply seeking tranquility, the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne has something for everyone. I highly recommend setting aside a few hours—or even a whole day—to fully explore this incredible attraction.

I'll definitely...

My wife & I along with other family members, had the absolute pleasure of visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne in early May.

Ideally located at Ballarto Road & Botanic Drive, Cranbourne VIc 3977, this is one of the best natural bushland & Australian Gardens that I have ever seen.

This award winning contemporary botanic garden features over 100,000 plants & about 2, 000 plant varieties.

The bushland has over 400 indigenous plant species & includes 10 klm walking tracks, a lookout tower,picturesque shelters, wonderful BBQ facilities & a child friendly playground.

The Royal Botanic Gardens has a large cafe, a more than adequate gift shop that offers a great selection of craft & other products.

This natural bushland & garden offers a great opportunity to hike around the trails & is also a user-friendly place for wheelchair ♿️ & mobility scooters.

There is more than enough free open air parking, with disabled parking within close proximity to the gardens.

The toilets onsite are on one level & wheelchair ♿️ access is user-friendly.

I found this wonderful natural bushland alongside the Australian Gardens settings to be relaxing & there was no rush to leave.

The staff on-site were more than welcoming & provided great feedback on any aspect of plants of any kind 🪴 👍

One thing that was quite noticeable was the number of schools that were onsite during our time there, showing that there is a little bit for everyone to enjoy visiting a natural...