Gardens in the Dandenong Ranges
Tucked into the hillsides just a short drive east of Melbourne are the magnificent gardens of the Dandenong Ranges. These picturesque gardens feature colourful seasonal displays, views across the Yarra Valley and surrounding ranges, and settings framed by towering Mountain Ash trees. Seasonal changes ensure they offer something different throughout the year. Many of the gardens are free to visit.
Opening hours may change during dangerous weather and high fire danger conditions. Check the individual garden listing before travelling.
Gardens with Free Admission
Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens (Sherbrooke)
The many linking paths through this garden take you beneath a canopy of towering Mountain Ash trees. The garden was once part of the historic Burnham Beeches Estate, home of Alfred Nicholas, who developed the Aspro painkiller formula. It is known for its water features, waterfalls and picturesque ornamental lake with a historic boathouse.
In spring, look for flowering azaleas, cherry trees and viburnums, while autumn brings colourful foliage throughout the garden.
Opening Hours: Open during daylight hours, seven days a week, except on days of Extreme Fire Danger or during severe weather events.
Admission Prices: Free admission
Access for dogs: Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a leash.
George Tindale Memorial Garden (Sherbrooke)
The garden contains many plants that are rarely found in cultivation and are particularly suited to the cool conditions of the Dandenong Ranges. Extensive collections of magnolias, rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas, fuchsias and hydrangeas delight garden enthusiasts.
The garden offers something new with each season - a myriad of flowers in spring, hydrangeas, lilies and fuchsias in summer, a canopy of gold, red, orange and burgundy in autumn, and Lenten Roses or Hellebores flowering beneath shrubs in winter.
Opening Hours: Open during daylight hours, seven days a week, except on days of Extreme Fire Danger or during severe weather events.
Admission Prices: Free admission
Access for dogs: Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a leash.
Mount Dandenong Arboretum (Mount Dandenong)
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The 16-hectare Mount Dandenong Arboretum features conifers and deciduous trees of national significance. Established between 1928 and 1931, it has a particular focus on southern hemisphere conifers, including monkey puzzles, kauris and hoop pines.
There are also unusual elms, oaks and other deciduous trees, with informal walking paths and views towards Silvan and the surrounding forest.
Opening Hours: Open during daylight hours, seven days a week, except on days of Extreme or Catastrophic Fire Danger.
Admission Prices: Free admission
Access for dogs: Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a leash.
Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden (Olinda)
The 42-hectare garden, formerly known as the National Rhododendron Gardens, is home to colourful displays of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, cherries, hydrangeas and daffodils. Seasonal changes ensure the garden is a delight throughout the year, with wonderful views across the Yarra Valley and Great Dividing Range.
The garden has approximately 3.5 km of paved walking paths, an ornamental lake, picnic lawns, a cafe and an open-air garden tour bus. The hilly terrain and some steep paths can make unassisted wheelchair access difficult.
The Australian Cloud Forest Collection is another feature of the garden. It showcases and helps conserve endangered plants from the mountain-top rainforests of Queensland's Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
Opening Hours: Open daily from 10am. Last entry is at 4.30pm and the gates are locked at 5pm. Closed Christmas Day and on days of Extreme or Catastrophic Fire Danger.
Admission Prices: Free admission. Charges apply for the open-air garden tour bus.
Access for dogs: Dogs and other pets are not permitted.
Chelsea Australian Garden (Olinda)
Located within the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, the Chelsea Australian Garden is a large-scale recreation of the Australian Garden that won Gold and Best in Show at the 2013 Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show in London.
The garden contains more than 15,000 plants representing over 400 Australian species. Features include a cascading waterfall, billabong, winding paths, recycled storm-damaged timber and a nine-metre-high Waratah sculpture.
The billabong is filled using stormwater collected from the surrounding area, so its water level changes naturally between wet and dry periods. Visitors must remain on the formed paths and swimming is not permitted.
Opening Hours: Open daily from 10am. Last entry is at 4.30pm and the main garden gates are locked at 5pm. Closed Christmas Day and on days of Extreme or Catastrophic Fire Danger.
Admission Prices: Free admission
Access for dogs: Dogs and other pets are not permitted.
Pirianda Garden (Olinda)
Pirianda Garden is an 11-hectare woodland garden containing a unique collection of plants, including many trees that are botanically significant and considered rare in cultivation in Australia. Unusual trees and shrubs blend with ferns, while impressive Blackwoods and Mountain Ash provide a shady overstorey above the terraces and peaceful fern gully.
The garden is particularly beautiful in autumn when its trees change to shades of orange, red and yellow. Visitors can enjoy magnificent views, tranquil walks and picnics on the lawns.
The garden is located on a steep site and its long paths, stone steps and uneven surfaces are not suitable for wheelchairs or people with limited mobility. Access Hacketts Road from Olinda-Monbulk Road and ignore GPS directions suggesting Perrins Creek Road.
Opening Hours: Open during daylight hours, seven days a week, except on days of Extreme Fire Danger or during severe weather events.
Admission Prices: Free admission
Access for dogs: Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a leash.
R.J. Hamer Arboretum (Olinda)
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Visitors to the R.J. Hamer Arboretum can take a peaceful stroll along walking tracks and roads through 101 hectares of impressive scenery. Unlike a traditional arboretum where individual trees are displayed as isolated specimens, the trees here have been planted in sweeping forest-like groups.
More than 150 different species of native and exotic trees grow throughout the arboretum. There are distant views across the Yarra Valley and Great Dividing Range, along with picnic areas, barbecues and gazebos near the main car park.
Opening Hours: Open during daylight hours, seven days a week, except on days of Extreme or Catastrophic Fire Danger.
Admission Prices: Free admission
Access for dogs: Dogs are permitted on a leash within the arboretum. Dogs are not permitted in the adjoining Dandenong Ranges National Park.
Karwarra Australian Native Botanic Garden (Kalorama)
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Karwarra is a two-hectare Australian native botanic garden featuring more than 1,400 different plant species. Native plants are displayed in landscaped gardens and bushland settings, with colourful seasonal flowers, shady fern gullies, ponds and views towards Silvan Reservoir.
The garden includes a retail native plant nursery, seating, toilets and accessible pathways. Concrete paths beside the gravel paths provide access for wheelchairs and walkers.
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm. Closed Mondays and public holidays. The garden also closes on Total Fire Ban days and days of Extreme or Catastrophic Fire Danger.
Admission Prices: Free admission. Admission may be charged for special exhibitions.
Access for dogs: Dogs and other pets are not permitted.
Garden with an Admission Fee
Cloudehill Nursery & Garden (Olinda)
Cloudehill is a five-acre cool-climate garden with formal clipped hedges, topiary, relaxed bulb meadows and secluded garden rooms. It is also home to the Diggers Garden Shop, Seasons Restaurant and a collection of garden art.
Highlights include Japanese weeping maples, a water garden, herbaceous borders, the Commedia dell'arte lawn, summerhouse garden, quadrangle lawn, gallery walk, peony pavilion, shade borders, azalea steps, upper meadow, beech walk and kitchen garden.
Opening Hours: Open daily from 10am to 5pm from September to May and 10am to 4pm from June to August. The garden closes on specified holidays, Code Red fire days and some days of extreme fire danger. Check before travelling.
Admission Prices: Adults: $15, Children under 16: Free, Diggers Club Members: Free
Access for dogs: Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a leash.
Nearby Garden in the Yarra Valley
Alowyn Gardens (Yarra Glen)
Alowyn Gardens is located at Yarra Glen in the Yarra Valley, rather than within the Dandenong Ranges. The seven-acre garden contains nine themed areas connected by formal and informal garden spaces.
Highlights include a perennial border displaying colour from spring to autumn, a silver birch forest, edible garden, formal parterre garden, sunken garden, labyrinth, display gardens and a 100-metre-long wisteria and rose-covered archway.
The formal parterre garden is based on 17th-century design principles and leads to a series of smaller courtyards and display gardens.
Opening Hours: Open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm. The garden may close at 4pm on some Saturdays and Sundays for weddings. Check before travelling.
Admission Prices: Adults: $17, Concession: $15, Children 12 years and under: Free
Access for dogs: Only assistance dogs are permitted.
