Here are a lot of gardens and parks which are less known by the community and slightly off the path. Hence, these are beautiful, surreal, and mostly devoted to Australian natives.
If you fancy the whole garden and park scenes, you should check out these six places. Ideal for unwinding, taking a stroll, and enjoying some pretty botanical views.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne
Did you know the Royal Botanic Gardens has a sister in Melbourne’s southeast? The Cranbourne side of the garden specializes in native Australian flora which spans over 350 hectares. Home for over 170,000 plants as well as some endangered Australian animals. There’s a hop-on-hop-off bus that will take you around the garden.
- Blue Lotus water garden
This is a seasonal display garden usually open from 26th December to 18th April every year. At Blue Lotus water garden, there are arrays of water littles and lotus flowers blooming over two lakes and multiple ponds, the garden is over 50,000 square meters. There are also four greenhouses that have rare plants including the giant Amazon lily, which is known to be the world’s largest Lilly species.
Don’t forget to take a stroll in this beautiful seasonal garden next time.
- Yarran Dheran Nature Reserve
It is home to over 85 species of birds over 7.5 hectares and you are more likely to hear plenty of birds chirping giving evidence of their presence. Yarran Dheran is connected to Mullum Creek Reserve at the EastLink Trail. A stroll here feels more peaceful compared to the busy eastern suburbs. It is a mixture of original indigenous bushland and reconstructed bushland. Koalas were released into the area in the 1970s and are occasionally seen in the manna gums. Kangaroos and wallabies are also seen as they move up and down the Mullum Mullum Valley.
This is an Ideal location for a picnic with the family.
-  Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens
This is Victoria’s cool-climate garden. Breathtaking views over the Yarra Valley, the harden features an Aboriginal cultural landscape of the traditional Wurundjeri people. Exotic and native flora. Seasonal changes in the garden ensure a delightful experience throughout the year.
The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden is home to 15,000 rhododendrons, 12,000 azaleas, 3,000 camellias, and 250,000 daffodils in spring and autumn.
The garden is known to be Australia’s largest collection of Australian and overseas-raised hybrids of rhododendrons that cannot be replaced, re-bred, or re-imported.
- Cactus Country
Close to a three-hour drive from Melbourne, you will come across a slice of the old Wild West at Cactus Country. This is home to the biggest collection of cacti in Australia. With our 4 hectares of gardens, it showcase over 4,000 species of succulents and cacti, and can wander through 8 different trails and find your favorite prickly ones.
This place is uber cool and photogenic, ideal for film or photoshoots.
- Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm
This beauty sits in the picturesque farmlands of Shepherds Flat in northwest Victoria. Boasts among 100 acres to roam and explore this iconic European-styled garden, historic stone buildings, farm animals, and rows of incredible lavender farm, vegetable, and herb gardens and an onsite café with a gift shop offering essential oils, scrubs, creams, and handwashes with their fresh cut lavender.
Their lavender scones with whipped cream are a must-try at the eatery.
