Parks Victoria: National Rhododendron Gardens page

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National Rhododendron Gardens

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The National Rhododendron Gardens are host to an unparalleled variety of brilliantly coloured blooms, mainly rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, cherries and daffodils. Of international reputation, these magnificent gardens attract thousands of visitors during all seasons.

Things to Do

Enjoy a self-guided tour, strolling through 40 hectares of scenic botanic gardens.
Enjoy a picnic by the lake and take in stunning views of the Australian Alps.
Photograph the native birdlife and brilliant floral scenery.
During the Spring Floral Festival held annually from August to November visitors can enjoy a series of undercover floral displays, including the largest undercover display of daffodils in the Southern Hemisphere.

Weddings at the National Rhododendron Gardens

The beautiful National Rhododendron Gardens provide the perfect venue for your wedding ceremony or wedding photography. Upon inquiry we suggest you visit the gardens venue to view and select the site where you would like to have your ceremony.
For more information read:
Wedding Policies and Prices and Wedding Photography Policies and Prices

Facilities

The garden has a gatehouse, gazebos, grassed picnic areas and toilet facilities for people with limited mobility.
There is a gardens giftshop stocking a wide range of gifts including limited edition prints, gardening books and garden ornaments.
Café Vireya is currently closed but is available for large group bookings. For café group bookings only phone (03) 9751 0443. For all other enquiries please contact Parks Victoria on 13 1963.
A plant nursery operates selling a wide variety of plants including rhododendrons.
There are picnic tables on the Cherry Tree Lawn.
The Garden Explorer (people mover vehicle) has ceased operating for the 2009 season and will return again next spring from September to November offering a 25 minute guided tour (included in your entrance fee).

Heritage
Some members of the Ferny Creek Horticultural Society formed the Australian Rhododendron Society in 1960 and approached the Forests Commission for a suitable site to establish a rhododendron garden. A 20 ha site, extended to 40 ha in 1975, was selected from the Olinda State Forest on the eastern ridge of Mount Dandenong. In 1995, the National Rhododendron Gardens came under the management of Melbourne Parks and Waterways (now Parks Victoria).

The gardens are a combination of individual gardens and spaces, each different. Each area, however, contains rhododendrons chosen for their growth habit and their ability to fit in with the other plants of that garden.

Aboriginal Traditional Owners

Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters.
Further information is available from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria AAV and Native Title Services Victoria

Fauna
The Superb Lyrebird can be heard in the garden's gullies during winter and early morning visitors often spot this shy bird foraging in the garden, along with King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas all year round.

Vegetation
Situated on a hilltop in the scenic Dandenong Ranges, these gardens are framed by the world's tallest flowering plant, the Mountain Ash, and set against a backdrop of the blue Australian Alps. The National Rhododendron Gardens are host to 15,000 rhododendrons, 12,000 azaleas, 3,000 camellias and 250,000 daffodils.

In spring and autumn it is clothed in colour and perfume. The garden also features moorlands, rock gardens, fern gullies and sweeping lawns.

Looking After the Park

Visitors are urged to be litter conscious.
Dogs are not allowed in the gardens at any time.

How to Get There

Entry fees apply.

Spring (including Garden Explorer)
Adult $11.20 Concession $9.00
Child (under 15 free) $5.60
Family (2A + 3C) $28.00

Annual Pass (per person)
Adult $29.50 Concession $23.50

Off-Peak Admission Prices
Adult $7.10 Concession $5.50
Child (under 15 free) $3.20
Family $17.40

The National Rhododendron Gardens are open 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. The Gardens in The Georgian Road, Olinda, are just an hour's drive from the heart of Melbourne (Melway ref: 66 K6). Visitors can travel by train to Croydon Station and the Route 688 bus from Croydon to Olinda or the train to Belgrave and the Route 694 bus to Olinda. (check www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au for details), and the Gardens are just a short stroll from the centre of this quaint hills town.

Occasionally the gardens may be closed due to dangerous weather conditions, high fire risk or for major works. If your window of opportunity to visit is limited please call 13 1963 on the day of your planned visit to confirm it is open.

Special Needs Access The National Rhododendron Garden is an extensively landscaped and planted garden on an undulating site. Much of the site is quite steep, adding to the aesthetic of the mountain garden but decreasing pedestrian accessibility. The long walk around the garden site is on wide, sealed paths. The Visitor Centre and Show Hall are accessible buildings, and there are disabled toilets available. Parks Victoria is aware that many people aren't physically able to walk around the 3.5 km circuit; and in response provides the Garden Explorer service during the spring season commencing September and running until early November to give all people an opportunity to see the entire garden. The Garden Explorer vehicle is a 20 seater bus which provides comfort and protection to its passengers sitting high to better view our magnificent garden. Please note that passengers will need to walk up 3 steps to board the bus as unfortunately our bus does not have wheelchair access.

Please also note that should your group or members of your group be infirm to some degree, that the parking for your coach is approximately 60 metres from the Garden Explorer and will therefore entail some walking.