Seven of Victoria’s best parks and gardens

VICTORIA is known as the garden state and there’s no better time to pack a picnic and enjoy one of the state’s gorgeous gardens. Here are seven of the best.

Forest Glade in Mt Macedon. Jan Gill with Laburnum archway. Picture: Kylie Else

VICTORIA is known as the garden state and there’s no better time to pack a picnic and enjoy one of the state’s gorgeous gardens.

Royal Botanic Gardens

The Royal Botanic Gardens is a cool green city oasis for the human, animal and bird life of Melbourne with 10,000 plant species from across the globe. The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden is one of the coolest places to be when the weather warms up with lots to explore including the ruin garden, meeting place (complete with water feature that sprays out of the ground when it’s 25C or warmer), a wetland area, bamboo forest, plant tunnel, kitchen garden and The Rill, a gentle waterway that runs through the garden and is perfect for paddling in or floating leaf boats down.

Gardens open daily 7.30am — sunset. Children’s Garden open Wednesday to Sunday and public holidays 10am — sunset, daily during school holidays.

National Rhododendron Gardens, Mt Dandenong

The National Rhododendron Gardens are at their colourful best during October and November as more than 15,000 rhododendrons and azaleas bloom in a riot of mauve, pink, orange and red. The garden is home to more than 550 of the 950 known rhododendron species. There are many short walks to specific areas of the gardens, or a longer 5km round trip around all the gardens. Entry to the gardens is free, and a paid Garden Explorer bus tour runs from Tuesday to Friday.

Open daily 10am — 5pm. The Georgian Rd, Olinda.

Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens, Sherbrooke

Lakes, waterfalls and about 3km of meandering paths and bridges wind their way under a canopy of towering Mountain Ash trees at the Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens. The gardens are renowned for their water features and beautiful lawns for picnicking as well as spring colour from rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, kalmias and flowering cherries. The grand art-deco Burnham Beeches mansion with its Piggery Café and Burnham Bakery overlooks the gardens.

Open daily 10am — 5pm. Sherbrooke Rd, Sherbrooke.

Forest Glade Garden, Mt Macedon

The 14-acre Forest Glade Garden on the southern slopes of Mt Macedon is considered one of Australia’s finest gardens. Divided in to four distinct themes, the English section has exotic trees and masses of colour, the Japanese section has its own bonsai house, the woodland area is home to masses of shade loving plants and the cool fern gully is like a southern rainforest. Forest Glade Garden is also home to the renowned Stokes Collection of antiques (extra charges apply).

Open daily 10am — 4.30pm. Entry $8. 816 Mt Macedon Rd, Mt Macedon.

Alowyn Gardens, Yarra Glen

It’s hard to believe the lush Alowyn Gardens are less than 20 years old. The first tree was planted in 1999 after two years of clearing the weed infested paddocks of an old horse stud. A highlight of the four-acre gardens is a 100m wisteria and rose covered archway with a sunken garden and classical fountain. There’s also a perennial border, silver birch forest, edible garden, parterre garden and display gardens to enjoy.

Open daily 10am — 5pm. Adults $10, concession $8.50, children free. 1210 Melba Hwy, Yarra Glen.

Werribee Park

Werribee Park is perhaps best known for its historic mansion but its 10 hectares of manicured gardens are worth a visit on their own. Exotic and rare species are combined with Australian natives and expanses of lawn. There’s a colourful parterre garden, ornamental lake and grotto, and glasshouses. The Victoria State Rose Garden is also at Werribee Park with its 5000 rose bushes abloom from October to May but at their finest from November to April. Discover artworks from Australia’s leading sculptors and selected winners of the national Helen Lempriere Award on the Sculpture Walk.

Gardens open 10am — 6.30pm daily. K Rd, Werribee.

Ballarat Botanical Gardens

Ballarat Botanical Gardens on the banks of Lake Wendouree draws thousands of visitors each March for the annual colour explosion of the Ballarat Begonia Festival, and year round as one of Victoria’s most prized cool-climate gardens. It’s also home to the famed Prime Ministers Avenue, a collection of the busts of 27 of the 29 Prime Ministers since Federation (Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull have yet to be installed).

Open daily. Gillies St North, North Ballarat.