chelsea australian garden @ dandenong ranges botanic gardens, olinda
/
The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens in Olinda have a new roommate - the Chelsea Australian Garden. This is breathtaking. After winning Gold at the world-famous Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show in London (that’s a mouthful!) a replicated and expanded design, is now taking pride of place in the Dandenong Ranges.
Like most of the beautiful things in the Gardens, head downhill along a sweeping trail to find this display. As you weave your way through the 15,000 native plants you’ll come across a picturesque display pond, complete with flowing waterfalls and brimming with frog life (Mamma could hear them… just couldn’t spot one).
You can take a stroll across the water on the bridge or skip across some stepping stones along the dry riverbed. The vibes down here are super beautiful and Mamma can’t wait to see how this spot changes throughout the seasons. There is a QR code that you can scan as you arrive so you can listen to an audio guide as you move through this wonderful space.
Mamma's lil' tip for the Gardens: A trip to Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens can be as big or as small as you like. Just visit for this new garden or… if you are up for it, and well prepared, you MUST keep heading downhill to Serenity Point and take in that view. Watch that hill though because of course, what goes down must come up and that is when this place can get a little tricky for little legs. Suggestion - take the toddlers on the trikes that you can push uphill or stick to the pram. Otherwise, there are park benches along the way including a spot to play naughts and crosses for when they - or you - need a rest.
the nitty gritty
OPEN
10am- 5pm (last entry at 4:30pm)
PRICE
FREE - donations kindly accepted
pram friendly but hilly - public toilets - no dogs permitted - water hazards - shaded in sections - walking trails - cafe (check for opening times) - visitor centre and shop
wanna know more? click here
Mamma's special mention: If you need to kill some time before the gardens open at 10am, the most amazing Olinda Playscape is just next to the oval.
