Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
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The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne are botanical gardens located a short distance from the Melbourne Central Business District. These world-renowned gardens play a main role in the conservation of flora through programs to protect endangered species, habitat studies, and biodiversity research. The gardens are spread out over 36 hectares and are home to about 50,000 specimens from around the globe. The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne are considered to be one of the world’s finest examples of landscaped Victorian gardens.
The botanical gardens are situated southeast of the city center, between St Kilda Road and the Yarra River
. That area is known as the Domain Parklands that also include the Queen Victoria
Gardens, the Alexandra Gardens, and Kings Domain. With more than 1.5 million annual visitors, the
Royal Botanic Gardens are among the most popular tourist destinations in the state of Victoria.
There are information signs, a shop, a café, and a visitor center; highlights include the National Herbarium,
the Tropical Hothouse, and the Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden.
History
The Botanic Gardens Melbourne were established in 1846 by Charles La Trobe. At the time, the site still
consisted of swamps and marshlands; it was transformed into the present-day landscaped gardens over the course of the
next 60 years.
The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne have been managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Board since 1991.
Visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
The Royal Botanic Gardens are open every single day of the year from 7.30 a.m. until sunset. Admission is free. The best places to start a visit is the Visitor Center, located at the Observatory Precinct on Birdwood Avenue. It provides information, maps and brochures, and umbrellas and has toilets, tour bookings, wheelchair hire, and a restaurant. The gardens are one of the finest in the world and offers year-round events, a wide variety of plant collections and interesting guided tours. The Tan Track is a 3.84-kilometer running track around the gardens’ perimeter that is used by locals, tourists, and professional athletes alike.Guilfoyle’s Volcano is a highlight and is located in the southeast of the gardens. It was constructed in 1876 as a water storage facility. It has been transformed into an area of dry habitat plants. The boardwalks and viewing platforms offers people a chance to explore this major feature of the gardens. The views from the city are excellent as well.
Another main attraction on site is the Melbourne Observatory, a historical site that is co-managed by the Astronomical Society of Victoria.
The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden is a 5,000-square-meter discovery area aimed at kids of all ages. This interactive educational center lets children play, discover, and explore the natural world.
The gardens themselves are home to many fascinating plant collections and beautifully landscaped areas, lakes and pathways. Collections include the Arid Garden, Australian Forest Walk, Bamboo Collection, Eucalypts, Fern Gully, the Herb Garden, Lake System Wetlands, Perennial Border, and many, many more. Animal life includes numerous bird species, fish, possums, foxes, microbats, butterflies, turtles, and frogs.
How to Get There
Located about 2 kilometers from the Melbourne city center, the Royal Botanic Gardens is easily reached on foot by walking along the Yarra River. There are also cycling paths along the river, making it easy to get around by bicycle as well. The Melbourne Visitor Shuttle is a public bus that loops around the city and stops at 15 locations, including the gardens. It runs from 9.30 a.m. until 4.30 p.m. and costs $ 5.00 USD .Similar and Nearby Landmarks
Other major landmarks in the city of Melbourne are Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Queen Victoria Market, the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Federation Square, Flinders Street Railway Station, and the Eureka Tower.Other great botanic gardens around the world are the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the New York Botanic Garden, the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, and Perdana Botanical Gardens.
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Author: bramreusen. Last updated: Mar 02, 2015
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