Must Visit Gardens in Autumn

Experience the incredibly vibrant, cool climate gardens found in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges.

Bundle up and get your camera ready as these glorious gardens showcase stunning autumn colours which are just as magnificent in the cooler months as they are in the springtime.

Chelsea Australian Garden at Olinda - Olinda

Located within the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, the Chelsea Australian Garden at Olinda is a permanent display, featuring an enormous Waratah sculpture, waterfall and billabong. Over 15,000 plants have been used in the design including over 400 different Australian species.

Full of birdsong and spacious lawns, bring a lunch and enjoy a beautiful autumn picnic next to the Boab trees.

Details
Days: Open every day except on Christmas Day and on days of Total Fire Ban or severe weather events
Hours: 10am - 4:30pm
Cost: Free
Location: 24 The Georgian Road, Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, Olinda
Dog-friendly: No

Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden - Olinda

Rhododendrons? Check. Azaleas? Check. Camelias, daffodils and cherry blossoms? Check, check and check. A garden that’s a stunner no matter which season you visit? Yep, that’s this one.

With breathtaking views over the Yarra Valley, seasonal changes ensure the gardens are a delight all year round.

Make sure to take your camera and snap the beautiful trees, coloured leaves and bird life.

Details
Days: Open every day except on Christmas Day and on days of Total Fire Ban or severe weather events
Hours: 10 am - 4:30 pm
Cost: Free
Location: The Georgian Road, Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, Olinda
Dog-friendly: No

Karwarra Australian Native Botanic Garden & Nursery - Kalorama

Here you’ll find a huge range of landscaped Australian plants that bloom all year round, so there’s something new every time you visit. Karwarra is especially inspirational for those looking to create their own garden using Australian plants as you can take your enthusiasm straight to the nursery.

Details
Days: Open every day except on public holidays and on days of Total Fire Ban or severe weather events
Hours: Mondays (closed), Tuesday - Friday: 10am - 4pm, Weekends: 1pm - 4pm
Cost: Free
Location: 1190-1192 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd, Kalorama
Dog-friendly: No

R.J. Hamer Arboretum - Olinda

A kaleidoscope of colours are found here all year round and that’s in addition to the views over the Yarra Valley. Bring a thermos of your favourite hot drink and wander the towering trees.

A rich array of autumn colours provides spectacular views, from the fiery red, oranges and crimsons of the liquidambers and maples, to the subtle paling of the deciduous conifers.

Details
Days: Open every day
Hours: Open 24 hours
Cost: Free
Location: Chalet Road, Olinda
Dog-friendly: Yes, on lead

Cloudehill Gardens - Olinda

You’ll feel like you’ve wandered into a romantic fairytale when you see the maze of stone walls and woodlands that open up to hidden garden rooms.

All year long the gardens here have something magnificent to explore in the 25 garden compartments tucked among trees that are nearly a century old.

Details
Days: Open every day except on Good Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and on days of Total Fire Ban or severe weather events
Hours: 10am - 5pm (September - May) and 10am - 4pm (June - August)
Cost: Adults $15, Under 16's Free
Location: 89 Olinda-Monbulk Road, Olinda
Dog-friendly: Yes, on lead

Alfred Nicholas Gardens - Sherbrooke

One of our most iconic gardens, the Alfred Nicholas Gardens are super photogenic all year round. Known for picturesque waterfalls, water features and its iconic ornamental lake and boathouse, this is a must-visit garden.

Trust us, you'll be back all year round to see how this garden transforms throughout the seasons!

Details
Days: Open every day except on Christmas Day and on days of Total Fire Ban or severe weather events
Hours: 10am - 5pm
Cost: Free
Location: Sherbrooke Road, Sherbrooke
Dog-friendly: Yes, on lead

George Tindale Memorial Gardens- Sherbrooke

Just meters from the Alfred Nicholas Gardens, George Tindale Memorial Gardens are well worth a visit for some bonus beauty. Enjoy a canopy of gold, red, orange and burgundy in Autumn.

Leafy and shaded by the enormous Mountain Ash Trees, here you’ll find loads of rare and exotic plants and flowers.

It’s a place where you can bring a hot coffee in those cooler months and stroll down the just-shy-of-a-kilometre walking path to sit, reflect or admire the garden sculptures.

Details
Days: Open every day except on Christmas Day and on days of Total Fire Ban or severe weather events
Hours: 10am - 5pm
Cost: Free
Location: Sherbrooke Road, Sherbrooke
Dog-friendly: Yes, on lead