The Explorer - Cranbourne Gardens: Navigate 15 Hectares of Royal Botanic Gardens
4.9
83 Ratings
Cranbourne
Explore the 15-hectare Australian Garden at Cranbourne Gardens, part of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. Discover Victoria's best-kept secret and enjoy a convenient and informative experience.
Duration: 25 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria - The Explorer at Cranbourne Gardens
    Discover the iconic Australian landscape and enjoy live commentary in the comfort of an open-air minibus. From the Red Sand Garden, journey along the east coast of the Australian Garden before winding back through the Peppermint Garden.

The experience lasting 25 minutes provides a wealth of interesting and engaging content including landscape stories, gardens history, cultural significance and nature interpretation. Highlights of the tour include:

• Red Sand Garden
• Howson Hill
• Ian Potter Lake
• Arid Garden
• Dry River Bed

Included within your ticket is the flexibility to hop off at various stops within the Australia Garden. If you fancy a stroll at any one of the highlights we welcome the freedom to continue your experience with one of our later departures by jumping back on board later in the day. (This option is subject to availability on the day).

What's Included
  • Professional guide
  • Driver/guide
  • Live commentary on board
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Transportation to/from attractions
Additional Information

Navigating through Cranbourne’s 15-hectare Australian Garden, a part of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, is most conveniently done using the Explorer. It provides the ideal brief overview, whether you’re taking a whole day to delve into the Gardens or are simply stopping by on the way to Phillip Island. Starting at the primary Visitor Centre, this captivating journey encompasses all the significant features of one of Victoria’s hidden gems.

You can find the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria at Cranbourne Gardens
on the corner of Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne, (accessible from South Gippsland Highway).
Refer to the Melway: 133 K10

For GPS users - 1161 Ballarto Road, Cranbourne (Junction Village)

  • Infants (age 0-4) are free of charge when sat on a knee.
Location
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Corner Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne Gardens
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(83 Ratings)
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Rosemary_e
May 30, 2024
Cranbourne Botanical Garden’s visit - Wonderful native botanical plants and garden, winding paths, water scapes lovely level walking paths. Little garden scenes . Bus ride and commentary Beas excellent. Great for all ages fitness and abilities Great cafe too
Review provided by Viator
Briangeorgee
May 30, 2024
Cranbourne BotanicGardens - My mother, sister and I visited the Cranbourne Botanical Gardens yesterday. It was a pleasant sunny day. We were amazed by the beautiful landscaping and planting of native plants. Lovely areas of different varieties of plants and picturesque settings and themes. All immaculately cared for. Beautiful water scapes and themes. Easy to get about either by shuttle bus $15 or beautiful level Walking paths. Suitable for Wheelchairs or walkers, strollers and children, folk of all She’s and abilities. A great cafe too. Meals, rolls, sandwiches drinks etc
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Helenbc4380wh
Apr 23, 2024
Aussie garden explorer - The tour guide was friendly and informative. It was slow paced allowing the passengers to take in the natural surroundings.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Retirees51
Apr 20, 2024
Tour with USA couple - This was a great morning, we were the only people on the Explorer. The guide was excellent and our American friends thoroughly enjoyed their time with us there. he was a retired landscape gardener from California so knew a lot of the plants.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Safu9
Apr 17, 2024
SUPER DAY OUT AT CRANBOURNE GARDENS - NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT I WAS BLOWN AWAY WITH THE SCOPE AND BEAUTY OF THE GARDENS. THE STAFF WERE FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL. THE TOUR WAS EXCELLENT AND OUR DRIVER AND GUIDE, PETER, WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND HIS BRIGHT PERSONALITY MADE THE TOUR ENTERTAINING. LUNCH AT THE CAFE WAS DELICIOUS TOP MARKS ALL ROUND FOR A SUPER DAY OUT. NEXT TIME I'LL BRING THE GRANDCHILDREN AND A PICNIC IN THE BUSHLAND
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dream46206402063
Apr 12, 2024
All aboard! - Outstanding & a non-negotiable: a informative, expert, insightful and comfortable experience that gives you an overview of all aspects of the Garden in every season! Your visit will be the richer for it and it is soooo reasonably priced!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kasia_k
Apr 11, 2024
The bus experience made... - The bus experience made it much more interesting for the kids. Our driver was very entertaining and knowledgeable.
Review provided by Viator
Jessicahb5377kj
Apr 10, 2024
Wonderful birthday. - We had a wonderful day at the gardens with family and friends to celebrate my birthday. The bus tour was an excellent way to get a good overview of the whole place then we did some walking it was amazing! We have all agreed to come back in spring. Thank you for a wonderful day out.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pabl
Apr 5, 2024
Highly recommended for those with mobility issues - What an amazing adventure! I booked online for a scooter and it was ready and waiting for me. We got coffees from the beautiful cafe and off we went looking around the Gardens. The two hour hire was the perfect amount of time for us to see most of it. It’s such an amazing peaceful experience to go through the mobility scooter isn’t too loud
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Penelopep613
Apr 14, 2024
Short but sweet - Took the kids to the gardens just to get them out of the house and decided to book a bus tour to kill some time. It was advertised as taking 30 minutes but it was over in 15. I'm glad we went during the holidays, because that meant the kids got to ride for free. I couldn't justify the cost if that weren't the case. The tour guide was lovely and did a great job at telling us all about the different areas of the gardens and we even got to see a bandicoot that was trying to sneak a peek at people's picnics. The bus tour is definitely aimed more towards tourists, and i would recommend it for anyone visiting Australia as the tour really helps to understand Australia's different climates, wildlife and landscapes. The kids really enjoyed it, which was the most important thing for me.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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