The Explorer - Cranbourne Gardens: Navigate 15 Hectares of Royal Botanic Gardens
4.9
94 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.
  • Kids Explorer: Children ride FREE on the Kids Explorer Bus during the school holidays. Experience amazing sights, sounds and scents as you cruise through the Australian Garden on this tour designed especially for families.
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
(94 Ratings)
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G6559vycassandrac
Jul 12, 2024
Incredible day. - Absolutely beautiful place to visit. I have been there personally a few times and was thrilled to take the school children there. We went on the guided bus tour and learnt so much. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
O2352cesusanr
Jul 1, 2024
An excellent overview of the gardens - Guide was very informative and fun, the explorer was comfortable and well equipped for the intermittent rain. It was a good way to get an overview of the gardens before exploring sections that interested us later in the day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leapk8586pt
Jun 21, 2024
A feast for the senses - We visited the Cranbourne Gardens as part of a retirees group excursion. Some of our members had never been to the gardens and were blown away by the experience. The number and variety of trees and shrubs is a feast for the senses. We went on the The Explorer trip which was a great way to get an overview of the whole area and learn about the different plants. Our guide was knowledgable and friendly and made the trip very enjoyable. The Explorer trip was a great way to work out which areas to explore further afterwards.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nomad14163765832
Jun 8, 2024
A Taste of Australian Botanics - The bus driver was very informative. It was interesting to note the differing vegetation in areas dedicated to to particular Australian states. The red soil 'desert' is amazing. We'll be back again in Spring.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Flyer389319
Jun 7, 2024
Amazing Day Out at RBG Cranbourne!!! - We had an incredible day at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. The gardens were stunning, with a beautiful array of native plants and breathtaking landscapes. A special thank you to our tour guides, Simon and Linda. They were knowledgeable, engaging, and made our visit truly memorable. Their passion for the gardens and the local flora and fauna was evident and added a lot of value to our experience. We highly recommend a visit to RBG Cranbourne and will definitely be back. Thanks again to Simon and Linda for a wonderful day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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
Trevor102
Jul 13, 2024
Probus Group tour of the gardens - Our Probus group were very impressed with the knowledge of the Explorer Guide who took us round, however, we picked a very cold and windy day which spoilt the experience a little, as the Botanic Gardens are truly amazing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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