The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden is a 42-hectare botanic garden in Olinda, about 40 km east of Melbourne in the Dandenong Ranges.

First established in 1960 by the Australian Rhododendron Society and now managed by Parks Victoria, the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden is Victoria’s premier cool-climate botanic garden. With breathtaking views over the Yarra Valley, the garden features important collections of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and more, in a setting of native and exotic trees. Seasonal changes ensure the garden is a year-round delight.

The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden is home to a staggering 15,000 rhododendrons, 12,000 azaleas, 3,000 camellias and 250,000 daffodils clothed in colour in spring and autumn. The garden houses Australia’s largest collection of Australian and overseas-raised hybrids of rhododendrons that cannot be replaced, re-bred or re-imported.

It is also home to the award-winning Chelsea Australian Garden at Olinda, designed and constructed by Phillip Johnson Landscapes, and the important conservation garden, The Australian Cloud Forest Collection, which houses a collection of wild-collected Far North Queensland mountain-top plants.

Bring a picnic basket and set up on one of the lawns within the gardens for a scenic day out. Ride the ‘Garden Explorer’ – a fee-for-service people mover which provides a 25 min guided tour of the garden.

Opening hours

Every day: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm (last entry).
Gates lock at 5:00 pm.

Gift Shop: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm.
Ph: 03 8427 2087.

Closed Christmas Day, and on days of Extreme Fire Danger Rating or severe weather events.

For more information, visit https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/dandenong-ranges-botanic-garden.