Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Royal Botanic Gardens
GARDENS
(
www.rbg.vic.gov.au
; Birdwood Ave, South Yarra;
7.30am-sunset daily year-round;
Tourist Shuttle,
1, 3, 5,
6, 8, 16, 64, 67, 72)
One of the finest botanic gardens in the world, the Royal Botanic
Gardens are one of Melbourne's most glorious attractions. Sprawling beside the Yarra
River, the beautifully designed gardens feature a global selection of plantings and specific-
ally endemic Australian flora. Mini-ecosystems, such as a cacti and succulents area, herb
garden and an indigenous rainforest, are set amid vast lawns. Take a book, picnic or Frisbee
- but most importantly, take your time.
theatre performances. Other features include the
Observatory
for tours of the night sky, and
the excellent, nature-based
Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden
(10am-4pm Wed-Sun, daily during
Victorian school holidays, closed mid-Jul-mid-Sep; 8)
, a whimsical and child-scaled place that in-
vites kids and their parents to explore, discover and imagine.
The
visitor centre
(Observatory Gate, Birdwood Ave; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5.30pm Sat & Sun)
is at
the former centre for stargazers. A range of tours departs from here. Choose from a variety
of guided walks through assorted horticultural pockets to learn a bit about history, botany
and wildlife. Next to the visitor centre, the National Herbarium, established in 1853, con-
tains 1.2 million dried botanical specimens used for identification purposes.
For visitors who can't get enough of gardens, the Royal Botanic Gardens has a recently
developed
Australian Garden
(
www.rbg.vic.gov.au
; 1000 Ballarto Rd, Cranbourne)
in the outlying suburb of
Cranbourne. The award-winning visitor centre was designed by local architect Kerstin
Thompson.
MONUMENT
Shrine of Remembrance
(
www.shrine.org.au
;
Birdwood Ave, South Yarra; 10am-5pm; Tourist Shuttle, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67, 72)
Beside St Kilda Rd stands the massive Shrine of Remembrance, built as a memorial
to Victorians killed in WWI. It was built between 1928 and 1934, much of it with
Depression-relief, or 'susso', labour. Its bombastic classical design is partly based on the
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. It's visible
from the other end of town; planning regulations continue to restrict any building that
would obstruct the view of the Shrine from Swanston St as far back as Lonsdale St.
