Parks and Gardens on Mt Dandenong and in the Yarra Valley

Visit Australian Parks and Gardens. Mt Dandenong and the Yarra Valley is home to some of Australia's finest Parks and Gardens.

There is an abundance of beautiful gardens in the Dandenong Ranges which will keep even the most avid Burke's Backyard watcher happy for days. In many of the gardens in the Dandenongs you can sense the legacy of Edna Walling. A celebrated landscape designer and gardener, her designs always focused on the mix of native plants growing alongside her favourites from the Northern Hemisphere.

    • Olinda Village
    • Open Daily 10am - 5pm
    • 89 Olinda Monbulk RdMelways 122 A9
    • A must see garden with garden compartments threaded through 80 year old European beech, magnolias, maples and Himalayan tree rhododendrons. The garden is highlighted by glorious herbaceous borders which focus on two of the finest Japanese weeping maples. Grab a bite at Chatterleys as well, the Chatter Platter is to die for.
    • Cloudehill
    • Olinda Village
    • Open Daily 10am - 5pm
    • The Georgian Rd, off Olinda Monbulk RdMelways 122 A12
    • Hosting an unparalleled variety of brilliantly coloured rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, and daffodils you can enjoy a self-guided tour through the 103 acres of botanic gardens. Enjoy a picnic by the lake and take in stunning views of the Australian Alps. During spring and autumn, there are special garden tours, talks and demonstrations.
    • Rhododendron Gardens
    • Olinda Village
    • Open Daily 10am - 4pm
    • Hacketts Road, off Olinda Monbulk RdMelways 122 A12
    • Highlighting the steep slopes, the 28 acres of terraced gardens are distinctive for their botanically important trees, shrubs and perennials with an overstorey of large blackwoods and mountain ash over natural fern gullies. The garden comes alive in autumn when the trees change colour to the many hues of orange, red and yellow.
    • Pirianda Gardens
    • Sherbrooke
    • Open Daily 10am - 5pm
    • Sherbrooke RdMelways 75 G1
    • The many linking paths through this garden take you beneath a canopy of the awesome mountain ash trees. The garden was part of the historic Burnham Beeches Estate, home of Alfred Nicholas, developer of the Aspro formula. It is known for its extensive water features including waterfalls and an ornamental lake complete with boathouse.
    • Alfred Nicholas Gardens
    • Sherbrooke
    • Open Daily 10am - 5pm
    • Sherbrooke RdMelways 75 J2
    • In 1958 George Tindale, a research scientist with the Dep. of Agriculture, purchased the property and developed the garden creating the plantings that you can see today. Mrs Tindale bequeathed the garden to the Conservation Trust in 1980. The towering mountain ash provide a canopy for a variety of floral highlights throughout the year.
    • George Tindale Gardens
    • Silvan
    • Open Daily 9am - 5pm
    • 357 Monbulk RoadMelways 123 B5
    • The best times to visit are from Spring until early December and then from February to early March (which is when the gardens are at their peak for the annual Gardeners Weekend). However, the gardens are still well worth visiting during most of Spring, Summer and early Autumn. See the What's Going on Page for Special Events like the Tesselaar Tulip Festival and the Gardening and Rare Plants Expo.
    • Tesselaars Gardens Plants and Bulbs
    • Wandin Yallock
    • Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am - 5pm
    • 105 Quayle RoadMelways 121 F2
    • Warratina Lavender Farm, run by Annemarie & Peter Manders and family, produces products which are made from lavender grown on the farm. Both these and a range of lavender plants are available from the cottage at the farm. You can stroll through the fragrant lavender rows have a picnic or stop for a bite at the Purple Haze Cafe.
    • Warratina Lavendar Farm
    • Healesville
    • Open 7 days 9.30am - 4pm
    • Albert RoadMelways 278 E6
    • The Hedgend Maze is one of the most developed mazes in the region and a great challenge. There are 2 mazes to try and if getting lost isn't your thing then maybe a round of golf on the 18-hole Mini-Golf course is. There are picnic areas and also a gas BBQ so spending lunch in the beautiful surroundings is a must, or you can try the cafe.
    • Hedgend Maze
    • Mt Dandenong
    • Open Daily 9am - 11pm
    • 26 Observatory RdMelways 52 F12
    • Surrounded by sweeping lawns is The English Garden, which is set beneath the canopy of majestic Australian Blackwoods, that provide dappled shade, and are a haven for the local bird life. Discover the four secret squares, hidden with in the maze. Around every corner a mystery awaits, filled with sculptures, illusions and butterflies.
    • Sky High Mt Dandenong