Explore
National Rhododendron Garden
The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden is Victoria's premier cool-climate 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.
Meander down to Serenity Point where the sculpted landscape opens to stunning views over the Yarra Ranges and beyond. A network of paths criss-cross the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden and highlight the ever-changing seasonal landscape.
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.
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-minute guided tour of the garden.
Opening hours
The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden is free to enter and opens daily: 10am - 5pm (last entry 4:30pm).
The gardens are not open on Christmas Day, or on days of Total Fire Ban and severe weather events.
Things To Do
Garden Tours
Café Vireya
Mist@Olinda
Bird watching
Botanic gardens
Wildlife and Nature
Tours and adventure experiences in parks
One of the best ways you can get into nature is with a Licensed Tour Operator.
There are more than 400 Licensed Tour Operators across Victoria who are ready and waiting to help you experience and connect with Victoria’s spectacular parks and waterways.
Discover more than 60 different types of nature-based experiences including hiking, mountain biking, boating, four-wheel driving, indigenous culture tours, birdwatching, surfing, diving and so much more.
Licensed Tour Operators know all the best places to go and will plan and prepare your visit to ensure you are safe and can enjoy your nature-based adventure to the fullest.
How to get there
National Rhododendron Garden
When you're there
Download the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden visitor guide for more information about the park and the plethora of experiences to be had within its borders.
What's flowering
Predicting flower blooms can be difficult because the ‘arrival date’ depends on the previous 12-months weather conditions. Also, current weather conditions (heat, cold, rain, wind) effect the duration of any bloom. Whatever time of year, there is always something to see at the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden.
When to go
Need to know
National Rhododendron Garden
Accessibility
Visiting a park can be more of a challenge for people with disabilities, however in Victoria there are a wide range of facilities to help people of all abilities enjoy our wonderful parks around the state.
Assistance dogs are welcome in Parks Victoria parks and reserves. Entry requirements apply for parks and reserves that are usually dog prohibited, such as national parks.
Caring for the garden
Dogs, cats and other pets are not permitted within the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden.
Bicycles, scooters, rollerblades and skateboards are also not permitted within the garden.
Plants and flowers in the garden are protected for the benefit of the community. Leave the plants for others to enjoy.
Bins are not provided. Please take your rubbish with you.
Weddings and wedding photography
All wedding ceremonies and wedding photography requires a pre-approved permit. Find out more about wedding permit applications and guidelines.
How we keep it special
Management Plan
The Management Plan for the Dandenong Ranges Gardens directs all aspects of management of the gardens, including the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden (formerly, the National Rhododendron Garden), until the plan is reviewed. In developing the plan, Parks Victoria consulted widely with a range of interested community and stakeholder groups and individuals, and was assisted by the Dandenong Ranges Advisory Committee.
Chelsea Australian Garden at Olinda Project
In 2013, Phillip Johnson and Wes Fleming’s Trailfinders ‘Australian Garden’ exhibit became the first ever Australian entry to win at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show. This ‘Australian Garden’ is now being re-created on over 7,000 square metres of previously unused space at the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, for locals and visitors to enjoy. See the Chelsea Australian Garden at Olinda project for more details.
Olinda Precinct Project
New facilities are being developed at the nearby Olinda Precinct to provide more opportunities for people to get active in nature through community sport, and provide a place for people to meet, play, picnic and connect to the natural surroundings. Refurbishment works will transform the old golf course site into 34-hectares of recreational community parklands.
