Spring is here, and there’s so many beautiful parks and gardens for us to visit, such as Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, Banksia Park and Alowyn Gardens. And if you love a mix of flowers and trees, why don’t you visit Geelong Botanic Gardens? Located one away from Melbourne, now is the perfect time to visit, because you can see plenty of blooming flowers, such as a whimsical meadow of everlasting daisies. This botanic garden is also home to the newly crowned Tree of the Year, which was announced by the National Trust Victoria earlier this week. It’s free to visit, and open every day.
Geelong Botanic Gardens
In 1851, the government set aside 200 acres of land by the bay to become a botanic garden. Over the past 175 years, the area has grown to become Geelong Botanic Gardens, and the wider Eastern Park, filled with a variety of gardens, lawns and sculptures.
Spring is a wonderful time to visit the gardens, as you can admire plenty of blooming flowers. Breathe in the sweet fragrance of their heritage roses, with various species and their hybrids flowering only in spring. You’ll also find a collection of over 100 different species of salvias, with cheerful bright colours, and something in bloom all year round.
Right now, you’ll also find a meadow of everlasting daisies in bloom. Feel your day get a little brighter as you marvel at these delicate pink and white flowers, smiling up at the sun.
Pop inside the Conservatory to see tropical and seasonal displays throughout the year. This 1960s glasshouse is also home to two Corpse Plants, which bloom once every ten years. The plant only blooms for about 24 to 48 hours, and it releases a rather stinky scent! The first Corpse Plant bloomed in November 2024, and it might be quite a wait for the second flower.
Tree of the Year
The gardens are also home to quite a few mature, exotic trees, with quite a few of them represented on the National Trust’s Register of Significant Trees. Earlier this week, the female Ginkgo tree at Geelong Botanic Gardens was declared as Tree of the Year.
This lovely tree is the largest of its kind in Victoria, and was first planted in 1859. Grown from a seed taken from China, this magnificent tree has thrived for over 160 years. Carefully looked after by garden staff and volunteers, this tree is notable for its strange stalactite-like growths on its trunk and branches, which is normally seen on much older Ginkgo trees. In autumn, the leaves change into a vibrant golden display.
This tree was declared the winner after receiving the most votes from the public, beating eight other finalists.
When you’re not admiring the Ginkgo tree, stroll along the avenues and look out for other historic trees, such as the Black Walnut tree or the Sierra Redwood tree. Some trees were planted as single specimens, while others were planted as pretty avenues. Further out in Eastern Park, you’ll also find a great collection of conifers, with pines from around the world.
More things to do
Explore the gardens at your own pace, or try out one of the self-guided trails, which were designed to help you slow down and relax. If you’d like to learn more about the gardens, there are free guided tours. Run by volunteer guides, you can learn more about the garden and the stories behind the plant collections. These guided tours run on Wednesdays at 11am and Sundays at 2pm.
Nestled among the ferns, you’ll also find a cafe. Fuel up with a takeaway coffee, or stick around and settle in for lunch, with cafe favourites like pastries, wraps, cheese boards and sweets. Cocktails and mocktails are also available.
Dogs are welcome to come along, as long as they’re on a lead.
Located near Geelong Waterfront, stroll over to Eastern Beach and go for a dip in the water on a sunny day, and admire the famous bollards.
Key details:
📅Open daily
🕒8am to 7pm during daylight savings, and 8am to 5pm at all other times.
🚗Geelong Botanic Gardens is about an hour’s drive away from Melbourne. If you’re taking public transport, it’s roughly a 30 minute walk from the train station.
📍Within Eastern Park, Corner of Eastern Park Circuit & Podbury Dr, East Geelong VIC 3219
