Alowyn Gardens
Alowyn Gardens, Yarra Glen Alowyn Gardens is a beautiful seven-acre award-winning display garden in the heart of the Yarra Valley.
The rich soils of the Yarra Valley provide the ideal conditions for Melbourne’s best ornamental gardens, plant and flower nurseries and landscape designers, some of whom have even won gold in showcasing Australian show gardens internationally!
Nature takes centre stage throughout the region. Take time to get outdoors and experience the difference. Fresh air, stunning views, fantastic wildlife and spectacular gardens make for a great adventure.
Edible Forest
You will find the Edible Forest on the Yarra Valley estate territory. A place for growing unique edible plants, creating impressions and breathing fresh air. The ultimate goal is to grow 1,000 plants of various degrees of maturity, more than 350 varieties, which will be edible, medicinal, soil nutrients and bee attractants.
The edible forest is deliberately designed according to the methods of Hügelkultur and permaculture. Permaculture is based on three ethical principles that reflect their philosophy: caring for the planet and the community and personal responsibility for organising one’s life. Free of chemicals and proudly organically grown, the abundant vegetation creates a healthy ecosystem.
Birds, bees and butterflies fly around the garden to ensure pollination and seed dispersal, just like in the forest. Collecting the seeds and shoots of exotic plants allows them to regenerate and gives the beautiful garden additional growth.
When you visit the garden, you will experience the calming, healing influence of the forest and the best nature offers. Visitors can purchase plants from the Edible Forest Nursery and continue their experience of growing edible plants at home!
Tesselaar Kabloom
Fairy fields filled with millions of colourful autumn flowers, world-class circus performances with Circus Oz, fun activities for the whole family, and delicious food and market stalls.
Easter bunny hunts over the Easter weekend and fantastic entertainment and nature-based activities during the Victorian school holidays.
Embark on a Yarra Valley wine tours and enjoy a day filled with wine tastings, gourmet food, and stunning views.
Kuranga Native Nursery
Discover the beauty of an Australian garden with native plants. Situated at the gateway to the Yarra Valley, this award-winning nursery showcases the broadest range of Australian plants.
Immerse yourself in a tranquil atmosphere overlooking Olinda Creek, surrounded by majestic white-trunked eucalyptus old-world trees. The architect-designed building features massive 100-year-old mooring and exposed beams from recycled ironbark. It’s home to our inspirational gift shop, featuring products from Australian makers and designers.
In the Paperbark Café, you can enjoy our seasonal menu, which includes the subtle flavours of Australian bush products.
We invite you to discover Australian flora’s beauty, diversity and colour and talk to experts about creating your own low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly and stunning garden.
Tesselaar Tulip Festival
The Tesselaar Tulip Festival is a colourful and entertaining floral event. With over a million spring flowers and daily entertainment, there is something for everyone.
Enjoy a series of concerts and shows, savour delicious food from all over the world, try fun garden games for all ages, take scenic walks through the grounds, wander around the stalls, ride the tractor train, visit the fairy in her garden, and much more!
Tulips are the main characters of the exhibition! In honour of the tulip, there are Turkish Days (to celebrate its origins), Dutch Days (a living historical and family connection), Food, Wine and Jazz (to celebrate the local region), Rock the Fields (for a good dance), Kids’ Days (with celebrity guests) and, at the end of the rainbow, the Irish Weekend (to have a blast).
Don’t miss out on being less than an hour from Melbourne. Dogs on leads are welcome. A unique annual festival like no other in Australia. Whatever you do, don’t forget your camera!
Warratina Lavender Farm
Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of this five-hectare family-run lavender farm, open all year round. In the summer (November to January), stroll between the rows of blooming lavender and breathe in the scent before it is harvested. In January and February, you’ll see the harvested lavender hanging in the drying sheds to dry. Come back later in autumn/winter and enjoy seasonal events such as Easter egg hunts, speciality markets and Yarra Valley exhibitions.
Treat yourself to a delicious regional meal at the tea house (brunch, lunch, morning or afternoon tea).
Cloudehill Gardens
Cloudehill is a garden located at the top of the Dandenong Hills in Aulinda. It is world-famous for its rooms filled with flowers and magnificent works of art yearly. Around 25 garden rooms are separated by stone walls and hedges. They include Australia’s finest summer borders, peony gardens, a spring shrubbery walk, hyacinth forests, extensive bulbous meadows and a ‘green theatre’ that hosts the Summer Twilight concert series.
The deep volcanic soil and humid, mild climate allow plants to reach majestic proportions. The weeping Japanese maples in the garden’s centre have a deep meaning. Imported from a legendary Japanese nursery in Yokohama, they have grown on the estate since 1928.
The Diggers’ Club takes care of the Cloudhill Nursery, where old seeds and mature trees are stored, as well as many plants growing in the gardens. The Seasons Restaurant offers unique dishes made from fresh local produce.
Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens
The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens (formerly the National Rhododendron Garden) is Victoria’s first excellent climate garden. The garden offers breathtaking views of the Yarra Valley and features extensive collections of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and other plants set against a backdrop of native and exotic trees.
The garden is home to 15,000 rhododendrons, 12,000 azaleas, 3,000 camellias and 250,000 daffodils, which come into their own in spring and autumn. It is also home to the most extensive collection of rhododendron hybrids from Australia and other countries that cannot be replaced, reproduced or imported.
Alfred Nicholas Gardens
Burnham Beaches Estate is home to the stunning and highly acclaimed Alfred Nicholas Gardens on the picturesque Sherbrooke Road in the Dandenong Ranges.
Synonymous with the Dandenong Ranges, the Alfred Nicholas Gardens are known for their picturesque waterfalls, features, iconic ornamental lake and boat slipway.
FAQ
What is Alowyn Gardens known for?
Alowyn Gardens is a seven-acre, award-winning display garden in Yarra Glen, featuring themed landscapes, seasonal plantings, and a nursery in the heart of the Yarra Valley.
What makes the Edible Forest unique?
Located on the Yarra Valley Estate, the Edible Forest grows over 350 varieties of edible, medicinal, and bee-attracting plants using organic, permaculture methods. Visitors can buy plants to grow at home.
When is the best time to visit the Tesselaar Tulip Festival?
The Tesselaar Tulip Festival is held in spring, showcasing over a million tulips, cultural days, live music, food stalls, and family activities. Dogs on leads are welcome.
What can I see at Kuranga Native Nursery?
Kuranga Native Nursery offers Australia’s largest range of native plants, a Paperbark Café serving bush-flavoured dishes, and a scenic location by Olinda Creek.
Is Warratina Lavender Farm open year-round?
Yes. Visitors can enjoy blooming lavender from November to January, see drying sheds in summer, and attend seasonal events like Easter egg hunts and markets.
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