Take a break from the urban hustle and bustle without leaving the big city – go to meet nature on the South Bank of the Yarra River in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne.

It's hard to imagine that this place used to be a swamp. Today, 38 hectares of land are occupied by more than 8,500 species of plants from Australia and other parts of the world.

The Botaniс Gardens were founded in 1846. Their formation lasted at least 60 years. During this time, the National Herbarium of Victoria with the State Botanical collection appeared here, and the territory of the gardens acquired the usual picturesque landscapes. In 1958, Queen Elizabeth II gave the Botanic Gardens the «prefix» – Royal. A few years later, in 1970, Cranbourne Gardens were opened in the suburb of Cranbourne, southwest of Melbourne. It’s a branch of the Botanic Gardens with an impressive scope of 363 hectares. The total collection of plants in both gardens has more than 50 thousand species.

Tourists and visitors of the city flock to the Royal Botanic Gardens like bees to honey to relax in the bosom of nature, enjoy the stunning scenery, and learn about the rich collection of plants presented on the territory. Experts dream of working with one of the world's leading Botanical institutions to share best practices in horticulture, science, and education. And the employees of the Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne themselves are happy to carry the organization's mission and responsible attitude to nature to visitors and share their love for such a noble work. This place is not only a real paradise for recreation but also an important state resource for nature protection, education, and awareness-raising.

When you go to the Royal Botanic Gardens, be prepared to see camellias, tropical forest flora, cacti and succulents, roses, herbs, cycads, perennials, California and South China species, as well as a collection of rare and endangered species from South-Eastern Australia.

If you decide to visit Cranbourne Gardens, you will find one of the most valuable areas of Victoria with bushlands - preserved natural thickets of shrubs. You will have a fascinating exploration of wasteland, wetlands, and forests.