National Rhododendron Garden

on the Dandenong Tourist Road

The large leaf Rhododendrons flower early August through Spring, hybrids and species rhododendron flower from October through until December, tropical Vireyas flower throughout the year. With camellia's and laburnums, and daffodils, there are flowers almost year round.

The Georgian Road, Olinda. Open daily; admission charged, children under 10 free.

Facilities include a Café and plant nursery. Guided tours available, bus tours for elderly or disabled by appointment. Cute people mover for those who don't wish to hike up and down the steep slopes.

Some members of the Ferny Creek Horticultural Society formed the Australian Rhododendron Society in 1960 and approached the Forests Commission for a suitable site to establish a rhododendron garden. A 20 ha site, extended to 40 ha in 1975, was selected from the Olinda State Forest on the eastern ridge of Mount Dandenong. In 1995, the National Rhododendron Gardens came under the management of Melbourne Parks and Waterways (now Parks Victoria).

The gardens are a combination of individual gardens and spaces, each different. Each area, however, contains rhododendrons chosen for their growth habit and their ability to fit in with the other plants of that garden. source: Parks Victoria

2009: Café Vireya is closed until further notice.

Just the facts:

Contact:
Parks Victoria website
Visit Victoria

Priscilla

Getting there: Gardens in The Georgian Road, Olinda, are just an hour's drive from the heart of Melbourne (Melway ref: 66 K6). Visitors can travel by train to Upper Ferntree Gully and bus to Olinda (check www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au for details), and the Gardens are just a short stroll from the centre of this quaint hills town. source: Parks Victoria