Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne: The Explorer Bus

I convened a group of 26 people- most of whom were stroke survivors and their carers. Others were volunteers or elderly. The experience we shared on the Explorer Bus was wonderful- very informative, visually lovely and educational, safe and comfortable. Sue was an exceptional guide - eager to assist us, very warm and friendly leaving every member of our group delighted, happy enthusiastic and grateful for sharing a memorable experience. Thank you Cranbourne Botanical Gardens and Sue from us all!

The gardens are incredibly beautiful and really represent the beauty and wonder of the Australian landscape…we learnt so much from our guide and loved that the tour made seeing the gardens accessible to us all and so pleasant…

It’s a wonderful experience with the volunteering guide, Juhan, for an up to 2-hour free guided tour! He is very knowledgeable about the history of the botanic gardens and Australia’s native plants. He is also very kind and patient explaining the species. I learned quite a lot. Thanks the Royal Botanic Gardens for giving the seniors such a great opportunity to know about Australia’s native plants and get more sense of environmental protection.

What a stunning garden! This botanic garden is a must see, and taking the bus tour is a good way to begin. With over a thousand acres to explore, these gardens feature an overview of Australian flora, with over 170,000 plants. Our guide Peter, was superb. Thank you Peter!

Beautiful scenery, wildlife, nice coffee, and great photo spots. The free shuttle was very convenient, and the guide gave a short introduction along the way.

Had the best time with my 7yo who enjoyed all the info given by our lovely guide and who took lots of photos. Guide was very knowledgeable and friendly and I'd recommend it to everyone to do.

A great way for all ages to easily get an overview of Cranbourne Botanic Gardens without walking long distances. The gardens are quite big, with different sections, so a bus trip with live commentary is a great option to learn, especially if mobility is a problem. Just note that you have to book in advance ! Our tour was a sellout.

The guide, Peter, was spectacular. Friendly, knowledgeable and made the trip around the garden full of laughs. The garden is stunning. Was great to hear the history of parts of it, as well as challenges they've had with nature. Really recommend the tour for anyone who hasn't been

It was a great experience, especially the free bus service which was very convenient, Thank you very much.

We did The Explorer Bus at the gardens and it was worth doing. The tour guide was great. He was very informative and explaining everything as he was going along. Will do it again.

I highly recommend hoping on the Explorer Bus. The tour guide was very informative and explained everything in detail. I would do this tour again.

Last days of Autumn to Cranbourne Botanical Gardens made for a less crowded tourist destination, but there was movement, activity and interest in the vast space of over a thousand acres. Interest insights into the history of the making of the gardens is given by the tour operator of the Explorer before departing on an overwiew tour which takes a little more than half hour. Already you will have to come back with a friend, or children who you know will love the playground in the woodlands. I climbed the rope bridge and I won't reveal my age! You could spend a whole day here doing the short or longer walks in the Australian bush garden and looking out for wildlife, which includes the endangered bandicoots. For this first visit I spent four hours keeping in time with the free return shuttle van from Cranbourne railway station which makes for a relaxing easy option since I came by public transport. Great shaded area surrounding the cafe with indoor/outdoor seating. I will most certainly plan another visit.

The garden was amazing. Multiple displays with beautiful native trees. The staffs were friendly and the shuttle bus made it a lot easier to travel (since I rely on public transport). Highly recommended for anyone, either solo (like me) or a family trip.

Shuttle bus driver is so friendly and share good suggestions around garden tour . Garden is also a perfect place for family to relax and pass time together .

The shuttle bus booked and arrived on time. Arrived at the garden in time to do the bus tour. Great way to get your bearings. Beautiful gardens explained including some advice about plants growing in the garden. Took in a leisurely lunch at the cafe. The free shuttle bus was booked to take the ride back to the train station. Great day out.

This tour gives a great overview of the gardens with a very informative guide/driver. He pointed out a lot of rare & unusual plants, the work being done to save very rare plants & the changes/improvements being made to various areas. Well worth the small charge.

- The parking was easy, well signposted and available. - All staff members were professional, friendly, helpful and patient in the Visitors centre, cafe and gift shop, and the facilities were clean. - The bus tour was excellent! I was delighted by the enthusiasm, passion and knowledge that the guide shared in the 30 min trip. It was a great introduction to the gardens and it really opened my eyes to the vast array of plant species in Australia, and amazingly - the many that were in bloom. - The foresight, grants and donations that have gone into the planning and development of the land - offer education, relaxation, wellbeing, and a must do on all plant lovers bucket list. (No shovels allowed of course!). - A truely unexpected highlight was the sighting of a bandicoot searching for food and the birdlife. I am so looking forward to returning and exploring other areas, and highly recommend visiting the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens -whatever the weather - just come prepared….my day was with sunscreen and a raincoat! Thank you all so much, it was truly inspiring.

I brought a group to the Explorer bus and everyone loved the experience. Our guide was so knowledgeable and passionate - the information shared was interesting to garden lovers and novices alike. As the organiser, I appreciated the extra touches such attentive staff offering support with helping those with reduced mobility. Thank-you for making this a great activity for our group!

Great way to get overview and history of the extensive gardens, via both travel and simple commentary

We had a wonderful experience on the free shuttle bus tour at Cranbourne Botanical Garden. Our driver was exceptionally friendly, patient, and knowledgeable — he made the whole journey enjoyable and informative. He took great care to make sure everyone was comfortable, and his cheerful attitude added so much to our visit. The ride was smooth, the commentary was interesting, and we truly appreciated his warm hospitality. Thank you for making our day at the gardens extra special — highly recommended! 🌸🌞

It was an excellent short trip around the beautiful gardens, which gave my mum who has mobility issues the chance to see much more than she would have otherwise. The driver/host was very knowledgeable about the history and plants of the gardens, and his commentary was very interesting. Thank you!

WE went as a group from an Introductory Course to Horticukture and we found it very interesting. Ron was a great guide and speaking as a Horticulturist his plant knowledge was pretty impressive. He had a wide range of knowledge. The flowers were amazing. I have been to the gardens many times but this was the best visit in terms of flowering plants.

We had a very enjoyable ride around the gardens. The ride was nice and slow and with plenty of commentary along the way. Lots to look at and areas of interest were pointed out which you could then go back visit.

I took the grandchildren and we all had a lovely day. Wandered around the enormous gardens filled we gorgeous plants and man made structures. We booked our ride on the shuttle for a closer look at the gardens. Our guide was very informative and friendly. We had a delightful day and we will be back one day soon.

Stunning gardens. The guide was really friendly, knowledgeable, and a great communicator. A perfect introduction to these fantastic gardens.

I had an amazing time sight seeing at the Royal Botanic Garden. The operator was truly funny and friendly.

Extraordinary gardens with native plants. Lots of different gardens and landscapes from open to heathland and desert type settings. Great cafe and gift shop on site. Took the little shuttle bus for a half hour around various gardens, well worth it. I learnt more about gardens in the half hour than in a lifetime. The guide was brilliant who shared so much information. So many pretty spots and gardens. I’ve now been twice and will go again on a different tour. Previous visit I took my bike and rode some designated bike paths. So much to see here. Many will want to go more than once as the season changes.

It was a perfect trip. The shuttle bus service was all I needed and it turned out to be really helpful. Our guide Sue was nice, responsive and responsible, making sure every visitors had a perfect experience. In the beginning of the trip, she provided all information needed to start our exploration. She also ensured every visitors coming back safely at the end of the trip. Perfect!

This guided tour was a brilliant experience. I took my 94yo grandfather and we were able to see and learn more about the gardens in 30 minutes than we ever would on our own. Our guide was wonderfully warm and very informative. We enjoyed the experience.

The ability to roll a wheelchair on and be securely tied down was fantastic for our disabled companion. The tour guide was friendly and informative. Really nice to appreciate the gardens from the comfort of the open sided bus.

Took a friend with mobility issues to the gardens and she wanted to travel on the Explorer bus first, to get an idea of the breadth of the gardens and which section she’d feel comfortable navigating with a walker. The bus cost $15 and was a 30 minute tour. Tommy was our driver and he was super friendly and helpful. My friend needed the ramp to access the little open-aired bus and Tommy made it happen with smiles and encouragement. He gave a running commentary throughout the tour and you could tell this was a man who ‘knew his stuff’ about all the plants and who also loved his job. He had a genuinely friendly and kind greeting for all of his passengers and all the people we passed whilst on the tour. After the bus, we walked and rested, walked and rested, revelling in the beauty and design of the gorgeous Cranbourne Botanic Gardens. It’ll be terrific to see how the plants change throughout the four seasons so we will return. And it’s fantastic that the gardens are free and people with disabilities are catered for with ramps, lots of sealed pathways, easy drop off and pick up location, free use of motorised and push wheelchairs. It makes places of beauty available to everyone, so we can all ‘feed our souls’.

My husband and I went to the Gardens with our son-in-law's father, who was visiting from India. We had a lovely day out. We took the explorer tour bus on arrival which was excellent. A wonderful way to view the Gardens and Pete was an excellent tour guide with a wealth of knowledge about the areas we were travelling through. A good start from which you could then choose which areas to explore more. We all enjoyed our lunch at the cafe and all staff at the Gardens were very friendly and helpful. Our Indian visitor had a lovely time seeing Australian native flora. My husband and I aim to visit again, later in the year, when there is lots of plants flowering. However, it was beautiful and interesting in Autumn when we visited.

Went with my wife to see how the garden has developed since our last visit 10 years ago. Went there by train and took advantage of their free shuttle which you have to book on advance. Small cafe there with tasty food. The garden is well worth a visit.

Just a well maintained garden, sydney is a bit hilly for me , this was a perfect walk . And just nice people everywhere. Clean toilet facilities always keep that hassle easy to bear if your public loo fussy, u will be happy!

This is a MUST for everyone whether you are a keen gardener or just on a day out. We chose to take the tour to get some idea of the overall landscape and were so pleased we did. Peter was fantastic - informative, funny and perfect to introduce us to his wonderland. Wonderland indeed. Full marks to all concerned. We had a coffee then proceeded to explore. Worth every minute of our time there.

My experience at this place was wonderful. The nature is beautiful, everything is very organized and clean. I will definitely come back. I recommend it.

We had a great day at the gardens. Peter our driver on the Explorer was fabulous, friendly & so knowledgeable. We have decided to return every season to see the changes. We finished off with a lively lunch at the restaurant.

It's a very good place to relax and walk around with friends. I highly recommend this place for a picnic for the family, the best of place for kids as well

The gardens themselves were fabulous, but over and above that was the Explorer tour with Simon. His insights into the garden and its contents were the highlight of the day.

An excellent introduction to the gardens and landscape given by a friendly and informative guide. A great way to get to know the gardens before stepping out on foot.

This is an ideal trip to take, particularly if you are short of time or have limited mobility. The drivers always tell you interesting stuff. It is very good value for money. I have taken visitors on this trip a number of times and will certainly be doing it again.

School holiday free for kids, but viator charged for kids as well.. Requested refund. But viator not ready to pay back.

I took my grandson on the tour and we both found it enjoyable and informative. Children were given a list of things to look out for; birds, coloured leaves, flowers, insects & many more, which made it so much fun for them. Our driver & tour guide, Sue, was so friendly & knowledgeable. I thoroughly recommend this tour that shows the beauty & diversity of our amazing country.

I took my grandson on the bus tour of the gardens & we both found it enjoyable and informative. Children were given a list of things to look out for along the way like insects, birds, coloured leaves & many more which made it even more fun. Tour guide, Sue, was so friendly and knowledgeable. I recommend to anyone thinking of taking this tour, it shows the beauty of our amazing country!

The gardens were beautiful and the Explorer was ideal to get around as mum has difficulty walking distances. The staff were really helpful, we could use a wheelchair to get us to the bus and there was also electric scooters available to use. Highly recommend for anyone with mobility issues. Many thanks to the staff and to Sue for the commentary it was very informative

Until staying nearby I had never heard of these gardens but what a lovely place. The formal gardens are beautifully done and I loved the themes of various Australian landscapes. The bushland area is also fantastic, with good pathways and guaranteed wildlife spotting each time I went. I also went on a bird talk and the trolley tour both of which were highly in formative and enjoyable. One of the days I went it was raining and they also had brollies to lend out which was great.

Beautiful gardens to explore. Our bus driver Peter was great and had amazing knowledge. We had a lovely day and even saw a wallaby ❤️

Better to walk than to use the $15 explorer vehicle. Pick a cool day to walk and enjoy the garden. The $15 tour guide run is only for 30 minutes.

We loved Very well planned garden of diverse Australian plants. Very knowledgeable and courteous staff. Friendly helpful and cheerful. What a great experience to walk and smell the mint garden eucalypt’s areas for desert dry river bed and domestic architect garden designs and so much more. Great Café seating window views of the greenery. Nice shop with high quality Australiana products. Our iced mocha was delicious! The bus tour is a must do. After that you can walk around knowing what interests you to see. Sue was our driver and was informative and obviously a committed staffer, thanks to her. Highly recommended and likely a surprise for local Victorians to see this quality attraction hidden in Cranbourne. The current roadworks (Dec2024) meant we easily missed the main entrance from the Gippsland highway but GPS found the rear entrance that brought us then to the Main gate anyway.