Melbourne Gardens Explorer: Minibus Tour of Stunning Living Collections and Rolling Lawns

The Explorer at Melbourne Gardens
Experience the charm of this urban sanctuary while listening to live commentary from the comfort of an open-air minibus. Marvel at the expansive lawns and the breathtaking living collections at Melbourne Gardens.

Duration: 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria - Discover the beauty of this inner-city oasis in the comfort of the open-air minibus and admire rolling lawns and the stunning living collections at Melbourne Gardens.
What's Included
  • Professional guide
  • Driver/guide
  • Live commentary on board
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Transportation to/from attractions
Additional Information
  • Infants (0-4 years) are free when sat on a lap.
Location
Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre
Birdwood Avenue
Meet at the Visitor Centre, located off Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(235 Ratings)
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Andybearoz
Feb 15, 2026
Louise the guide was excellent - Louise the tour guide was excellent. Interesting anecdotes about the gardens and lots of fun. She was also clear with a clear voice so we could hear her at all times
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kelseywolf2012
Feb 7, 2026
Great way to see the gardens - Great way to learn about the royal botanical gardens. The vehicle was ideal because it provided shade on a hot day. Our guide Elly was super knowledgeable and friendly!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robyndk7274gi
Feb 3, 2026
Explorer bus of Melbourne botanical gardens - Great overview of the gardens and a fantastic way to have a good look around if you have mobility issues. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karen
Jan 26, 2026
The Botanical Gardens: a must see - The Botanical gardens offers a free walking tour. Our guide, Judy was informative, insightful, warm and kind. We learned much about the origins of the gardens and the different plants and species. The walk is a pleasant 90 minute stroll in this beautiful spot in Melbourne. This was certainly a highlight during our stay. I would highly recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Meg
Jan 11, 2026
Beautiful way to see the gardens - We were at the gardens for a picnic, with extended family and had a wonderful day. The highlights were the Children's Garden and the Explorer Tour on the bus. Eugenie, the princess, was our guide. She was knowledgeable and presented the information brilliantly. The 4 and 6 year olds loved it as did the adults. The gardens were amazing and the sunshine showed them at their best. Do yourself a favour, be a tourist in your own town, and do the bus tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kristina
Dec 20, 2025
Ride with "Princess" Eugenie - In light rain we spontaneously took part in a ride on the small Explorerbus. "Princess Eugenie" drove us safely through the park and gave us many interesting and informative impressions.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ginatf380lg
Dec 16, 2025
Do this before you take the gardens all in - My friend and I decided to do The Explorer as a way of getting to know more about the gardens and what we might want to go back and see after the tour finished. Princess Eugenie ;) , our tour guide, was very informative and her passion for the gardens was obvious. Such a beautiful place to visit and soak up.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Traveller376
Nov 27, 2025
Loved the guided tour - The gardens are beautiful and we took the complementary guided tour. Our guide was Georgina and she did a wonderful job showing us the highlights of the garden and providing information about the plants and trees.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Colleen_k
Nov 10, 2025
Excellent Tour - Excellent 30 min tour of the gardens Certainly beats walking Our driver /guide Eugenie was very knowledgeable and pointed out all the plants and trees and told us about the history of the gardens Loved the open sided bus , great to take photos Highly recommended
Review provided by Viator
Cmkeegan50
Nov 10, 2025
INFORMATIVE TOUR - Eugenie our driver was an excellent guide and had a lot of knowledge about the beautiful gardens We covered a lot and enjoyed our ride in the open sided bus Well worth the $17.50 Highly recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $11
up to 6 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).