7 inspirational Victorian landscape gardens

Victoria is known as the Garden State, and there are plenty of gardens to explore. City gardens, national gardens, secret gardens, botanic gardens, hand-trimmed hedge mazes, well-tended war memorials, floral clocks and sprawling wilderness everywhere. All within a short drive of Melbourne's city centre. It's hard to narrow down our favourite Victorian landscape gardens, but these seven should keep any green thumb busy for a while.

Start in the heart of Melbourne with the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, then hire a car and explore further afield. Head out on a day trip to the Dandenong Ranges, Melbourne's mist-covered eastern rainforest known for English gardens and Devonishire teas. Or take a road trip along the Great Ocean Road – the world's longest war memorial.

Less than an hour from Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula is known for its beaches, parks, wineries and gardens. Visitors can explore the heritage horticulture at Heronswood House and Garden, or get lost and found in Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Gardens in Shoreham, home to Australia’s oldest hedge maze, plus 25 acres of world-acclaimed gardens.

Ashcombe hedge maze features more than 1000 cypress trees and thousands of metres of pathways. The Lavender Labyrinth itself includes 3000 individual plants from 40 different varieties. It's the perfect afternoon activity in between sipping pinot noir and road-testing country bakery pies.

Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens are home to the historic Captain Cook’s Cottage – built in Yorkshire in 1755 and moved brick by brick from England to Melbourne in 1934. The cottage was put up for sale in 1933, with a condition that the building remain in 'the Empire'. An Australian bid of £800 was accepted and the house transported Down Under, where it has become a popular tourist destination. Cuttings from ivy that adorned the cottage in England were even replanted in Fitzroy Gardens, and an English cottage garden built around the house for visitors to enjoy.

Interestingly, this city park also houses one half of a miniature village, a gift from the people of Lambeth to Melbourne as thanks for food parcels sent during World War II. The other half of the village is in Vauxhall Park in London.

The Kokoda Memorial Walk, known around Melbourne as the 1000 Steps, is a memorial to those who served on the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea, the site of one of Australia’s most famous battles in World War II.

Information plaques along the route offer visitors the opportunity to learn about the lives of those who fought and died on the trail, and visitors can work up a sweat among the tree ferns, manna gums and Blackwood trees. Pro tip: arrive early on weekends, as The 1000 Steps tends to draw every jogger, hiker and fitness enthusiast east of the city.

Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens is a sculpted green space on the edge of lush Sherbrooke Forest. The original garden of an historic estate, Burnham Beeches, it's home to a picturesque lake, a boathouse, a canopy of ash trees, and vibrant blooms year-round including azeleas, orchids, ferns and maple trees. Meander the delightful trails, or throw down the picnic rug for the day.

The gardens are located in the Dandenong Ranges, an hour’s drive from Melbourne. Here you’ll find scenic winding roads, artists' studios, craft stores, secret gardens and some of the city's best scones, jam and cream. Also look for the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, stunning Cloudehill Gardens, and William Ricketts Sanctuary (closed until 2024).

Attracting more than 1.8 million visitors annually, Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens are essentially the lungs of the city. With their stunning vistas, tranquil lakes and diverse plant collections, the gardens are a place where both locals and visitors come to relax, spread a picnic rug, and unwind in the sun.

Book a spot on an Aboriginal Heritage Walk to gain insight from local Indigenous guides about the history of the gardens and the Traditional Owners of the land. It's a rich and in-depth cultural experience that includes a traditional smoking ceremony, a guided walk through important areas of the gardens, discussion about traditional uses for various plants, and a refreshing cup of lemon myrtle tea. After your tour, make sure to check out the Arid Garden (otherwise known as the Cactus Garden).

A 45-minute drive from Melbourne's centre, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is a multi-award-winning 15-hectare garden famous for native flora and contemporary design. Back in 2014, a display inspired by these gardens was presented by the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show – and went on to win Best Show Garden. It included 15 native species and centred on a snaking deck representing the Rainbow Serpent, an image that has remained central to Australian Indigenous art and culture for more than 6,000 years.

The actual Cranbourne garden has lovely boardwalks and viewing platforms, allowing visitors to stroll past striking red sand, picturesque wildflowers, rock pools, arid gardens and the serpentine path. The surrounds also include colourful bushland, wetlands, native plants, mammals and amphibians.

The incredible Great Ocean Road is the world’s largest war memorial. It was cut from rocks by returning veterans after the World War I to honour their fallen comrades. Spanning more than 600 kilometres, this magnificent coastal route travels past sweeping switchback cliffs, picturesque beaches, quaint towns, Unesco World Heritage sites and koala-filled temperate rainforests. It's widely considered the ultimate Australian touring route (especially by Victorians) and serves as a rejuvenating, unforgettable experience. Set aside a few days if you'd like to travel all the way to the small fishing village of Port Fairy. Torquay, Lorne and Apollo Bay are all worth at least a night's stay.