Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden

Olinda, Australia

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The Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, located in Olinda, Victoria, Australia, is Victoria's premier cool-climate botanic garden, spanning around 50 hectares with stunning views over the Yarra Valley.

Originally established in 1960 as the National Rhododendron Gardens through the efforts of the Australian Rhododendron Society, it was chosen for its ideal climate and soil conditions. The garden features large collections of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, daffodils, and cherries, with over 15,000 rhododendrons and 12,000 azaleas flourishing in the area.

In recent years, it expanded with the addition of the Chelsea Australian Garden, which won awards at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show and was recreated on a former golf course adjacent to the gardens. The garden includes walking trails, ornamental lakes, and seasonal floral displays, making it a year-round destination for visitors seeking natural beauty and horticultural richness.