Kawarra Native Plant Garden in the Dandenong Ranges, near Melbourne, Australia is a beautiful Australian native garden with one of the largest tanges of Australian plants in a single public garden.
Rare an Unusual
The garden contains many rare and unusual species, fern gully and rainforest area, Boronia and Waratah collections and a large collection of plants native to the Dandenong Ranges. Other plants featured in the garden include; Banksia, Correa, Crowea, Eucalyptus, Grevillea, Hakea, Hibbertia, Persoonia, Ponaderris, Prostanthera, Telopea and Thomasia.
Quiet Haven
The gardens are a haven away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist route in the Dandenongs. This hidden garden nestles behind the Kalorama Reserve in Kalorama and is still to be discovered even by avid garden enthusiasts.
For The Visitor
A visit to Kawarra native Plant Gardens offers the visitor a unique insight into the native plants of Australia and the opportunity to see some of the abundant birdlife that rely on these unique species. The landscaped garden covers about 8 acres with meandering paths, restful seating in amongst the plants and trees, and wonderfully helpful staff. As a visitor wanders the gardens they will notice that most of the plants are numbered. At the end of each section of the garden there is a map and key. In this way it is possible to identify the plants along the way.
The Site
The site of the Kawarra Native Plant Garden is gently sloping and the paths quite easily negotiated making this a great place to visit even if you cannot negotiate steep slopes and stairs, but only a small portion of the garden will be easily wheelchair accessible.
Natural Garden
Not all of the garden has been landscaped. A small portion has been set aside in its natural state with many native orchids, trees and plants indigenous to the Dandenong Ranges. The canopy trees are the soaring Grey Gums and Messmate and the rest of the garden nestles beneath these impressive trees.
Education, Tours and Sales
The garden is not just a place to come and enjoy native plants in all their glory, but also an educational facility with guided tours available and opportunities for schools and community groups to learn about native plants and gardening using these fascinating and hardy species. To facilitate and encourage native gardening there is a nursery on site with many species available for sale as tube stock and more established plants in 6in pots. These plants have been propagated from the native species on site.
Different Environments
The garden provides a variety of environments including swamp and pond, shady, dry, rainforest, fern glade, open forest and exposed. With such a variety of native plants in a small area, insects, amphibians, animals and birds abound.
Functions
The gardens also offer a lawned area, elevated viewing platform and meeting rooms with a kitchen. The Kawarra Native Plant Garden would be a beautiful venue for a wedding, business function, group meetings or family gathering.
Opening Hours
Tuesday to Friday 10am-4pm
Weekends and Public Holidays 1pm-4pm
Contact
Phone Number: 9728 4256
Address
Mt Dandenong Tourist Road
Kalorama, Victoria, 3766
Melways 120 B9
The Friends Group
Kawarra Native Plant Garden operates with volunteer assistance. The “friends” group provides support for the ideals of the garden as well as hands on helping with propagation, maintenance and guided walks.
Philippa Rowlands - Philippa Rowlands, writer for the Australia, New Zealand and Oceania travel section of Suite 101 is a professional freelance writer, ...
