At a glance
- Entry
- Free; open every day of the year
- Hours
- 8am to 7pm during daylight saving, 8am to 5pm at other times
- Address
- Corner Podbury and Eastern Park Drives, East Geelong 3219; GPS entrance at Podbury Drive and Eastern Park Circuit
- Parking
- Car park entrance off Eastern Park Circuit near Podbury Drive, plus parking along Eastern Park Circuit
- From the station
- About a 30-minute walk from Geelong Train Station, according to the City
- Who it’s for
- Visitors by car, bus group, wheelchair or pram, or with a dog on a lead
- What to do now
- Aim for the car park off Eastern Park Circuit; for a free guided walk, book online for Wednesday 11am or Sunday 2pm
- Last checked
- 8 November 2026, against the City of Greater Geelong’s Botanic Gardens pages
- Not yet confirmed
- Parking time limits or fees and the number of car spaces, which the pages read do not state; the visitor map with other parking options was an image and was not read
Geelong Botanic Gardens is free, open every day of the year, and has a car park with its entrance off Eastern Park Circuit near Podbury Drive. The City of Greater Geelong, which runs the gardens, also says you can park along Eastern Park Circuit and walk in.
This guide uses the council’s own pages, last checked on 8 November 2026. It covers opening hours, how to get there, where to park, access for wheelchairs and prams, the rules for dogs, the free guided walks and the café inside the gardens. Garden Sessions live music has its own guide: Garden Sessions at Geelong Botanic Gardens.
What is Geelong Botanic Gardens?
The council describes the gardens as a place that conserves plants from around the world. It invites visitors to take in the colours and scents of the plant collection as they explore what it calls a renowned regional garden, and to relax on the lawns in peaceful surroundings. The council also calls the gardens one of Geelong’s best kept secrets. The site was set aside in 1851, and the gardens sit within Eastern Park, close to the Geelong Waterfront.
What are the opening hours and is entry free?
Entry is free. The council says the gardens are “free to come and enjoy” and that they are open every day of the year.
| Period | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| During daylight saving | 8am to 7pm |
| All other times | 8am to 5pm |
Where are the Geelong Botanic Gardens and how do I get there?
The gardens are in Eastern Park, close to the Geelong Waterfront. The street address on the council’s contact page is the corner of Podbury and Eastern Park Drives, East Geelong 3219. If you use GPS, the council says the entrance is at the intersection of Podbury Drive and Eastern Park Circuit.
The council says the gardens are approximately a 30-minute walk from Geelong Train Station. It does not give a route or name a bus service on the pages read, so check a journey planner for buses. For the train side of the trip, see Melbourne to Geelong by train.
Where can I park at Geelong Botanic Gardens?
The council gives three parking points, all on its visitor information page:
- The car park entrance is off Eastern Park Circuit near Podbury Drive.
- There are disabled car parks and a bus drop-off area near the entrance.
- You can also park along Eastern Park Circuit and walk to the gardens.
The council adds that other places you can park are shown on its visitor maps. The map is published as an image, so those extra options are not listed here. The pages read do not mention parking fees or time limits; if there is a sign on the day, follow it, and see the guide to central Geelong parking and meters for how the council handles paid parking elsewhere.
Are the gardens wheelchair and pram friendly?
Partly. The council says there is a disabled car park at the entrance on Eastern Park Circuit near the Podbury Drive intersection, and a ramp to the main entrance gate. People in wheelchairs or with prams can reach some parts of the gardens. Some paths are asphalt with relatively easy grades. Others are not as accessible because they have steps, and some paths are gravel, which you may need assistance with.
Can I bring my dog to Geelong Botanic Gardens?
Yes. The council welcomes dogs and sets three guidelines:
- Dogs must stay on a lead and under your supervision at all times.
- Pick up after your dog; disposal bins are available throughout the gardens.
- Keep your dog out of the garden beds so it does not trample the plants.
When are the free guided walks?
| Walk | When | Length | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public guided walk | Wednesdays at 11:00am | About 60 to 75 minutes | Free |
| Public guided walk | Sundays at 2:00pm | About 60 to 75 minutes | Free |
The walks are led by volunteer guides and cover the gardens’ design, significant trees, seasonal highlights and the stories behind the plant collections. To take part you register through the online booking form on the council’s page, then meet your guide at the garden entrance before the start time.
For a private guided tour, or a group of more than 10 people, the council points you to the Friends of Geelong Botanic Gardens. The Friends are next to the office at the rear of the gardens, with office hours Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 1.00pm, on (03) 5229 0071 or info@friendsgbg.org.au.
Is there a café in the Geelong Botanic Gardens?
Yes. Where You Meet (WYM) is in the Fern Glade and opened in December 2023. The council describes it as a locally owned business serving seasonal house-made food, locally made pastries, quality coffee and a range of drinks, and as dog-friendly. Aperitivo is offered on select afternoons and from 11:30am on Sundays. Hours on the council’s page, last updated 30 September 2026, are below, and menus and service vary through the day.
| Day | Spring hours | Summer hours |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9:30am to 4:00pm (takeaway, lunch) | 9:30am to 4:00pm (takeaway, lunch) |
| Tuesday and Wednesday | 9:30am to 4:00pm (takeaway, lunch) | 8:30am to 6:30pm (takeaway, lunch, aperitivo) |
| Thursday to Saturday | 8:30am to 6:30pm (takeaway, lunch, aperitivo) | 8:30am to 6:30pm (takeaway, lunch, aperitivo) |
| Sunday | 9:30am to 6:30pm (takeaway, aperitivo) | 9:30am to 6:30pm (takeaway, aperitivo) |
The council’s page does not say on which date spring hours switch to summer hours. WYM is run separately from the council; its own website is whereyoumeet.com.au.
What is the history of the gardens?
In 1851 the government set land aside at the edge of the Geelong settlement for a botanic garden. The council says an exposed 200-acre site with bay frontage and little vegetation has been transformed over about 150 years into Eastern Park and the Geelong Botanic Gardens. Both are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register for their tree collection and avenues, and some trees are on the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Register of Significant Trees.
The gardens also hold heritage items moved from elsewhere in Geelong: the statue of Queen Victoria and the Ladies Kiosk in Eastern Park, and the fountains from Market Square and the Cabman’s Shelter.
How do I contact the gardens?
The council lists phone 03 5272 4379 and email botanic@geelongcity.vic.gov.au. The postal address is PO Box 104, Geelong VIC 3220.
Sources
- City of Greater Geelong — Geelong Botanic Gardens
- City of Greater Geelong — Visitor Map and common questions (page last updated 1 July 2026)
- City of Greater Geelong — Group tours and guided walks (page last updated 26 May 2026)
- City of Greater Geelong — Cafe in the Geelong Botanic Gardens (page last updated 30 September 2026)
- City of Greater Geelong — History of the Geelong Botanic Gardens (page last updated 1 July 2026)
- City of Greater Geelong — Contact Geelong Botanic Gardens
Featured image: Brachychiton rupestris at the front gate of Geelong Botanic Gardens (photo: Casliber / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the City of Greater Geelong or Where You Meet. Hours and guided walk times can change; check the council’s pages above before you go.