Bees at Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne

Venue

• Woodland Picnic Area Nature Playground, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne
  Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne, VIC
  Google Maps link HERE

Dates & Times

• 4-6 April: 10:30am, 11:30am and 1:30pm

• Cranbourne Gardens is open from 9am-5pm with last entry at 4:30pm. The Visitor Centre is open 9am-4:30pm.
• Bees will take place at the Woodland Picnic Area, which is located within the Cranbourne Bushland.
• An interactive map of the Australian Garden showing car parking and the entrance to the Cranbourne Bushland to access the Woodland Picnic area is available here. An interactive map of the Cranbourne Bushland is available here. An Accessibility Guide is available here (PDF) and here (Word document).
• Registered assistance animals are welcome, but must remain on designated paths and restrained by a harness or a leash. To protect the important wildlife in the Gardens no other animals are allowed.

Paths

• Paths at Cranbourne Gardens are either sealed or granitic gravel.
• The Woodland Picnic area is accessed from the main carpark via a reasonably flat, 400m long granitic gravel path that is suitable for wheelchairs with assistance. The first section of the path has a slight decline when walking towards the picnic area, and an incline when returning to the carpark.

Wheelchair and Electric Scooter Hire

• Non-motorised wheelchairs may be hired from the Visitor Centre for free. Please contact +61 3 5990 2200 for more information or book here.
• Please note that electric scooters hired from the Visitor Centre cannot be taken into the bushland area (they are for use in the Australian Garden only). Personal electric mobility scooters are welcome in the bushland.

Toilets

• The toilets at the Visitor Centre include an all-gender accessible toilet, and separate men/boy’s and women/girl’s toilets.
• Toilets at the Woodland Picnic Area include an all-gender accessible toilet, and separate men/boy’s and women/girl’s toilets.

Bees

• Bees will take place outdoors. Please check the weather, and bring sunscreen, hats, and water bottles.
• Children and families choose how they interact with the performers and the landscape. Some participants may prefer a gentle experience, others may be more energetic.
• Bees does not use bright or flashing lights.
• It contains amplified sound and music that is played through portable speakers.
• A visual story to help your family prepare for the experience is available to view/download here.

How to prepare

• When you come to a Polyglot show we recommend you wear comfortable clothing that allows you to enjoy moving. Remember that you have come for an adventure and there are many ways to begin finding your play. You are curious and this space is yours. Just as you might at the beach, do you take your time and dip your toe in to warm up, or do you run and jump right in? The worlds we set up welcome you to take your time and find your own way to your imaginative play; and our performers are there to join you, or play alongside you, and look after these worlds and their inhabitants.

• Baby change facilities are available in the all-gender, accessible toilets at the Visitor Centre and Woodland Picnic Area.
• Water, infants’ bottles and breastfeeding/chestfeeding are welcome, but we do ask that there is no eating in the Bees performance space where possible.
• You are welcome to bring your own food and drinks for picnicking in the Gardens.
• The Boon Wurrung Café is located in the Visitor Centre, open from 9:30-4pm daily. It has accessible height counters, and large print table numbers displayed. There is an extensive menu and coffee available.

Parking

• An interactive map showing parking locations at Cranbourne Botanic Gardens is available here.
• The main car park is located at the end of Phillip Moors Drive.
• Parking is free all day.
• Accessible parking is located 50m from the pathway to the Visitor Centre. There are three senior car spaces and three for carers with prams.
• The entrance to the Cranbourne Bushland for the Woodland Picnic Area is located at the southern end of the car park, closest to the Visitor Centre.

Public Transport

• The closest train station is Cranbourne Station. Facilities include: indoor waiting area; sheltered waiting area; bicycle locker; Parkiteer Bicycle Cage; Passenger Information Display; payphone; toilet and accessible toilet; CCTV; car park and accessible parking; tactile ground surface indicator; lighting.
• From there, either take a taxi/rideshare or catch bus route 795 (only runs at limited times) running from Warneet to Cranbourne, and get off at the South Gippsland Highway/Ballarto Road stop. This is approximately 2.8km from the Gardens entrance.

Shuttle Bus

• The Cranbourne Gardens Shuttle Bus can be booked for transport between Cranbourne Station and Cranbourne Gardens for community members and tourists, including those with mobility challenges.
• To book a trip, call 03 5990 2262 or visit the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria website here.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria plays a leading role in the conservation of plants through biodiversity research, programs to protect rare and threatened plants, and the study of habitats. This work is supported by education and visitor programs about the importance of plants to life.

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is made up of the Australian Garden, an award-winning, contemporary botanic garden, and the surrounding 300 hectares of remnant native bushland (the Cranbourne Bushland). Cranbourne Gardens is recognised as a site of State significance for plant and wildlife conservation, home to over 25 endangered or rare and threatened species.

Completed in October 2012, the Australian Garden was transformed from a sand mine and scrub to a botanic garden of international standing. Designed by Victorian landscape architects, T.C.L. the Australian Garden aims to show visitors the diversity, beauty and functionality of Australian native plants.

rbg.vic.gov.au