Bees at Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden

Venue

• The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
  Find it on Google Maps here

Bees performances

• 26-27 Oct: 10:30am, 12:30am and 2:30pm

• Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne is approximately 2km from Melbourne’s city centre. The current opening hours are 7:30am to 5:30pm.
• The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden only opens at 10am and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays (school and public holidays excluded).
• The nearest entry is Observatory Gate (O Gate) on Birdwood Ave.
• The nearest sets of toilets, including all-gender accessible toilets, are located both inside and outside the Visitor Centre, which is open 9.30am-5.30pm daily.
• A Changing Places toilet is located on the ground floor, next to the toilets opposite the Visitor Centre and Kiosk. MLAK key required. A key can be borrowed from the Visitor Centre between 9:30am and 5pm, daily.
• Trained service animals are welcome. They must be restrained by a leash or another constraining device.
• Terrain in Melbourne Gardens is varied, including grass, tiles, concrete, and asphalt with steps and boardwalks. Many paths offer wide walkways of up to 5m. There are secondary paths with granitic gravel, rocks, brick pathways and loose surfaces. Some can be narrow with overhanging surfaces.
• Non motorised wheelchairs can be hired from the Visitor Centre for free.
• For more access information, visit the Melbourne Gardens interactive map, static map, or website.
• If you have any questions, please contact Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria on 03 9252 2300 or rbg@rbg.vic.gov.au

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.

• The nearest baby change facilities are located in the all-gender accessible toilets both inside and outside the Visitor Centre.
• Water, infants’ bottles and breastfeeding/chestfeeding are welcome, but we do ask that there is no eating in the Bees performance space where possible.
• There is a water fountain for re-filling bottles in the Children’s Garden.
• Refreshments can be purchased from the Observatory Kiosk, open 8am-4pm daily.
• You are welcome to bring your own food and drinks for picnicking in the Gardens.
• While pets on leads are allowed in the rest of Melbourne Gardens, the Children’s Garden is not for animals. Service animals are excluded from this rule.
• For more information about the Children’s Garden, including rules and regulations, please visit rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens/discover-melbourne-gardens

Public Transport

• Bus: Route 605 travels between Gardenvale to the City (Queen Street). It stops at Melbourne Observatory/Birdwood Avenue, which is approx 200m from Observatory Gate.
• Tram: PTV Routes 3/3a, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 and 72 stop at Shrine of Remembrance/St Kilda Rd, which is approx 650m to Observatory Gate.
• For more information, and to plan your journey, visit ptv.vic.gov.au

Cycling

• Designated bicycle paths along the Yarra River and Melbourne CBD lead to Melbourne Gardens. Please note that the riding of bicycles and electronic scooters in the gardens is not permitted.
• Dedicated bicycle parking is available near Observatory Gate, next to the Visitor Centre.

Parking 

• There is street-metered car parking for up to 4 hours close to entry gates. Parking is subject to availability. City of Melbourne enforces parking restrictions in the area.
• Disabled parking bays are marked on the Interactive Map.

For information about getting to the Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden, visit rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens/getting-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.

First established in 1846 on the land of the Kulin Nation, Melbourne Gardens is today a green oasis in the heart of Melbourne. Throughout the 38 hectare site, you will discover over 23 collections of plants presented as a living work of art and making Melbourne Gardens one of the world’s most beautiful botanic gardens.  For over 175 years, Melbourne Gardens has been the city’s sanctuary and playground, a site for major cultural events and a place for individual memories and rich experiences.

The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden, located at Melbourne Gardens, is a magical place for children to discover the world of plants. It is a tourism award-winning Children’s Garden full of interesting and interactive places to play and explore.

rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens/discover-melbourne-gardens