• Skip to content
  • City of Melbourne
  • Create a listing
  • Subscribe
  • What's on homepage
    • Home
    • Things to do
      • Free things to do
      • Family and kids
      • Theatre and shows
      • Music, concerts, and gigs
      • Entertainment
      • Comedy
      • Film
      • Sport
      • Attractions and sights
      • Major events
      • Exhibitions
      • Festivals
      • Aboriginal Melbourne
      • Walks and itineraries
      What's on
      • Today
      • This weekend
      • This week
      • This month
      Guides
      • The ultimate theatre guide to Melbourne
      • Melbourne's best blockbuster events
      • The ultimate Melbourne live gig guide
      • Read more things to do guides
    • Eat and Drink
      • Restaurants
      • Cafes
      • Takeaway
      • Bars and pubs
      • Dining events
      • Dining deals
      Guides
      • The best new restaurants in Melbourne
      • Where to get the best doughnuts in Melbourne
      • The best cheesecake in Melbourne
      • Read more eat and drink guides
    • Shopping
      • Fashion
      • Accessories
      • Specialty food
      • Gifts and homewares
      • Technology and entertainment
      • Sport and outdoor
      Guides
      • Melbourne's most iconic shops
      • Rare shops you can only find in Melbourne
      • Melbourne’s best winter coats and jackets
      • Read more shopping guides
    • Visiting Melbourne
      • Where to stay
      • Accessible Melbourne
      • Visitor Centres
      • Travel essentials
      Getting around Melbourne
      • Public transport
      • Cycling
      • Driving and parking
      • Taxis and rideshares
      • Maps
      • Walks and itineraries
      Guides
      • How to spend 24 hours in Melbourne
      • The best new hotels in Melbourne
      • Melbourne's accessible and wheelchair-friendly attractions
      • Read more visitor info guides
    • Create a listing
    • Contact us
    • Subscribe

What are you looking for?

Primary category
Secondary categories for primary category Anything
Secondary categories for primary category Things to do
Secondary categories for primary category Eat and drink
Secondary categories for primary category Shopping
Secondary categories for primary category Hotels
Secondary categories for primary category Guides

Accessibility

List of Accessibility Features

When are you visiting?

Date shortcuts
Calendar

Where do you want to look?

Locations
What are you looking for?
Anything
Anytime Anywhere
An adult and child riding in an open bus, the child pointing at something.
19 Sep – 4 Oct

School Holiday Explorer Bus

  • Family and kids
  • Tour

Children ride for half-price on the Kids Explorer Bus during the school holidays. Experience amazing sights, sounds and scents as you cruise through the Gardens on this 30-minute tour designed especially for families.

Breathe in the fragrances of different eucalypt trees as you take in the colours of the landscape and learn why plants are so important for our planet.

Children-specific commentary is provided on the weekday 11am and 1.45pm tours, and on the weekend 11am and 2pm tours.

Hours

Date Times
Sat 19 Sep
  • 11am - 2pm 11:00am - 2:00pm
Sun 20 Sep
  • 11am - 2pm 11:00am - 2:00pm
Mon 21 Sep
  • 11am - 1.45pm 11:00am - 1:45pm
Tue 22 Sep
  • 11am - 1.45pm 11:00am - 1:45pm
Wed 23 Sep
  • 11am - 1.45pm 11:00am - 1:45pm
Thu 24 Sep
  • 11am - 1.45pm 11:00am - 1:45pm
Fri 25 Sep
  • 11am - 1.45pm 11:00am - 1:45pm
Sat 26 Sep
  • 11am - 2pm 11:00am - 2:00pm
Sun 27 Sep
  • 11am - 2pm 11:00am - 2:00pm
Mon 28 Sep
  • 11am - 1.45pm 11:00am - 1:45pm
Tue 29 Sep
  • 11am - 1.45pm 11:00am - 1:45pm
Wed 30 Sep
  • 11am - 1.45pm 11:00am - 1:45pm
Thu 1 Oct
  • 11am - 1.45pm 11:00am - 1:45pm
Fri 2 Oct
  • 11am - 1.45pm 11:00am - 1:45pm
Sat 3 Oct
  • 11am - 2pm 11:00am - 2:00pm
Sun 4 Oct
  • 11am - 2pm 11:00am - 2:00pm

Location

Visitor Centre
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria - Melbourne Gardens
Melbourne
Victoria 3004

Open in maps location for Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria - Melbourne Gardens

Price and bookings

Adult / general $18
Student / concession $14
Children $6

Free for children under 3

Book online for School Holiday Explorer Bus

Contact details

  • telephone number: 03 9252 2300
  • email address: mbookings@rbg.vic.gov.au
  • Visit website for School Holiday Explorer Bus
Facebook page for School Holiday Explorer Bus Instagram page for School Holiday Explorer Bus

Only In The City

Only in the City
Inside a bustling market hall

Things you can only see in the city

Uncover secret rooms, historic architecture and iconic landmarks found only in the city.

  • Free
  • Hidden gem
A family of four standing in a grand library with antique desks, large white walls and a dome ceiling.

Things you can only do in the city

There's only one place to find these rare Melbourne experiences and secret spots.

  • Tour
  • Entertainment
Multiple plates on a white table cloth.

Things you can only eat in the city

Where to find the city's most iconic dishes.

  • Restaurant
  • Fine dining

Discover more

A hooded figure positioned centrally in a circular emblem holding a talisman with a stylized letter 'H' in the centre surrounded by flying bats against a vintage image of city buildings.
Until 8 Nov

Shadows in the Dark

Go on a guided paranormal tour to reveal the hidden secrets of the Queen Vic Market.

  • Family and kids
  • Tour
A musical walking tour being led through a Melbourne laneway by a man wearing a blue cap, headphones, speaker and overalls.
26 Sep

Taylor Swift Themed Silent Disco Walking Tour of Melbourne

Join a sing-a-long tour of the city with other Swifties.

  • Family and kids
  • Tour
Tour leader showing visitors inside Council Chambers in Melbourne Town Hall

Tours and cruises

Discover what locals love about Melbourne with a guided tour of the city and its attractions.​​

  • Tour
  • Walking tour
The Yarra River and city centre viewed from onboard a cruise boat.
Until 31 Dec

Melbourne Highlights Cruise

Take a relaxing 2.5-hour Yarra River cruise, taking in both the River Gardens and Docklands.

  • Tour
  • Events
Envelope Icon

Subscribe to What’s On Melbourne

Sign up to receive updates on what to see and do in Melbourne.

Subscribe now
Australian Aboriginal Flag Torres Strait Islander Flag

The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations.

We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future. For more information, visit Aboriginal Melbourne.

Create a listing
Contact What's On Melbourne
  • What's On Facebook page
  • What's On Instagram page
  • What's On TikTok page
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
© 2026 City of Melbourne
City of Melbourne home page