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Ian Potter Children's Garden
A garden designed for muddy hands and wild imaginations
- Age
- 2–10 yrs
- Duration
- 1–2 hours
- Price
- Free entry
- Distance
- 2.8 km from centre
- Season
- Spring · Summer · Autumn
- Setting
- Outdoors
- Opening
- Wed–Sun, 10:00–16:00 (closed winter term)
- Where
- South Yarra — Birdwood Ave, South Yarra VIC 3141
Why kids love it
Tucked inside the Royal Botanic Gardens, this walled wonderland lets kids dam streams, scramble through the plant tunnel and get gloriously wet in summer. Free entry, but the wetland hippopotamus sculptures steal every toddler's heart.
- Build-your-own dam in the stream
- Plant tunnel and bamboo maze
- Summer water play (bring swimmers)
- Shaded picnic lawns for naps
Take a peek2 photos
Kids damming a shallow stream with stones · Placeholder photo via picsum.photos
Special Passes & Promotions
Free Spring Discovery Passport
Collect your free nature passport at the visitor centre and spot native frogs and bamboo shoots.
Hours & Operating Times
Wed–Sun, 10:00–16:00 (closed winter term)Victorian Spring School Holidays · 10:00–17:00
Open 7 days during school term break with nature discovery trails
Season window: 2026-09-19 to 2026-10-04
Accessibility & Inclusion
Wide compacted gravel paths with step-free access throughout the garden. Sensory plant beds and water rills at child height. Certified companion cards accepted for all ticketed events.