澳大利亚墨尔本皇家植物园 – 澳大利亚最佳主要旅游景点

皇家植物园维多利亚州立机构（Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria）是澳大利亚最重要的植物科学研究与迁地保护机构，管理墨尔本和Cranbourne两大园区，下设澳大利亚最大的植物标本馆和最全面的植物学图书馆，并运营多个在线植物数据库。两个园区均免费向公众开放，曾获澳大利亚QANTAS旅游奖最佳主要景区金奖。

历史沿革

墨尔本园区于1846年由查尔斯·拉托贝（Charles La Trobe）从沼泽地和湿地中选定地址并建立，至今已有近180年历史。机构依据1991年《皇家植物园法案》（Royal Botanic Gardens Act 1991）运作，由皇家植物园董事会管理，对环境部长负责。

墨尔本园区

墨尔本园区位于墨尔本中央商务区边缘的艺术区，占地38公顷，从山坡延伸至亚拉河畔，拥有树木、花圃、湖泊和草坪。园区展示近5万株植物，代表来自世界各地的约8,500个物种，分布在30个活植物收藏中，包括南洋杉科、山茶花、雨林植物、仙人掌、肉质植物、玫瑰、加利福尼亚物种、草本植物、苏铁、华南植物以及稀有濒危物种收藏。园区每日开放，门票免费。

Cranbourne园区

Cranbourne园区提供纯正的澳洲林地体验，配套屡获殊荣的澳大利亚花园（Australian Garden），展示超过10万株植物、涵盖1,900个品种，并拥有超过450种本土植物和林下植被。园区设超过10公里步行道和6公里自行车道，设有观景塔、野餐区和游乐场。游客中心开放时间为每日上午9点至下午4点半。

科研收藏与科普教育

澳大利亚国家植物标本馆（National Herbarium of Victoria）馆藏超过150万份植物、藻类和真菌标本，是澳大利亚及大洋洲地区规模最大的植物标本收藏。配套的植物学图书馆藏书5万余册。机构还运营维多利亚植物志（VicFlora）等多个在线数据库，科研人员在《穆勒利亚》（Muelleria）等学术期刊发表研究成果。园区免费提供每日导览游、原住民文化遗产Walk（需预约）、乘船游湖及森林浴体验等科普活动，适合家庭和各类游客参与。

官网：https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) is Australia’s leading plant science research and conservation organization, managing two major sites at Melbourne and Cranbourne, housing the nation’s largest herbarium collection and most comprehensive botanical library, while operating multiple online plant databases. Both gardens offer free admission to visitors. RBGV has won the Gold Winner for ‘Australia’s Best Major Tourism Attraction’ at the QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards and been inducted into the Victorian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame.

History

The Melbourne Gardens was established in 1846 when Charles La Trobe selected the site from marshland and swamp on the south side of the Yarra River, now approaching its 180th anniversary. The institution operates under the Royal Botanic Gardens Act 1991, governed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Board and accountable to the Minister for Environment.

Melbourne Gardens

Melbourne Gardens extends across 38 hectares sloping to the Yarra River, featuring trees, garden beds, ornamental lakes and lawns. The gardens display nearly 50,000 individual plants representing approximately 8,500 species from around the world, organized into 30 living plant collections including conifers, camellias, rainforest flora, cacti and succulents, roses, Californian species, herbs, perennials, cycads, plants from Southern China, and the Rare and Threatened Species Collection. Open daily with free admission.

Cranbourne Gardens

Cranbourne Gardens offers an authentic Australian bushland experience alongside the award-winning Australian Garden, showcasing over 100,000 plants from 1,900 varieties alongside more than 450 indigenous plant species. The site features over 10km of walking tracks, 6km of cycling tracks, a lookout tower, picnic areas and playgrounds. Visitor Centre open 9am to 4:30pm daily.

Scientific Collections and Public Programs

The National Herbarium of Victoria houses over 1.5 million preserved plant, algae and fungi specimens, representing the largest herbarium collection in Australia and wider Oceania. The associated botanical library contains over 50,000 volumes. RBGV also maintains VicFlora and other online identification databases, with research published in the scientific journal Muelleria. Free public programs include daily guided walks, the Aboriginal Heritage Walk (booking required), punting on the Ornamental Lake, and Forest Therapy sessions, catering to families and all visitor types.