RHGS is pleased to offer our members an opportunity to enjoy guided tours and a lunch at two of the premier gardens of the Dandenong Ranges, Cloudehill Garden and Nursery and the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, both just outside Olinda.

We will leave by bus from the car park at Red Hill Showgrounds, Red Hill, promptly at 8:30 am, and travel first to Cloudehill, arriving about 10am. We will be met there by guides who will take us through the garden, and provide history and information about plantings and maintenance of the garden. This will be followed by lunch at Seasons Restaurant at 12 o'clock, included in the tour price. The included lunch is two courses - main and dessert, and tea and coffee, we will order at the restaurant.

You may also take advantage of visiting the nursery and Digger's Garden Shop at Cloudehill.

After lunch we go back to the bus and down the road towards Olinda to the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, famous for their rhododendrons. We will be treated to a guided tour of the Chelsea Australian Garden at Olinda designed by Phillip Johnson and Wes Fleming. They will both be available as guides to take us around this first ever Australian winning entry to the Chelsea Flower Show. We will have an opportunity to visit the rest of the Botanic Garden self-guided. In addition, the Cloud Forest Garden is a new resilience planting of Queensland Rainforest plants, and this will be available to be seen as well.

We will return to the bus and depart DRBG at 3:30 pm for a planned arrival back at the Showgrounds, Red Hill at approximately 5 pm.

Members only

This event is part subsidised by RHGS member funds, and is limited to RHGS members only.

Self-drive option

If you would like to join our event tours with guides and the lunch, but not join the bus, that's allowed. Simply register as normal, and indicate you will self-drive. There is no discount for self-driving. You must register each person involved.

Cloudehill Accessibility

Due to the incline of the property, there is very limited access to the garden for wheelchairs and walking frames. The Diggers Garden Shop and Seasons Restaurant and its deck do have disability access, and both car parks have a designated disability parking bay. However there are steps from the Diggers Garden Shop into the garden and also steps between the many gardens within Cloudehill.

Cloudehill has been made on the side of a mountain and there are steps between the various gardens throughout. We have made these to be as comfortable as possible and upper flights also have handrails.

DRBG Accessibility

Due to its location, shape and topography, accessibility at the garden can be challenging. The site has one entry/exit and extends approximately 1.5km to its furthest point. While the main paths are wide with sealed surfaces, some sections are steep and many of the minor paths are gravel.

The return walk from Serenity Point has some long and steep uphill sections. Allow plenty of time to visit this garden or stay close to the areas nearest the gift shop. Unassisted wheelchair access is not recommended.

Note to Digger's members
If you're a Digger's member, we will receive approximately a $10 discount. Since RHGS is subsidising this event, the discount would assist to defray our costs. You will be asked to provide your Digger's membership number as a checkout option.