This glorious spring weather is perfect for exploring Melbourne's Botanic Gardens. The flowers are blooming -- the tulips are spectacular. The directions make it easy to work out which way to walk. Amongst the highlights are the Floral Clock and the Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden, a sunken area with an abundance of blooms. The striking Queen Victoria Memorial provides an unmatched outlook over the City of Melbourne.

These extraordinary gardens are one of the prime must see things in Melbourne. The site is beautiful and the range of plants and their siting and presentation is exceptional. We simply did a self directed early Spring tour here this morning. We just got a free map from the entrance and spent the most pleasant few hours wandering around and taking in the sights, sounds and smells. All we wanted to do was spend more time and enjoy the inspiring surroundings. My favourite areas were around the beautiful lake especially the various bamboo varieties and some of the shade plants. But, there are so many other beautiful areas here including the dry areas. We made a promise to each other on leaving this amazing garden. One day we’ll stay at a nearby hotel so we can make several trips to this special place and experience the garden at different times including early morning and early evening. Don’t miss this place. It is truly inspiring

We had only a day in Melbourne after flying in for a concert and booked this introductory afternoon tour on the official website. Though it was a rainy day, our guide Marie was very enthusiastic and first gave us a history of the gardens and it’s early directors before showing us the highlights in the gardens including the various themed areas, explaining how the storm water is cleaned before being used for the plants and the more interesting specimens. It was an excellent introduction to the vast gardens and its many treasures. Definitely go for this!

The generous harpist Michael Johnson led a wonderfully therapeutic meditation session accompanied by his evocative music. This took place in the arid garden and was backdropped by birdsong as the wildlife of the gardens settled in for the evening. Michael followed the meditation with several of his own compositions one of which, “Swan”,was composed during his time as a musician in residence in the gardens.

An extraordinary harp meditation experience in the beautiful cactus garden. Michael's melodious harp playing is like a gentle breeze. Surrounded by the resilient, vibrant cacti, I found myself in a space that symbolised endurance and strength, which harmonized perfectly with the harp's delicate strains. The clear, fresh air and the fragrance of the desert blooms further enriched the sensory experience. I look forward to future opportunities to be a part of your musical meditations.

Forest therapy in the Botanic Gardens was a lovely experience. I’d recommend it to family and friends. Observed the gardens like never before and felt very relaxed and present. The guides were supportive and unobtrusive, allowing for a great personal experience. Felt grateful for the wonder and beauty of the gardens in our city.

It is well worth booking the bus, which takes you around the grounds, in the company of an expert tour guide. Once you have your bearings, then wander around the impressive gardens. If it’s sunny, take a picnic in and enjoy the Lakeside views. All dogs must be on a lead as the wildlife is easily scared. This didn’t stop some idiots from bringing their unleashed pets into the park. What a shame. You might want to bring along an app which identifies the many different birds and bird song you will experience as you walk around the grounds.

Spent a few hours taking in the gardens. Plenty of places to just sit and reflect. Easy walking and gentle grades. The Terrace cafe is a good place to stop for refreshment near the small lake.

Melbourne has a world class botanical garden, a jewel that is a testament to its landscapers, botanists and city planners alike. My favorite was the fern garden with its collection of amazing NZ, NSW and QNL specimen, the Chilean, Californian and especially CHinese/Japanese plants and of course the many lakes with the birds and turtles. One could spend many hours with the fauna and flora but also, like natives do, chillin' on the grass. Kudos to VIC to make this available to the citizen.

The Secret Life of Birds tour, with Liz and Paul as guides, was an utter joy. The group was a perfect size, and the information was well delivered and received. To my delight, and with the expertise of the guides, I managed to tick off a new bird from my twitchers list! Hello Australasian Grebe!