Overview
If you needed a reason to brave winter in Melbourne, the Royal Botanic Gardens has delivered a full season's worth. The gardens have revealed their 2026 winter program — and whether you're after a ticketed night out with lights to chase away the cold, or a free afternoon wander that comes with an education, there's something in the program for you.
The big draw, as always, is Lightscape, running from Friday, June 12 to Sunday, August 2. Now in its fifth year, the immersive night-time trail will take over a winding path through 2.1 kilometres of the gardens, lit up by 15 new and returning installations from local and international artists.
This year's highlights include the Australian premiere of Bifröst by French studio Pitaya — a 40-metre tunnel comprised of 20 arches of cascading light — and Firefly Field by Dutch studio TOER, where 200 glowing light points dart and hover above the grass. Old favourites like the 30-metre Winter Cathedral and the Fire Garden are back with fresh looks, and if you want a kid-free experience, 2026 includes Lightscape's first adults-only evening sessions. Tickets range from $28 to $46, depending on age and session.
Another newcomer for winter is the Solar Tour at Melbourne Observatory, the only safe way for you to look directly at the sun. Organised in part by the Astronomical Society of Victoria, this Sunday-only tour will let you look through a four-inch Photoheliograph telescope, which blocks the blinding light and lets you inspect the details on the sun's fiery surface. If you're in need of some de-stressing in the wild green yonder, Forest Therapy is your new Sunday go-to at both gardens. Inspired by Japanese forest-bathing, this guided wellness session uses sensory and connection practices with good old fashioned outdoor peace as a simple way to boost your mind and body.
If you want to connect with nature and country in the gardens, you can learn about how to rewild your garden for native fauna on the Gardens for Wildlife & Bandicoots guided walk. Alternatively, the daily Aboriginal Heritage Walk (wominjeka!) takes visitors on a 90-minute stroll through the gardens with a First Nations guide to explore the Kulin Nation's ongoing connection to Country through the native plants of the landscape.
Free Guided Walks run most days for those who'd rather have company without the ticket price, and the Sonica Botanica audio experience, exploring the garden's Australian Drylands garden through sound, interviews with horticulturists and Indigenous voices, is available any time for free, via headphones. And over at Cranbourne Gardens, the ClimateWatch Walk runs through to Friday, August 21, guiding participants to observe and record biodiversity data that contributes to Australia's climate change research.
Head to rbg.vic.gov.au for the full program and to book Lightscape tickets before they sell out.