Top 5: Gardens in Victoria
From red sand bursting with wildflowers to plants perched above Port Phillip Bay, discover the colourful gardens in Australia's state of Victoria
Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
01 Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
Take in the displays of 10,000 individual species of Australian plants at this 94-acre garden in the suburbs of Melbourne. Don't miss the spectacular red-sand garden, which depicts the dry terrain of Central Australia.
02 Heronswood
Stroll through rows of heirloom plants and vegetables whilst gazing out at the sparkling Port Phillip Bay on the Mornington Peninsula. Gardening fanatics should also check out their new Heirloom Seed Museum.
03 Wiltshire
Evolved over 70 years by my family, this eclectic garden is a sanctuary to experiment with plants and designs from around the world — and a way to share my love of gardening. It has survived droughts, wallabies and even bush fires.
04 Coombe Farm
This seven-acre garden was the home of Dame Nellie Melba, the operatic soprano, in the early 1900s. Now a vineyard estate, stroll around the property's tightly trimmed cypress hedge whilst sipping on Pinot Noir.
05 Grampians
Described by early explorers as 'the garden of Victoria', this is nature's garden at its most spectacular. Over 1,000 flora species cover the 413,000 acres of this national park — with flowers at their most prolific in early October.
By Judy Vanrenen: As a lover of all things floral, it's no surprise Victoria-born Judy founded Botanica World Discoveries 17 years ago. The tour and cruise operator brings travellers to gardens around the world.
Published in the October 2017 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK)