A guided tour to explore the Stormwater Harvesting Project in Eastern Park and how it has evolved over the years.   The storm-water dam has created a natural wetland promoting diverse plant and animal life, providing valuable water for Geelong Botanic Gardens. Meet your guide at the front steps.

BOOKING CLOSED, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION We have great pleasure in inviting you and your friends to the FGBG Annual Winter Lunch at Mt Duneed Estate. In the cosy Vineyard Room with panoramic views across the vines towards the Barrabool Hills. Head Chef Daniel Duve will prepare a gourmet two-course lunch followed by tea or coffee. Drinks will be available at bar. The speaker this year,  for the Winter Lunch, is Richard Barley MBE FCIH CHort FLS  Richard will speak about ‘Reinvigorating the historic Kew Gardens landscape’ Born in Ballarat and educated in Geelong, Richard has built an influential career in horticulture spanning Australia and the UK. He began at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne in 1980, later becoming Director of the Melbourne Gardens before leading Open Gardens Australia as CEO. In 2013, he was appointed Director of Horticulture at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where he oversaw its world-renowned gardens, outreach programs, and the Wakehurst site. Awarded an MBE in 2023 for services to horticulture, Richard returned to Victoria in 2025 and now lives in Woodend with his family, working as a consultant and continuing to contribute his expertise to the field. The event starts at 12.30 pm, please arrive from 12.00 pm onward. Bookings are essential and due by 9 June 2026. * Please indicated when booking your groups name, please also include any dietary requirments. Please contact the Friends' Office on 5229 0071 for further information.

Understand the importance of trees in the landscape.  Explore the wonderful diversity of the tree canopy in the Geelong Botanic Gardens with a Friends Voluntary Guide.  Many of the older trees are on a Significant Tree Register while younger plantings make bold statements.  Join us to walk among the trees. Meet your guide at the front steps.

SOLD OUT The Friends are hosting a Floral Arranging Demonstration, followed by a sumptuous High Tea, to inspire your creativity and use of beautiful seasonal flowers. Enjoy a delightful afternoon with good company and exceptional flowers and food. Bookings essential.

Gondwana is the name given to the southern supercontinent and ancient land mass attached to Antarctica. Many plants have survived Australia’s 45 million years of separation from this supercontinent. The Geelong Botanic Garden has a good collection of plants from this period of time, and this walk will introduce you to some of them. Meet your guide at the front steps.

Lambley Nursery in Ascot Ballarat Botanic Gardens: Garden Tour and Nursery Visit Private Garden and Nursery both at Haddon Thursday 12 March 2026 8.00 am to 5.30 pm Arrive at Gate 3 Carpark, Eastern Park Circuit, East Geelong at 7.45 am for 8.00 am departure. Join the Friends for a coach tour of four wonderful gardens in the Ballarat area. We will visit Lambley Nursery in Ascot; the glorious begonias at Ballarat Botanic Gardens with guided tour and picnic in the gardens and Ballarat Friends nursery; a beautiful private garden and Avalon Nursery, both at Haddon. Bring your own picnic lunch. AM and PM tea included. Arrive by 7.45am, leaving from car park opposite Gate 3 Eastern Park Circuit. Numbers capped at 48 people. Itinerary and information provided after booking. Bookings are essential and due by Wednesday 4 March

Meet your Guide at the Front Gates Join your Guide to be introduced to the wonderful collection of ferns and discover more about these special plants and the conditions needed to grow them successfully.  Hear how fern fashions have changed in our botanical garden.   Gold coin donation appreciated.

BOOKED OUT Seniors Week - Free Guided Walk and Morning Tea 9.30 am: Guided Walk & 10.30 am:  Morning Tea Join the Friends' trained Guides for a guided walk through the Geelong Botanic Gardens. This will be followed by a professionally catered-for morning tea and a welcome to the Gardens by members of the Friends of Geelong Botanic Gardens. The Friends wish to encourage Seniors to actively enjoy the Gardens,  in the company of other Seniors and the Friends. You can expect level changes and uneven path and gravel surfaces.  Your visit will include walking and standing for short periods of time.  Proudly funded by The City of Greater Geelong, Positive Ageing Grant Bookings are essential.  Please contact the Friends' Office 03 5229 0071 or info@friendsgbg.org.au to book your place and receive a confirmation itinerary.

BOOKED OUT Seniors Week - Free Guided Walk and Morning Tea 9.30 am: Guided Walk & 10.30 am:  Morning Tea Join the Friends' trained Guides for a guided walk through the Geelong Botanic Gardens. This will be followed by a professionally catered-for morning tea and a welcome to the Gardens by members of the Friends of Geelong Botanic Gardens. The Friends wish to encourage Seniors to actively enjoy the Gardens,  in the company of other Seniors and the Friends. You can expect level changes and uneven path and gravel surfaces.  Your visit will include walking and standing for short periods of time.  Proudly funded by The City of Greater Geelong, Positive Ageing Grant Bookings are essential.  Please contact the Friends' Office 03 5229 0071 or info@friendsgbg.org.au to book your place and receive a confirmation itinerary.

Large Meeting Room at Geelong Botanic Gardens Charles Joseph La Trobe’s interest in the natural world led him to seek out the plants of Port Phillip and to send botanical specimens to his friends in the scientific community in Switzerland. La Trobe’s legacy is found in the many plants he collected now held in various herbaria around the world, in those named after him, and the fact that Victoria, with its beautiful botanic gardens, became known as the Garden State. Helen Botham has carried out research into garden history for the National Trust and the Australian Garden History Society. Being also a member of the La Trobe Society, and National Trust Volunteer Garden Coordinator for La Trobe’s Cottage, she has a particular interest in the garden La Trobe created at Jolimont, and in his extra-curricular dedication to botany. Bookings are essential and due by Wednesday 4 Feb. If you would prefer to book at the Friends office contact the Office on 5229 0071  

SATURDAY PLANT SALE 22 November 10am - 3pm  'SAVE THE DATE' At Geelong Botanic Gardens Plants for sale at affordable prices, sourced from our beautiful Botanic Gardens. The Friends' Volunteers are a great source of gardening knowledge and will be happy to assist you if you have any questions. PLANT NURSERY LOCATED at the Rear of the Geelong Botanic Gardens. BYO Shopping Bags would be appreciated. For more information 03 5229 0071 info@friendsgbg.org.au 1w

Sunday 9 November, 2.00 pm at the Front Gates The pollination of plants is integral to their reproduction and survival.  Come and hear about the differing ways native plants are pollinated.  They can provide habitat for local native fauna to encourage pollinators such as small birds, butterflies, native bees, lizards, frogs and bats.