Park & nature
Fitzroy Gardens
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Fitzroy Gardens is one of Melbourne's most beautiful and beloved Victorian-era public gardens, 26 hectares of elm-lined avenues, sweeping lawns, fountains, and flowerbeds, right on the edge of the city centre. Laid out in the 19th century, its grand tree avenues form striking patterns, and it's dotted with charming features: the ornamental Conservatory bursting with seasonal flower displays, the whimsical Fairies' Tree carved with Australian creatures, a miniature Tudor village, and a model of the Sinclairs' cottage. The undoubted star is Cooks' Cottage, the actual 18th-century English cottage of explorer Captain James Cook's family, dismantled in England and rebuilt here in 1934, now a small museum.
It's a peaceful, picturesque retreat for a stroll, a picnic, or a wedding photo, easily reached from the CBD. Free to enter (Cooks' Cottage has a small admission), it's lovely year-round, with autumn elms a particular delight. Wander the avenues, see Cooks' Cottage, and enjoy the Conservatory.
Don't miss
- Cooks' Cottage, shipped from England in 1934
- Grand avenues of Victorian-era English elms
- The flower-filled ornamental Conservatory
- The carved Fairies' Tree and miniature Tudor village
- Lawns, fountains, and picnic spots near the CBD
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Fitzroy Gardens
You don't need a tour to visit, entry is free. A tour is worth it if you want transport, a guide, or to combine Fitzroy Gardens with nearby sights in one day. That's what these do well.
Cheapest way inRoyal Botanic Gardens Melbourne: The Explorer Bus4.9★ · 267 travelers~1 hourFree cancellationFrom$13 per personSee dates →
Most bookedUltimate Melbourne Walking Tour: History, Laneways & Culture4.9★ · 1,562 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$92 per personSee dates →
Private & flexibleHalf-Day Private Melbourne Tour: Highlights, laneways & beaches4.9★ · 35 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$178 per personSee dates →Good for
How travelers rate it
Getting there
Know before you go
- Cooks' Cottage is the real 18th-century home of Captain Cook's family, rebuilt here.
- The gardens are free; Cooks' Cottage charges a small admission.
- Autumn brings spectacular colour to the elm avenues.
- Don't miss the Conservatory's seasonal flower displays.
A bit of history
Laid out from the 1850s–60s on Melbourne's eastern edge, Fitzroy Gardens became a showpiece of Victorian-era landscape gardening with its formal avenues of English elms. Cooks' Cottage, the Cook family's Yorkshire home, was shipped to Melbourne and reassembled in the gardens in 1934 to mark the city's centenary.
Common questions
What is Fitzroy Gardens?
One of Melbourne's grand Victorian-era public gardens, near the CBD, 26 hectares of elm avenues, lawns, and fountains, home to Cooks' Cottage, the Conservatory, and the Fairies' Tree.
What is Cooks' Cottage?
The actual 18th-century Yorkshire home of explorer Captain James Cook's family, dismantled in England and reassembled in the gardens in 1934, now a small museum.
Is it free?
The gardens are free to enter; Cooks' Cottage has a small admission charge.
When's the best time to visit?
Autumn for the glorious elm colour and spring for the flowers, though the gardens are lovely year-round.
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