We are very excited to welcome you to Geelong Botanic Gardens for your upcoming excursion.
The Geelong Botanic Gardens offers an inspiring and hands-on environment for students to connect with nature and deepen their understanding of the world around them. With its rich diversity of plant life, and vibrant ecosystems, the gardens provide an ideal setting for excursions that foster nature-linked learning.
Students can explore the fascinating cycles of plant growth, engage with local wildlife, and experience first-hand the concepts they are learning in the classroom
Our educational programs are aligned to the Victorian Curriculum and provide an engaging and interactive opportunities for learning, providing lifelong lessons to foster and build connections between people, plants and nature.
Book online
We look forward to welcoming you to the Gardens.
Lower Primary
Foundation to Grade 2
| Name of Program |
Themes |
Links to Curriculum |
| Plant Scientists: Features and Needs |
Using our magnifying glasses, we will observe fruit and vegetables and identify the external features of plants and explore what they do; before discussing where plants live and what they need to survive.
We will also look at our role in looking after plants, and what we can do to make our planet healthy.
Hands on experience as children plant their own plant and explore our veggie patch.
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Victorian Curriculum Links:
Foundation – Level 2 – Science:
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Middle Primary
Grades 3–4
| Name of Program |
Themes |
Links to Curriculum |
| Ecosystem Ecologists: Lifecycles and Food chains |
Using hands on learning tools, we will compare lifecycles of plants to metamorphic species, and how they rely on one another for their survival. Students will then draw their own lifecycle of a plant in the garden.
We will then explore food chains, and through a game, see what happens when we begin to disrupt the food chain.
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Level 3 and 4 Science
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Upper Primary
Grades 5–6
| Name of Program |
Themes |
Links to Curriculum |
| Adaptation Detectives: Survival in a Changing World |
Dive into the world of plants and the wide physical and behavioural adaptations and variations that exist that enable survival in Australia's harsh climate.
Then using temperature equipment, examine how urbanisation and human activity impacting on plants survival.
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Level 5, Level 6 – Science:
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Facts for your excursion
Arrival and Departure
It is the responsibility of the school to organise their own transport Geelong Botanic Gardens. Chartered buses and coaches can proceed to the front entrance of the Gardens to allow children to disembark safely. Bus parking bays are clearly marked on the opposite side of the street from the front entrance. Schools then have free access to the Geelong Botanical Gardens for your excursion.
Please familiarise yourself with the map which should help you locate toilets and other facilities and ensure you communicate student behaviour expectations. If you have booked an education session, please familiarise yourself with its location and allow walking time.
Your booking confirmation will provide you with a meeting point for educator led sessions. Please be ready to start these on time. Unfortunately, if educator led classes start later than arranged, we cannot guarantee to finish later due to other sessions or commitments we may have.
Dress for the weather
The Geelong Botanic Gardens is an outdoor excursion space. Students should dress for weather that may be cool and windy in the gardens during autumn and winter months. Hats and sun protection are advised. At all times students will need closed-toe shoes.
In the interests of safety, the Geelong Botanic Gardens reserve the rights to cancel visits should the weather be 36 degrees or more, winds exceed gusts of 61km per hour, or there are storms that include thunder and lightning. We are more than happy to reschedule your visit to another suitable day should this occur.
We do not have facilities for bag storage.
First Aid on the day
Please bring along your own First Aid Kit in case of accidents. Please ensure children with asthma have their asthma plans and asthma first aid medication on hand as pollens and grass are known to cause allergies and/or asthma exacerbations
Risk Register
The Geelong Botanic Gardens Risk register is available to download via the button below. Please reach out if you require any additional information for your risk assessments.
Download Risk Register Here
Student Code of Conduct
When visiting the Geelong Botanic Gardens, it's important to respect both the natural environment and fellow visitors. Here are a few simple guidelines to follow:
- Be courteous to animals, plants, and other visitors. Keep your group’s noise at a considerate level to ensure everyone can enjoy the space.
- Refrain from feeding or disturbing the wild animals in the Gardens.
- Do not pick plants or enter the garden beds to help preserve the beauty of the gardens.
- Please dispose of all rubbish in the bins provided to keep the Gardens clean and safe.
- Café seating areas are designated for café patrons only - please respect this space.
- For everyone's safety and enjoyment, please refrain from ball games, frisbees, kites,
bicycles, skateboards, scooters, and rollerblades.
By following these simple rules, we can all contribute to a respectful and enjoyable visit to the Geelong Botanic Gardens!