Discover Kalorama: views, gardens and trails

Kalorama offers a variety of experiences: expansive views, a garden of native plants and trails through parkland. When planning your trip, you can choose between landscapes, botanical design and outdoor activities as different points of focus.

Views from Kalorama Lookout

From Kalorama Lookout, you can enjoy views of Silvan Reservoir, the southeastern side of the Dandenong Ranges and the surrounding Yarra Valley. The named viewpoints take in water, mountain scenery and the valley. If you are considering Kalorama primarily for its scenery, the lookout offers a specific point of focus for planning your trip.

Native plants at Karwarra Garden

Karwarra Australian Native Botanic Garden covers two hectares and features more than 1,400 different native plant species. The public garden was established in 1965 and uses only native plants. Visitors can see how effectively these can be incorporated into a designed garden. This combines botanical discovery with an appreciation of the garden’s design.

The garden includes a well-stocked plant nursery that sells Australian native plants to the public. It also has a community room. The paved concrete path runs alongside the gravel paths and provides access throughout the garden for wheelchair users and people using walking aids. Check path conditions before your trip.

Recreation and picnic facilities

Kalorama Memorial Reserve has a playground and a skate park. These two specific recreational facilities complement the destination’s nature and garden attractions. The nearby Kalorama Park Picnic Ground is scenic and well suited to a day trip with family and friends.

The 22-hectare Kalorama Park is located on the eastern slopes of the Dandenongs. It offers picnic facilities and free gas barbecues. Short walking trails start at each of the three car parks and pass through open areas, mountain ash forest, native forest, historic orchards and exotic plantings. The varied landscapes give these trails a different character from the designed plantings at Karwarra Garden. Check park conditions before visiting. At 22 hectares, Kalorama Park covers eleven times the area of the two-hectare Karwarra Garden. The smaller garden brings together more than 1,400 native plant species, while the park’s short trails pass through several types of landscape. The two nature destinations can therefore be distinguished by their size and the experiences they offer: a botanical collection in the garden and changing parkland scenery along the trails.

Choose the right focus for your trip

This can help you decide what to focus on during your trip. Check the location and availability of any specific hotel.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Beaumaris, Footscray, Eden Park, Hawthorn, Clayton, Attwood, Wonga Park, Williamstown.

For the broader travel overview: Melbourne.