David S.
Yelp
I guess the thing that originally attracted me to this place was 'Captain Cook's Cottage', something that always baffled me because I never realised that Captain Cook lived in Melbourne. Apparently it is the original cottage that was shipped from England, which begs the question - if it was shipped from England, how does it remain the original cottage? Anyway, enough of that speculating because there is more to the gardens than simply a cottage shipped from England.
Actually, there are quite a few interesting things here, including the Fairy Tree, the Model Tudor Village, a small playground (that makes me wish I was a kid again), a conservatorium, was well as a number of statues (including one of Diana and her hounds). However, the main reason I end up wondering around here is because of the gardens, something that as I have grown older, have come to appreciate all the more.
Mind you, despite all of what I have mentioned above, the place is also a great place to bring along some chairs, a picnic hamper, and possibly even a couple of balls, and simply spend the entire afternoon wasting time with friends (because playing ball by yourself can be a little boring, though I am sure if you are kicking a ball around somebody will sooner, or later, come up a join you). However, if having a picnic is not your thing, there is always the cafe. Watch out for the wedding photographers on Saturday afternoon though, this also seems to be a favourite place for them.