Kings Domain Fern Gully, also known as The Grotto, is a lush, hidden garden oasis located within Kings Domain in Melbourne, Australia, near the entrance to the Royal Botanic Gardens.
It is hard to believe that a place this cool, green and secluded exists just minutes from Melbourne’s CBD. Tucked into Kings Domain, The Grotto is a former quarry transformed into a fern-filled gully, with winding paths, rockwork, pools and a cascading waterfall.
The sheltered setting creates a remarkable microclimate. Moisture from the watercourse and the protection of the surrounding vegetation provide ideal conditions for shade-loving plants, with ferns creating much of the garden’s character. Look closely for Australian species such as Dicksonia antarctica (Soft Tree Fern), Asplenium australasicum (Bird’s Nest Fern) and other moisture-loving understorey plants.
The Grotto also has an interesting history, having been developed as a fern gully in the late nineteenth century. After suffering during Melbourne’s long drought and water restrictions, the area was substantially rejuvenated.
For garden lovers, it is a wonderful reminder of how water, shade, geology and planting can combine to create a completely different world within an urban landscape.
