Araluen Botanic Park

Araluen Botanic Park

Lush green spaces & gardens with a variety of plants plus a manmade lake, miniature train & paths. Nestled deep within a valley in the Perth Hills, Araluen Botanic Park is an extraordinary garden in a breathtaking bushland setting.

Araluen is a unique Botanic Park in a natural setting. Located within 59 hectares of West Australian native forest, our 14 hectares of developed gardens are home to thousands of plants that flourish in the rich soils and supportive micro-climate that is created in this valley across the Darling Scarp of the Perth hills. Araluen Botanic Park has a unique micro-climate featuring loam soils, high rainfall and cold winters providing an unmatched opportunity to cultivate exotic and cool climate plants in Western Australia.

In the late 1920s the founder of the Young Australia League JJ “Boss” Simons was drawn to this valley in pursuit of his dream to create a weekend retreat where YAL members could experience the outdoor life. Whenever YAL members travelled the world they were encouraged to bring back plants for Araluen as they developed the Park gardens which was to complement the aesthetic appeal of the Canadian-style log cabins, water features, and pergolas.

The YAL took over the Park with little to no infrastructure apart from tracks left as a result of timber clearing during the 1800’s. Over 20+years the YAL constructed a series of buildings and several unique garden features. Construction methods varied but commonly used locally sourced, materials which became a major influencing contributor to the current unique style of Araluen and the Park.