The main entrance to White Hills Botanic Gardens is marked by an impressive arched gateway built in 1925 as a memorial to soldiers of the Great War. From the arch, a walkway leads to the main garden area. This is lined on either side by a row of pencil pines (Cupressus sempervirens 'Stricta') and a formal layout of annual garden beds. Large Moreton Bay Figs (Ficus macrophylla) mark the original Gardens entrance (1861-1893). The Gardens then open out to a park-like setting with mature trees and grassed areas. Central to this area is a lagoon formed from a remnant section of the original Bendigo Creek. An island was formed in the lagoon in 1983 as a refuge for native bird-life and has been planted with indigenous creek-side vegetation and forms a refuge for native bird-life.

Adjacent to the lagoon is an historic Victorian picnic shelter and an aviary containing a collection of parrots. Enclosures on the eastern and southern boundaries of the Gardens contain exhibits of wallabies and kangaroos. Animal exhibits have been a long-standing tradition in the Gardens and are a popular attraction for visitors. A cage of cockatoos is also located in the centre of the Gardens.

Amongst the collection of trees are four listed on the National Trust State Register of significant trees. There is a fine collection of conifers on the western boundary and elms on the southern side. Poplars and oaks provide a shady refuge for summer visitors. A labelled collection of Whipstick/Kamarooka flora has been established on the Scott St boundary. This provides an excellent guide to plants adapted to the local conditions, which could be used in private gardens.

Cannas (once part of the Australian collection housed in the Queen Victoria Gardens, Bendigo) and dahlias (from the Eaglehawk Canterbury Gardens collection) can be found labelled in special garden beds near the Samuel Gadd Centre. This house, which backs on to Napoleon Crescent, is named in honour of an early curator, who played an important role in the early development of Bendigo's Public Parks and Gardens (1873-1903). It has been redeveloped as a resource centre for the Gardens.