Botanical Gardens
- Address: Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney
- Hours: Open daily 6:30am - sunset
- Admission: Gardens admission is free, Tropical Centre admission for adults is AU$3.30
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Good for Kids,
Good Place to Relax,
Picnic Spot,
Park / Garden
Historic, picturesque, and relaxing, the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens cover 74 acres (30 hectares) running along the harbor from the Sydney Opera House to Woolloomooloo. A true inner-city oasis, the gardens combine exotic plantings from Europe, tropical rainforest, woodland, flowers, grasses, the Indigenous First Encounters garden, and rare horticultural exhibits. A program of events includes activities, workshops, courses and lectures, plus there are entertaining guided walks throughout the year.
The gardens are laced with leafy walkways and harbor lookouts, and they also boast a fernery, camellia garden, palm grove, and herb garden. For a walk through history, the Mrs Macquaries Bushland Walk traces a path along the coast, re-creating the landscape as it appeared when the early settlers arrived in Sydney in the early 19th century. Don't forget to stop off at Mrs Macquarie's Chair, a bench carved out of sandstone, to get amazing views of the Sydney Harbour.
Kiosks, cafes, and restaurants within the gardens offer refreshments, snacks, and meals.
Alongside the gardens, you will also find the Government House, the official house of the Governor of New South Wales. Don't miss out on this historic site built between 1837 and 1843.
Latest Reviews
Review by lavendertraveler, August 2011
Doing what: Sydney Sightseeing Pass: See Sydney Card and Attraction Pass
We were in Sydney for a week and bought a two day pass with transport. We definitely got our money's worth! The transport made it very easy to board, trains, buses. The first day we toured the Opera House on the Essential Free Tour, bought the $35 picture package which was well worth the money paid for it. We took the bus to the Sydney Museum-Free and learned about the beginnings of the city, strolled through the Royal Botanical Gardens, stopped by the Government House, visited the Art Gallery NSW and that was free but paid extra for admission to see the 2,000 year old Chinese Terra Cotta soldiers on display. That was incredible! From there we walked to Hyde Park and saw the fountain, took a break for a while, then walked over to the Tower and got in free to view the city, took the OZTrek, that was cool, just like being on Soaring Over California at Disney California. Then after taking in the view and figuring out where our hotel was in relation to the tower, we went to the food court at the tower and had pizza at one of the restaurants. Then took the train back to our hotel.
Day 2- Took the bus to Town Hall, toured that free, walked over through Hyde Park, viewed the Anzac War Memorial, which was temporarily closed, to the Hyde Park Barracks and toured that free. The barracks provided an excellent synopsis of how the country got started. Then we walked back over to the Queen Victoria Building, took the 11:30am tour of the building. This is a great tour with excellent history included! They give you a gift bag with lots of postcards to send to friends/family abroad. Did much more free!
Review by Susan S, Australia, May 2010
Doing what: Sydney Sightseeing Pass: See Sydney Card and Attraction Pass
Review by Kelley A, USA, March 2010
Doing what: Sydney Sightseeing Pass: See Sydney Card and Attraction Pass
Practical Info
The Botanical Gardens flank Macquarie St in the city centre, on the eastern edge of Sydney Cove. The gardens are well served by public transport, with the Martin Place train station and Circular Quay buses and ferries just a short walk away.
The main gates leading into the gardens are close to the Conservatorium and Government House.
