VIEW Australia's Floral Emblems Photo Gallery
Just south of Sydney Harbour, roughly southeast of the Opera House, lies Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney — a sprawling 30 hectares of green next to the Sydney central business district, and contiguous to the 35 hectares of Sydney’s Domain.
Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney are open to the public throughout the year except on Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Established in 1816, Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens are Australia’s oldest scientific institution with plant collections of more than 7500 species. It is also the site of Australia’s first farm.
The Sydney gardens are a great site for long walks along the curve of Farm Cove, from the Man of War Jetty close to the Sydney Opera House to Mrs Macquaries Point in the east, thence down to the Domain to the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Ponds and kiosks
There are other paths, of course, and they crisscross one another like the lines on one’s hand — leading, variously, to two sets of ponds, a visitors centre and gardens shop, restaurants and kiosks, garden sculptures, and a number of horticultural areas.
If one chooses to join them, there are guided walks every day, except on public holidays, at 10.30am.
A Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney scenic tour by trackless train is available; there is a small charge for this.
Wheelchair access is provided, except along steep paths and in stepped areas as in one of the routes to the Pioneer Garden where a young Wollemi pine is on display, but there's wheelchair access to this site from the Macquarie St side.
Within the gardens
Government House, once the exclusive residence of the NSW Governor, lies within the perimeters of Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. It sits on a knoll overlooking the Sydney Opera House and Farm Cove and is open to the public for tours of its architecture, artifacts and displays. Find out what days and hours Government House is open.
Of the horticultural areas, there are the Sydney Tropical Centre; rose, herb and succulent gardens; the First Farm; Sydney Fernery; and Palm Grove.
Entry to Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney is free, although there is a charge to enter the Tropical Centre.
Getting there
Buses operate to Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney and there are a number of carparks nearby. If taking the train, stop off at St James, Martin Place or Circular Quay stations and head in an easterly direction across Macquarie St.
Some of the buildings close to Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney are the Conservatorium of Music, State Library, New South Wales Parliament House, Sydney Hospital, The Mint, Hyde Park Barracks, St Mary’s Cathedral and, of course, the Art Gallery of NSW.
