Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney

The Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney spreads across 30 hectares (74 acres) along the harbour foreshore, directly east of the central business district, showing plant collections from all continents. The grounds divide into several sections with palm groves, tropical glasshouses, fern gardens, a rose garden and open lawns that slope down toward the waterfront, offering views across the bay.

Governor Lachlan Macquarie founded the garden in 1816 on the site of the colony's first European farm from 1788. Charles Moore, who served as director from 1848, expanded the grounds significantly and introduced many exotic species from the Pacific and Asia.

The name refers to Queen Victoria, who granted the royal title in 1959, though locals had already used the green space as a meeting point for decades. Today you see joggers on the paths, families on the lawns and visitors exploring the themed gardens.

The entrance sits on Macquarie Street, near the Opera House, and most paths are paved and flat, making it easier to walk with strollers or wheelchairs. Morning hours are cooler in summer, while weekends see more visitors in the afternoon.

The library houses a collection of pressed plant specimens gathered during early expeditions into the region, maintained since 1852. Some of the oldest living plants in the garden date from the 1820s and still stand in their original locations.

Location: New South Wales

Inception: 1816

Founders: Lachlan Macquarie

Fee: No

Operator: Botanic Gardens of Sydney

Opening Hours: November-February 07:00-20:00; March 07:00-18:30; April 07:00-18:00; May 07:00-17:30; June-July 07:00-17:00; August 07:00-17:30; September 07:00-18:00; October 07:00-19:30

Website: https://rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

GPS coordinates: -33.86222,151.21750

Latest update: December 20, 2025 02:56