Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, Botanical garden near Sydney Harbour, Australia
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 garden has held the 'Royal' prefix since 1959, granted under Queen Elizabeth II, not Queen Victoria. Its themed areas include Cadi Jam Ora: First Encounters, which presents plants that grew on the site before 1788 and the knowledge of the Gadigal people. The garden also hosted the triathlon events of the 2000 Olympic Games.
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.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,471 contributors worldwide.
