Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Overview

The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney occupies 30 harbourside hectares on the site of Australia's first farm (1788). Home to over 8,900 plant species, it frames postcard views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge from its foreshore paths.

Highlights

• Mrs Macquaries Road: A scenic loop walk along the harbour foreshore to Mrs Macquaries Chair.
• Calyx: A living art gallery with vertical garden walls displaying 18,000 plants in rotating installations.
• Succulent Garden: A vast collection of cacti and succulents from five continents.

History

The garden was established in 1816 by Governor Macquarie on the site of the colony's first vegetable plot. Its collection grew through 19th-century plant-hunting expeditions across the Pacific and Asia.

Visitor Tips

• Free entry: Open daily from 7:00 am; closing times vary seasonally.
• Free guided walks: Daily at 10:30 from the Lion Gate entrance.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.