The most picturesque gardens to take a stroll through this spring
With springtime finally, here, these breathtaking botanical gardens dotted across every state and territory in Australia have woken up from their winter slumber and are already bursting with vibrant colours and floral scents.
Springtime is one of the best times to explore these landscape escapes.
With that in mind, Starts at 60 has handpicked some of the most beautiful gardens around Australia for you to visit to stop and smell the roses.
New South Wales
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The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
The Blue Mountains is arguably one of Australia’s most breathtaking ranges, but if you drive past these great mountains you’ll reach the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden.
This garden is open to the public and boasts over 40,000 native, rare and exotic plants and flowers. The area itself is a whopping 252 hectares and is 1,000 metres above sea level. As per their website, “the Garden is divided into four distinct precincts, interlaced with pathways designed for wandering, exploring and engaging with the natural environment.”
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The Royal Botanic Gardens
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 9 am – 5.30 pm
Situated at the heart of Sydney’s bustling CBD, is the floral oasis that is The Royal Botanic Gardens.
Covering 30 hectares, this precinct offers a handful of themed gardens like the Oriental Garden, Australian native rockery, and the Bicentenary Garden which was planted back in 2016 to celebrate the ground’s 200th birthday.
The Royal Botanic Gardens also offer a range of classes and workshops in a great way to truly immerse yourself in this garden.
Queensland
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Brisbane Botanic Gardens
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 8 am – 5 pm
The Brisbane Botanic Gardens is a 56-hectare garden and is Brisbane City’s premiere subtropical botanic garden.
It boasts Australia’s largest collection of native rainforest trees in the world and also has a Tropical Dome and Japanese Garden for guests to visit. Those who are a fan of the night sky and astronomy can stop by the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium also located on the grounds.
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Maleny Botanic Gardens
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 9 am – 4.30 pm
Maleny Botanic Gardens is a privately owned garden that overlooks the iconic Glass House Mountains.
The grounds have a 6-kilometre walking path across a layered and terraced garden with thousands of plants ranging from roses to some of the rarest cycads in the world.
The area is also complemented by a handful of lakes and waterfalls. Visitors can walk through the garden’s Bird World, which is home to over 700 native and exotic birds from around the world.
The garden also offers over 18 gazebos, perfect for picnics supplied by their onsite cafe, as well as Devonshire teas.
Victoria
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Ballarat Botanical Gardens
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 9 am – 4.30 pm
Just four kilometres off Ballarat’s CBD is where you’ll find the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, one of the country’s most cool climate gardens that features an astounding collection of mature trees and colourful flower bedding displays.
The Garden is over 40 hectares and has been divided into four zones and has three conservatories on the site, one of which allows visitors to wonder inside at the seasonal flower displays. The grounds are also dotted with marble status that dates back to the 1880s.
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Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 9 am – 5 pm
The Royal Botanic Garden Cranbourne is an award-winning, contemporary botanic garden that is home to over 100,000 plants and 1,900 plant varieties.
The area has 450 indigenous plants and includes a 10-kilometre walking track and picturesque shelters for those looking to host a barbeque or picnic. The grounds are also recognised as a site of state significance for plant and wildlife conservation.
South Australia
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Adelaide Botanic Garden
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7.30 am – 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am – 6 pm
The Adelaide Botanic Garden may be located in the heart of the city, but the minute you walk into this oasis you’ll feel like you’re a world away.
Visitors can spend hours admiring the magnificently maintained 50-hectare garden. The area is also home to a variety of birds and animals that are attracted to the garden’s flora.
With 11 different gardens to visit, guests are spoiled with fragrant and colourful choices.
Northern Territory
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Alice Springs Desert Park
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 7.30 am – 6 pm
Don’t let the idea of a dusty hot desert fool you, the Alice Springs Desert Park is more than meets the eye.
Discover the desert’s hidden secrets as you connect with nature and Aboriginal culture. The park is 52 hectares and is home to an abundance of birds of prey as well as rare and endangered animals.
Western Australia
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Kings Park and Botanic Gardens
One of the world’s largest inner city parks, Kings Park and Botanic Garden has a reputation for its leading horticulture and scientific research.
Its botanic garden is based on a European-style garden with lawns, shady trees and flower beds, and it displays over 3,000 species of flora, with two-thirds of its massive 400-hectare area as protected bushland.
Kings Park and Botanic Gardens are known for their natural beauty and tranquillity, where visitors can seek peace in quiet places and take time to reconnect with nature.
Tasmania
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Wychwood Garden and Nursery
It may be one of the smaller gardens on the list, but Wychwood Garden and Nursery was dubbed “the most beautiful garden in Tasmania.”
The garden features a mix of sweeping trees, rare flowers and old roses, and has a medieval grass labyrinth next to the tranquil Mole Creek. There’s also an abundance of wildlife and breathtaking mountain views.
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Inverawe Native Gardens
Opening hours: September to May: Monday to Sunday 9 am – 6 pm
Fans of native Australian plants will love the Inverawe Native Gardens in Tasmania.
There are over 12,500 hand-picked native plants mixed in with the area’s natural regrowth.
The garden prides itself on being sustainable as the native plants don’t require much water, are low maintenance and don’t need fertilisers or chemicals. The way the area has been landscaped makes it hard to believe it’s located only 15 minutes away from Hobart’s CBD.
Australian Capital Territory
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Australian National Botanic Gardens
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 8.30 am – 5 pm
If you’re looking for a city escape, then the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra is right up your alley.
Nestled in the foothills of Black Mountain, this garden is your ideal botanical retreat. Discover Australia’s springtime flowers, like delicate orchids, tiny thryptomene, stunning waratahs and big impressive gymea lilies all in one spot.
Stroll through the Rainforest Gully, have a massage, and wrap up your visit feeling totally rejuvenated.
This article was originally published on April 16, 2022, and has been updated on September 8, 2023.
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