Where to find Sydney’s best gardens this summer
Chasing summer sunshine, lush greenery and the grass between your toes? Here’s where you can get back to nature in Sydney’s best summer gardens.
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As summer reigns and warm, bright days return, there’s no better time to get back to nature.
While sweltering heat may send Sydneysiders back indoors, the cooler days make for the perfect chance to explore the many colourful, sprawling gardens our city has to offer.
Here are our top pics for the best gardens to stop and smell the roses this summer.
THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN
Set east of the Sydney Opera House and overlooking the edge of Sydney Harbour, the 30-hectare gardens allow you to enjoy water views and the multitude of plants both native and from all corners of the globe.
There’s several restaurants and cafes within the grounds, and entry is free, and guided walkthroughs are held on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
PADDINGTON RESERVOIR GARDENS
The heritage-listed site was decommissioned as a water reservoir in 1899, and later the dual-level structure went on to become a home for lush ferns and greenery amongst the Roman-esque pillars and archways in 2009. Entry is free.
CHINESE GARDEN OF FRIENDSHIP
A walk through will take you along serene pathways bordered with exotic plants, blooming flowers and a lake of koi fish. There’s also an onsite restaurant and dumpling teahouse. Entry is $12 per adult and $8 per child or concession holder.
THE AUSTRALIAN BOTANIC GARDEN MOUNT ANNAN
The garden contains lakes teeming with bird life, a variety of themed garden landscapes and plenty of picnicking areas.
There’s a mountain bike track too for adventurers, and a cafe to grab takeaway snacks and drinks from. Entry is free.
LISGAR GARDENS
Lisgar's specialty is camellias, with more than 90 varieties to be found there- some were planted when the garden was first formed in 1917.
There’s also a gazebo, fish ponds, three waterfalls, a rainforest walk and plenty of picnic tables to be found along the sandstone path. Entry is free.
WENDY’S SECRET GARDEN
Hidden behind Luna Park in Lavender Bay, winding pathways, steep inclines and smatterings of steps lead past hidden sculptures, scores of exotic and native plants and trees, tables and benches and even a hidden fairy house.
And then there’s the views o Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge Entry is free.
AUBURN BOTANIC GARDENS
Segmented into eight sections, the most-popular part is the Japanese garden filled with cherry blossoms, decorative bridges, ponds and a waterfall. Birds like peacocks and geese wander freely inside. There’s also several more gardens, a rainforest walk, a reflection pool, rose garden and bird aviaries and animal exhibits to enjoy. Entry is free on weekdays and $4 for adults on weekends.
FAGAN PARK
THE BLUE MOUNTAINS BOTANIC GARDEN
The gardens contain a centre explaining the journey of the Blue Mtns becoming World Heritage-listed, and are full of amenities including picnic areas, benches and volunteer-guided tours, which run every Sunday from 11.30 am and every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 11:30 am. Entry is free.
SWAIN GARDEN
E.G WATERHOUSE NATIONAL CAMELLIA GARDENS
Overlooking the beautiful Yowie Bay, the gardens has more than 400 camellia species, plus a duck pond, two playgrounds and a tea house. While camellias bloom in autumn and winter, there are still roses and other annuals to enjoy at the sloping garden haven.
Entry is free.
OATLEY PARK AND CASTLE
A favourite for families, Oatley Park could easily make for multiple visits- theres a sports oval, playground featuring a vintage steamroller, a ‘castle’ and netted swimming baths, several walking tracks and a cycling loop spread across 45 hectares.
The natural bushland space also offers great picnic spaces, an abundance of native plants and flowering trees as well as vantage points to look out over Jewfish and Limekiln Bay. Entry is free.
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