The Australian Botanic Garden is the native plant garden of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. It contains over 4000 variety of Australian natives, with specialist collections of Grevillea, Bottlebrush, Banksia, Wattle, Eucalypt and a Clonal collection of the wild Wollemi Pine colony. It is set in 416 hectares of hills and lakes and contrasts in look and feel to Sydney's two other gardens. At weekends it is a popular picnicking place for locals.
The Themed Gardens and Natural Areas have been created to show the diverse beauty of nature. The areas include:
Connections Garden - created in a cottage garden style to focus on annual wildflowers
Lakeside and Marquee Lawn - contain various artworks and are used for events held in the gardens
Conifer Arboritum and Sundial - At the top of Sundial Hill there are 360 views over the country, on a clear day you can see Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
Wollemi Walk of Discovery - a walking trail has been created around the gardens Wollemi Pine Collection
Wattle Garden - there are many species of Acacia and in winter when they are all in flower it is a mass of colour.
Callistris, Malle Eucalypt and Kurrajong Arboreta
The Stolen Generation Memorial
The Woodland Conservation Areas
The wonderful thing about these is that they are not all squashed together, each can be enjoyed in isolation as well as part of the overall garden experience. For those fitter visitors there are walking tracks between each themed area. For those who don't feel like walking there is a sealed road that loops the site with parking areas by each area.
Author: Bob Saunders.
RestaurantThe Melaleuca House Cafe next to the visitors Centre, serves coffee, tea, snacks and light lunches.
Picnic and Barbeque Areas The biggest picnic area can be found in the Wattle Garden, there are several barbeque settings, a picnic shelter and toilet faciities. The area is accessible to wheelchairs. There is also a Woodland Picnic Area, from here there are paths making it easy to explore the lake and woodland areas. Other picnic areas can be fouund next to the Big Idea Garden, the Wattle Garden and the Banksia Garden.
Disabled Access There is parking near the Visitors Centre and at each picnic area. Wheelchairs can be hired at the Visitor Centre. Most paths are suitable for wheelchairs, there are a a few that are quite steep or have stairs. Accessible routes and toilets are signposted. Most toilets at the Garden are wheelchair accessible.
Guided Tours The gardens offer both personalised guided tours and guided bus tours, call the visitors centre for details +612 4634 7935
The Australian Botanic Garden is 57 km from the Sydney CBD, about 45 minutes drive from the city.
By car: from the east: from the M5 Motorway take the Narellan Road exit - Route 9. Take the right fork towards Camden/Narellan along Narellan Rd. Continue along Narellan Rd and turn left at second set of traffic lights;
from the west: Follow the Northern Road onto Narellan Rd at Narellan. Continue along Narellan Rd and turn right at traffic lights indicated by the brown tourist sign t