Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney (must see)

The Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney occupy a large stretch of open space along the eastern edge of Sydney Harbour, a short walk from the Sydney Opera House. Established in 1816, the gardens are Australia’s oldest scientific institution and continue to support research, conservation work, and public education.

Long before colonisation, the area was used by the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, who harvested food and resources along the shoreline. After 1788, the site became the colony’s first farm before gradually developing into a formal botanic garden. Sandstone walls, mature trees, and waterfront paths frame the grounds and provide uninterrupted views of the harbour and city.

Covering more than 30 hectares, the gardens include a range of themed plant collections. The Palm Grove features species gathered since the 19th century, while the Succulent Garden presents arid-adapted plants from Australia and overseas. The Australian Rainforest Garden highlights the variety of rainforest habitats found across the country. Pathways connect these areas with open lawns, ponds, and shaded groves, creating a layout that supports both scientific displays and everyday recreation. Wildlife is common throughout the gardens, with flying foxes, cockatoos, and waterbirds using the grounds as feeding and roosting sites.

Historical features such as gates, fountains, and memorials mark earlier phases of garden development and illustrate the changing priorities of plant collection and landscape design over two centuries. Seasonal plantings, orchid displays, and rare species collections draw visitors with an interest in botany, horticulture, and photography.

A key facility within the gardens is The Calyx, a contemporary glasshouse and exhibition space used for rotating horticultural shows and public programs focused on biodiversity and environmental themes. The gardens also house the Herbarium of New South Wales, which holds extensive preserved plant specimens used for scientific research.

Along the waterfront, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair provides views across the harbour to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. The Farm Cove Walk links the gardens to surrounding foreshore paths, making the area a central point in Sydney’s network of harbour-side walking routes.