Try to take the Aboriginal Bush Tucker tour at 11 am on Thursdays thru Sundays. Tyra did a great job of highlighting certain plants and fruits and gave us tastes and opportunities to smell and interact with each of the plants. Really cool to learn a snippet of the 30,000 year old oral tradition associated with several of the plants in the Gardens.

The gardens are great. I walked around on my own discovering the flowers, plants and trees from all over the world that are showcased with an emphasis on Australian and south Pacific greenery. There are so many areas to see that focus on a certain type of garden (rock, cactus, palms, rose, etc). I also enjoyed the harbor front area so sat on a bench and was content people watching and listening to the water and the birds. A helpful hint: there are plenty of toilets throughout the gardens and two restaurants. Word of warning: I was looking forward to the free 90 minute walking tour of the gardens but unfortunately it was not great. Led by volunteers, the route and quality of the tour very much depends on who is leading it. The leader this morning was a very nice older man who was quite a talker and went so deep into the naming of plants and the history of each plant that in 50 minutes we had only moved about 20 meters; there were about 12 people on the tour and several kept asking him questions that took him onto tangents. I like a balance of walking while talking and since there are so many interesting areas to see in these gardens I was very frustrated by the glacial pace, so I abandoned it after 50 minutes (it’s a 90 minute tour), as did a few other people. You won't know until you're on the tour and I would recommend taking the tour (you sign up in advance) and then you can decide to leave mid-tour if it's not to your liking.

Worlds 2nd oldest national park after that of Yellowstone US, a short drive away from Sydney a abode of peace and tranquility! A small lake, variety of birds and greenery that too maple trees. A nice little restaurant and coffee shop, wheel chair accessibility adds to the needs of visitors. No entry fee, Ample parking space and lake facing benches make it convenient for visitors to spend some good time in the gardens!

The Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney is my favourite botanic garden in the world. While many gardens are condensed, there are vast expanses of space that encourage people to picnic, exercise, eat and drink and celebrate as well as the obvious: to enjoy the plant life. If you enter the Gardens out by Mrs Macquarie's Chair, you will surely pass Handa Opera and Westpac OpenAir, which is a beautiful entry point and also a great jogging route. Further down are 2 lawns that form a bit of a crescent around one on Sydney Harbour's coves. This is the perfect place to tan, picnic, read a book, etc. As you walk further down, the paths become numerous with a few different choices of what to see. There's a pond with bamboo and Asian gardens. One of the major things I'd like to make note of is The Calyx, which has one of the largest living walls in the southern hemisphere. They use it for exhibitions, events, a cafe and eatery, high tea, etc. It never fails to disappoint. You'll find tropical gardens, entire areas devoted to succulents. Further back into the gardens, you will stumble upon the herb garden and a pavilion; this is so well maintained. Beyond that, you'll see the amphitheatre and another pavilion. Oh, and did I mention the gardens have BATS! Yes, bats! They are a very interesting feature to the gardens. I know I never expected to see bats here. I'd say where they are, but please find them yourself - without the help of the internet. You have a wonderful botanical garden. Enjoy it! And, if you want to make a full day of it, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, is right across the road from the looped road you will have entered. I think it's the best museum in Sydney, and it amazes me the permanent collection the AGNSW has along with its continuous exhibitions. Enjoy Sydney!

Stunning gardens, even in the middle of winter. They were doing quite a lot of significant maintenance, so even better to come. You could literally spend hours in the gardens (including a stop at the cafe) or just walk through to get from one end to the next.

This was one of my favourite Sydney experiences and it was free. Access is from right next to the CBD and Circular Quay/Opera House. You can spend as little or as long as you like wandering through the gardens. The absolute highlight was going to The Calyx and seeing the massive green wall and native and exotics (orchids/anthuriums) housed in a circular building. I almost ran in when I got there and did give a small donation. There were some glasshouses to see however they were tour only which is a shame. You can also find ibis and cockatoos roosting which is funny for us kiwis who only have little birds out in the city. Some of the exhibits change with the season and there was a Camelia garden and sculpture as well on display but we weren’t really into that. If you see a volunteer be ready for a long chat as they are very helpful and knowledgeable and will give you lots of suggestions and information.

These gardens are a gem. So well kept tidy and clean. With some of the best trees I ever seen these garden are a jewel in crown and so near to a lot more spend a day from 20 different grasses to bamboo garden. Plants I’ve never seen before. And 2 great looking birds’ if you can visit you will not be disappointed.

Royal Botanic Gardens – A botanical garden located in the city centre. Admission was free. It was admirable that even in this heat the plants were in such good conditions. It was a lot of fun to watch the fish in the pond.

The Royal Botanic Garden is hands down one of my favourite spots in the city. It’s the perfect place to escape the hustle, with beautiful gardens, stunning harbour views, and so many hidden corners to explore. Whether I’m walking, having a picnic, or just relaxing, the vibe is always peaceful. The views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge make it even more special, and the variety of plants and flowers is incredible. It’s a must-visit for anyone who loves nature and a bit of quiet in the heart of Sydney.

Went with a group of friends on a tour, and were shown round by a guy of aboriginal descent, who made the place all the more fascinating. I'm sure we only scratched the surface of all the stuff that was in there, but the bushes/ shrubs/ trees were shown to us - what was edible, medicinal, poisonous etc. Beautifully laid out with walkways, greenhouses, etc. Lots of ibis too. A calm oasis in Sydney's urban sprawl. Highly recommended.