City Gateway to the land 'Down Under'

Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens

Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney

One of the many decorative ponds in the Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.

Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens are just a few minutes walk from the Sydney Opera House and Macquarie Street – which is full of top Australian doctors and lawyers.

You can enter the Royal Botanic Gardens from steps near the Opera House or gates all along Macquarie Street. The much of the north area of the Royal Botanic Gardens is occupied by Government House, which is usually open to the public.

The Royal Botanic Gardens has many features, including a large glass pyramid that’s a hot house for tropical plants. It has an Oriental Garden, a Herb Garden, a Fernery and a Succulent Garden. There is also a protected colony of Flying Foxes (large Fruit Bats) who roost in the trees there, which can be seen taking off over the sky of Sydney and Wooloomooloo at dusk and returning each dawn.

A leisurely stroll along the walkway of Farm Cove will bring you to Mrs Macquaries Point, and the famous Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, which was carved by hand into the rock by British convicts 200 years ago. There is a great view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House from this spot, which is much used by professional wedding photographers and marriage celebrants.

A free map of the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Domain is available at the gates when you go in, and there are public toilets and a Garden Shop. Wheelchair access is also available. See www.rbgsyd.ssw.gov.au. And as long as you’re in Sydney already, you can even phone a park ranger directly on 0419 270-279.

The Opera House sits at the north end of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Macquarie Street and the city are to its west. The south of the Royal Botanic Gardens is boundaried by the Cahill Expressway, which can be crossed by a bridge to The Domain, where you will also find the Art gallery of New South Wales.

Picture Credit: Image via Wikipedia.

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