Visiting a garden can have an amazing impact on our mental health. Not only does it get you outside in the fresh air, but it takes kids away from the digital world and provides and opportunity to get back to nature. With the phone, gaming deck, computer and TV left at home, kids will re-tune to the outside environment and perhaps notice birdsong, perhaps climb a tree or two, or just take notice of the world around them. Sydney Gardens to visit with kids sounds like a perfect adventure, right?
Sydney has an abundance of incredible gardens to explore. Many are so big that you are likely to have quite a space to yourself too if you choose the right time to explore. We’ve pulled together some of our favourites for you to explore.
Sydney Gardens to Visit with Kids
Table of Contents
Map of Sydney Gardens to visit with kids
Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
Spreading over more than 30 hectares of parkland, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney wraps around Sydney Harbour and is an incredible oasis to escape to when the business of the CBD becomes overwhelming.
This heritage-listed space is Australia’s oldest scientific institution and is regarded as one of the most important historic botanical institutions in the world. There are a number of spaces to explore within the garden, and the kids will enjoy almost every part.
The park features over 40 smart nodes across its many spaces, all providing free high speed WIFI that can be used in conjunction with the Royal Botanic Gardens interactive app.
We typically list Sydney School Holiday activities at the Royal Botanic Gardens here.
Address: Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney NSW
Hours: Open from 7.00 am each day. Closing times vary depending on the time of year. | Calyx open 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Website: https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/
Lex and Ruby Graham Gardens
The Lex and Ruby Graham Gardens have evolved from a simple event back in 1959 when Lex and Ruby fished out an elephant’s ear root in the swell and planted it in what was then a bed of lantana and garbage, or perhaps the roots of a nearby coral tree (there are various stories about what actually happened!). What was once a rubbish dumping space, has become a beautiful garden area that is fortunately maintained by volunteers and North Sydney Council
The garden is linked together by levels of steps and pathways which meander down to a simple rock pool. What it lacks in size it recoups in the magical whimsy it inspires. It is protected by The National Trust.
Address: Cremorne Point Reserve (east side of Cremorne Point peninsula, off, Cremorne Rd, Cremorne Point NSW 2090
Hours: All hours
Website: None
Centennial Parklands
Transformed from a swamp into a park in 1888, Centennial Parklands spans 360 hectares (890 acres) and has become the largest community sports precinct in Australia, as well as an amazing space to picnic, enjoy a range of activities, and even just explore.
When visiting with kids you may like to explore the labyrinth, the incredible Ian Potter Children’s Garden, perhaps enjoy a picnic, take a spin on the Centennial Park Pedal Cars or a ride on the horses from the RIding Stables, or a simple bird-watching expedition.
Make sure to check out our Sydney School Holiday Activities to find events for you to enjoy with your kids at Centennial Parklands.
Address: Centennial Parl
Hours: Centennial Parklands is open to the public 365 days a year, however vehicle access is generally prohibited in Centennial Park between sunset and sunrise.
Website: https://www.centennialparklands.com.au/
The Australian Botanic Garden
The Australian Botanic Garden spans 416 hectares of incredible native gardens across a landscape that features rolling hills, lakes, lawns and gardens.
The garden features 20 kilometres of cycleways, so you may like to bring along your bikes! There are playgrounds and many plantings to explore.
On our last visit we learned to build a bush shelter and discovered the Australian Plant Bank.
Address: 362 Narellan Rd, Mount Annan NSW
Hours: Autumn, Winter and Sprint 8.00 am to 5.00 pm | Summer 8.00 am to 7.00 pm
Website: https://www.australianbotanicgarden.com.au/
Lisgar Garden Hornsby
Image via the Lisgar Garden Facebook profile
Known for its incredible display of camellias, Lisgar Garden in Hornsby is a beautiful hillside garden in the heart of Hornsby spanning 2.6 hectares. The gardens showcase a variety of native and exotic plant species.
Address: Lisgar Rd, Hornsby NSW
Hours: 8.00 am – 3.30 Monday to Friday | 10.00 am to 4.00 pm Saturday and Sunday
Website: No dedicated website
Auburn Botanic Gardens
The Auburn Botanic Gardens are the Japanese Gardens in Sydney and a spectacular space to explore. A trip to Auburn Botanic Gardens with kids boasts the opportunity to explore a Japanese Garden (at its most spectacular during cherry blossom season, and then autumn), a fauna reserve and an equal access playground.
Address: Chisholm Rd & Chiswick Rd, Auburn NSW 2144
Hours: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm daily. Extended to 6.00 pm on weekends during the daylight savings months
Website: Auburn Botanic Gardens Facebook Page
E. G. Waterhouse National Camellia Garden
Image via The Teahouse Camellia Gardens Facebook Page
The first plantings at the Camellia Garden occurred back in 1969, and since then the gardens have flourished and now boast over 400 cultivars and species. There are two playgrounds on-site and there is plenty to see, especially when the flowers are at full bloom. Stop at The Teahouse for a meal!
Address: 104 President Avenue Caringbah South
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm | Weekends and Public Holidays Saturday: 9.30 am – 5.00 pm | Sunday: 9.30 am – 5.00 pm | Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Website: The Camellia Gardens
Swain Gardens
Listed as a significant local heritage item, Swain Gardens is the creation of the prominent Sydney bookseller Arthur Newling “Mick” Swain who purchased the property back in the early 1960s to prevent it becoming a development.
He then set to work to create an amazing garden paradise which he bequeathed to the National Trust for public use. It is an amazing site to visit and explore with the kids – keep your eye open for the incredible birdlife!
Address: 77 Stanhope Rd, Killara NSW
Hours: Sunrise to sunset every day
Website: Swain Gardens Webpage
Wendy’s Secret Garden
By chance, we discovered Wendy’s Secret Garden whilst taking a walk after a visit to Luna Park Sydney. Wendy Whiteley and her husband Brett, one of Australia’s most renowned artists, set up their family home in Lavender Bay back in the 1970s.
When Brett passed away in 1992, Wendy was overwhelmed with grief and headed out into the overgrown unused railway land at the bottom of her property and began hacking away at it. Day after day she returned and continued to hack away at the blackberry bushes, and lantana. Slowly over time, she transformed the land and it became a secret garden.
Address: Lavender St, Lavender Bay NSW
Hours: all hours
Website: https://www.wendyssecretgarden.org.au/
Chinese Garden of Friendship
Designed in 1988 by landscape architects and gardeners from Sydney’s sister city, Guangzhou, the Chinese Garden of Friendship will make you feel like you are in Chine as you move through its gates and explore its spectacular grounds.
Make sure you stop at the costume shop and procure a warrior or emperor outfit to wear around the grounds or use the app to move around the gardens.
Address: Pier Street, Cnr Harbour St, Darling Harbour NSW
Hours: 9.30 am – 5.00 pm (5.30 pm for Oct–Mar) | Last entry is 15 minutes prior to closing | Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day
Website: Chinese Garden of Friendship
Parramatta Park
Spanning 85 hectares, Parramatta Park is an amazing space to explore with expansive green open space featuring historic sites and attractions, sports fields and ovals, established gardens and remnant bushland, picnic spots and playgrounds, memorials and monuments, waterways and wildlife, cycleways and walking tracks. Check out the Dairy and Rangers tour or the Parramatta Park Playground.
Address: Pitt St &, Macquarie St, Parramatta NSW
Hours: The Park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; but there are no lights in most of the park so it is very dark at night.
Website: https://www.parrapark.com.au/
Paddington Reservoir Gardens
Supplying water to the city until 1899, the reservoir has been through a few transformations including a petrol station and garage, before being completely reworked into the incredible gardens it is today.
The space retains its original framework, original brick, timber and iron fixtures and a few other amazing attributes. It is the perfect fusion of new and old. The space is said to be a blend of the ancient Baths of Caracalla in Rome and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Sounds like a place to see, right?
Address: 251-255 Oxford St, Paddington NSW
Website: Paddington Reservoir Gardens Webpage
Outside Sydney
Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens
The Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens was affected by the December/January 2020 bushfires but is reopened for business with some glorious regrowth and blooms across the garden. This garden is one of a kind and is the only botanic garden anywhere in the world located within a United Nations World Heritage Area.
The garden is broken up into a number of spaces. My favourite is the Bog Garden which highlights a rare plant community of the Blue Mountains region – a hanging swamp with carnivorous plants including the Venus’ Fly Trap
Address: Bells Line of Rd, Mount Tomah NSW
Hours: The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden is opening every day of the year, except Christmas Day. | Monday to Friday 9.00 am – 5.30 pm | Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays 9.30 am to 5.30 pm
Website: https://www.bluemountainsbotanicgarden.com.au/
Breenhold Gardens
Spanning over 45 hectares of luxuriant gardens, parkland and native bushland, Breenhold Gardens is the largest garden estate in Mount Wilson. This heritage listed garden features several thousand exotic and indigenous trees and flowering shrubs.
If you decide to visit, make sure you add Kookootonga Nut Farm to your itinerary. We try to head up each year for our annual chestnut harvest!
Address: 29 The Avenue, Mount Wilson NSW
Hours: Open Autumn Season opening commences on Good Friday, 19th April each day through to Sunday 26th May 2019 | For Spring from 21st September each day through to 27th October 2019. 10am to 4pm.
Website: http://www.breenhold.com.au/
Looking for more outdoor activities to do in Sydney? Check out The best playgrounds in Sydney or Free things to do in Sydney
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