Welcome to the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, an oasis of 30 hectares in the heart of the city. Wrapped around Farm Cove at the edge of Sydney Harbour, the Gardens occupy one of Sydney's most spectacular positions. Established in 1816, it is the oldest scientific institution in the country and is home to an outstanding collection of plants from Australia and overseas.

From the provocative Rare and Threatened Plants of the world to the romantic Rose Garden, the themed garden areas show the diverse beauty of nature. Special features include: Cadi Jam Ora - First Encounters is a garden display that remembers and acknowledges the Cadigal - the original inhabitants of Sydney's city centre - and their relationship with this land.

The display creates an experience of what happened on the site of the Royal Botanic Gardens at the time of European settlement. Featuring plants that originally grew on the site of the Royal Botanic Gardens, the display conveys Aboriginal people's prior use of this land, and explores the very different relationships of Indigenous people and European people had with the environment at the time of settlement/invasion. Aboriginal Heritage Tours operate on Fridays at 2pm. Uncover the rich Aboriginal heritage in the gardens with your Aboriginal guide. Bookings essential. For more information call: (02) 9231 8134

The Sydney Tropical Centre focuses on the wonders of the tropical environments and their importance to us all. The Rare and Threatened Plants Garden features plants from around the world which are rare or on the brink of extinction including the Wollemi Pine, one of the world's rarest plants.

The HSBC Oriental Garden contains plants from areas of China, Japan and Vietnam which thrive in an orientally inspired landscaped setting. The Herb Garden displays a wide range of herbs used for culinary, flavouring, aromatic, medicinal and handicraft purposes. Visitors can relax on the rosewood seats and enjoy the garden, sundial and fountain. A wide diversity of fern species are exhibited under a slatted steel vault in the Sydney Fernery.

The Friends of The Gardens has a great range of things to see and do. The Friends presents a quarterly calendar of activities which includes

- talks by experts on garden design, horticulture, ecology and more
- interactive workshops in plant propagation, garden design and more
- art master classes in botanical illustration
- visits to private gardens not normally open to the public
- bushwalks, bird walks and other theme walks led by experts and enthusiasts
- art exhibitions, major plant sales and other Friends' special events

Become a member and receive a discount on our activities (with some exceptions). Our activities are supported by our volunteers and raise funds for special projects in the three Botanic Gardens.