Love it here. Wanted to walk through the area after seeing the opera house. This is close by to the opera house and gives you so many things to look at. I wish I had more time to explore it. I enjoyed it very much , there wasn't too many people. It was so serene and peaceful here you forgot you were in the middle of the city. Definitely check out if in the area. read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

Giant botanical park with amazing flowers, carnivorous plants and gorgeous footpaths. Plenty here for a wander, study or a run. Don't miss the SYDNEY TOMATO FESTIVAL in February, complete with talks, food, drinks and of course, tomatoes. The worlds largest tomato mandala at the festival looks tasty enough to swan dive into. read more

Just a short walk away from the Sydney Opera House, is the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens. The Botanical Gardens is a historic garden at Farm Cove on the eastern fringe of Sydney Central Business District. It was so relaxing to simply walk around, take in the fresh air, see people interacting, see the beautiful plants, all while the sun beamed down on us. The gardens are a great place to go to simply enjoy the fresh air and take in life at a calm slow pace! If you like plants and nature this is definitely for you. It's free and you just walk in and start walking around. Pretty easy peasy! read more

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It was a hot and smokey day when we visited and we had just arrived early that morning from a 14 1/2 hour flight but we had to see the gardens and look for birds. We got lost and tired but did see some wonderful plants and birds. read more

Maybe I'm spoiled by the Public Gardens in Boston or the Botanic Garden near me in Dublin, but this was a bit barren. Maybe it's getting too hot. Fun fact: the native trees don't lose their leaves. I did the Aboriginal tour, which was good and educational, but a bit steep price wise. I would not recommend. You can go on your own and google the trees based on the name tags on them to learn what they can be used for. read more

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Don't miss the carnivorous plant display!!! You can view the Opera House and bridge behind it from the NE part of the park. Lots of birds we don't have in the States as well read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - Sydney Opera House - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Beautiful, prime real estate for public use. The Royal Botanical Gardens was as good as I've ever seen for a city-run park: Immense, well-maintained, and gorgeous, with a large variety of plants, trees and settings. Even better, the gardens hug the southern side of the picturesque Sydney Harbour, with magnificent views to the north and west. I spent a whole afternoon here and still never saw the entire grounds. I did stop for a delicious double latte at the centrally-located cafe. And I visited the small rainforest sections and the cactus/succulent garden (containing a surprising number of specimens from my home state of AZ). And I strolled through trees; sooo many beautiful trees (but more on that later). The highlight for me was the promontory into the harbor, where "Mrs Macquarie's Chair" sits. It is the carved, sandstone rock on which a former governor's wife reportedly used to sit and watch boats sail by. Apart from the more intense aggregation of tourists here, it was a magnificent spot indeed. For my morning runs, no setting could have been nicer: On one side of me - the beautiful harbour, teeming with sailboats and ferries; on the other side - gardens, flowers, trees, ponds, and fountains flowed by in turns. And with so many trails, I could have run every day for weeks and still come up a unique loop each time. As it was, I only took advantage of two out of my three mornings in Sydney. I also have a confession to make: I am a tree nerd (e.g. tree study and identification has been a minor hobby since I was a teenager). The Royal Botanical Gardens contains hundreds of spectacular, mature tree species from all over the world. On my first afternoon visit I had to stop myself from taking photos of each tree and reading each and every placard (or I never would have made it out of there). Easily my favorite spot in Sydney. I hope to come back one day. read more

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One of the better Botanical Gardens in the world, by far and it really showcases and highlights Australia's unique botanical heritage. I remember a few years earlier, some paleobotanist they had found a fern which dated from the dinosaur age, I think it was from Tasmania. It was a rare and unique find that something from that far back in Earth's history was still living today. They brought it over to the Royal Botanic Gardens and the attention around the specimen was quite intense. Even so, I remember being able to see it, the crowds were manageable, and the rest of the grounds provided ample space to wander, sit on a bench and watch the day go by. Great, big old trees, beautifully maintained grounds and gardens, this is a wonderful place to visit in Sydney. read more

This place is fantastic - such a great way to enjoy the day, strolling through amazing gardens showcasing a variety of plant life, as well as animal life. On my recent visit, I saw some incredible flowers and plants I hadn't seen before. The variety of birds was also interesting since they are pretty unique, especially for someone who lives in the US. The most amazing thing for me to see were the bats - they're huge! In the US, we tend to think of bats as being something about the size of a mouse, except with wings - these were about the size of a large pigeon with a large wingspan. There are a ton of them in the gardens and they are hard to miss...well worth the visit. The gardens are a perfect way to relax with a buddy or on your own. I'd definitely go back on my next trip to Sydney. read more

One of my fav spots for a run. Once you're in, you'll actually forget for a half sec that you're in the city. Beautiful, picturesque views throughout of the harbor and greenery. Also a perfect place to bring a lil bottle n blanket and just enjoy the afternoon. Loved it :) On weekends, they also open up the governers house for a FREE 1 hour guided tour. Stop by the building near the entry to drop off your bags and show them valid ID (govt issued) and they'll provide you with a ticket and set you up on the next tour. Pretty neat that she actually lives and holds meetings and events there. read more

This is one of the places that makes Sydney so special. Roman fountains, acres and acres of Australian (as well as non-native) flora and fauna, sprawling, rolling, manicured lawns, and you can walk right up to the edge of the harbor for incredible views of the skyline, the bridge, the opera house, and Manly. Walk/run, picnic, play with the kids, bring the dog, or do like the majority here - just lay in the sun with your friends and enjoy your good fortune to be in Sydney. ** The RBG is also a great place to bring bird lovers as you can see bright little parrots, cockatoos, kookaburras, and many other strange and wonderful creatures throughout. **No bikes allowed, but it's so beautiful, you won't be in a hurry to pass through anyways ;) read more

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On our first day in Sydney, we took a stroll all over the city and ended up at the Royal Botanic Gardens. The areas we walks through didn't have much in terms of diversity of flora, which is what I expected from a botanic garden. What it did have, however, is wide open space for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. We followed the path along the right side to Mrs. Macquarie's Chair and took beautiful photos of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge along the way. Then we traced our steps back and walked to the Sydney Opera House. It was such a lovely way to spend a few hours on a quiet afternoon. read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Large and peaceful themed gardens. On a sunny day during Spring and Summer, it's a really enjoyable walk through the gardens. You could easily spend 1 - 2 hours here and get lost on a tropical walk, smell the many herbs in the herb garden, wander around the rose garden, see the South American themed cactus garden, and visit the lake and see harbour views on the Southern end of the gardens. Reminds me of the Singapore Botanic Gardens (but less people doing activities / jogging here - they are mostly wandering or having picnics). The restaurant did not look very impressive and was overpriced ( didn't try it but by looking at it, I would not recommend). read more

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I'm not a fan of Botanical Gardens and the only reason why I came here was to go for the Mrs Macquarie's lookout point which had a fantastic view of the Harbor Bridge and Opera House. Photography enthusiasts would be delighted to catch a lovely view of the iconic Sydney skyline here with a sunset backdrop. The lookout point is pretty far in the park, but definitely worth a visit for the breathtaking view! read more

Always a great place to stroll through if you want to escape the city bustle for a short while. Enjoy this green space of natural beauty with so many interesting spots to observe. The Cadi Jam Ora: First Encounters Garden Display has been developed to explore the Aboriginal people's prior use of the site and their understanding of plants and the environment. Close by is the location of the First Farm which tells the story of the first farm established by European settlers. Many other attractions to see such as Palm Grove, Begonia Garden,Rare and Threatened Plants Garden, Palace Rose Garden, Sydney Fernery and the Rainforest Walk. Take in the great views across Farm Cove inlet towards the Opera House. read more

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I discovered the Royal Botanic Gardens completely by accident. It is a definitely a large tract of land in the heart of Sydney's central business district, adjacent to the Sydney Opera House. I've been here a couple of times over the course of my stay in the city. Botanical Gardens and city parks are the quintessential lifeblood of any city. You see a lot of people visiting these type of places for any number of reasons. The Royal Botanic Gardens is no exception. It was nice to be here during my stay in Sydney, often a focus point of finding my way back to my hotel, as it was generally nearby when I went discovering and exploring, being out and about. During my time here at the Royal Botanic Gardens, it seemed to lack a certain lush vegetation vibe that seem to be the polar opposite of Hyde Park. Although very scenic and beautifully orchestrated to highlight to visitors - like myself, and residents, the Royal Botanic Gardens is an breath of fresh air and that life is definitely beautiful - in more ways than one. I found myself spending time here a couple of times, just because I wanted to get out of the hotel and be out. Once, I spent the time playing Pokémon Go here, people watching, enjoying the beauty that is the Royal Botanic Gardens. The other time was when it was the site of the 2018 Sydney Running Festival, where they set up post race amenities for all runners who finished the marathon, half marathon, family fun run, and the bridge run 10km. I'd suspect that they use part of the Royal Botanic Gardens each year for this event. The overall experience here at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney is good and amazing. Any green space within a city is definitely an oasis and an escape from the world around us. Nature and the vegetation always seems to have a calming effect on the human psyche. While there seems to be a lack of lush vegetation, the Royal Botanic Gardens has its share of trees scattered throughout the property. It's just not lush like how you'd imagine a jungle feeling would be. Still, it was nice to be here. The Royal Botanical Gardens is centrally located in striking distance from the famed Opera House. It is located on Macquarie Street. The Royal Botanical Gardens is ideally suited for anyone: for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. There is no admission fee required! Yay! That's awesome and fun for anyone who wants to explore without having to pay a fee for its use. There are a few places to sit and relax. The shade from the tree canopy provides relief from the heat of the day was great, considering the Sydney in the spring time doesn't get too hot, but it helps to keep cool. For the most part though, Parking options can be tough, since there really isn't any parking lots or parking garages nearby to I don't know about. Street parking is a given for your best bet. It's nice to see many people from all walks of Sydney life to come here to the Royal Botanical Gardens. Just the inclusive ambiance that the gardens provides becomes and intrinsic part of the city's welcoming vibe. I imagine events are held here throughout the year, while private events fo hire can also be arranged. I even saw walking tours being conducted too while I was browsing through the area on one occasion. For the most part though, the Royal Botanical Gardens Sydney makes any trip to Sydney a pleasurable one. While it is probably isn't on most travel or tourism's top 10 list, it was one of my stops during my stay in Sydney's urban core. The best part was that the Gardens itself was basically nearby from my hotel. The benches were nice to sit on and always nice to people watch when you have nothing better to do. If you find yourself in Sydney and love nature, consider coming here to the Royal Botanical Gardens Sydney. It's one of the things I've come to love about Sydney. I would recommend it. It makes you feel like a local rather than a resident. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Quiet ambiance with sometimes hearing kids playing makes me smile. Families together on any given day helps society for the better. Support local! A read more

This is such a beautiful place!! We were so impressed with the range of gardens and spent several hours wandering among the spring flowers! We enjoyed watching the birds and butterflies in the garden as well. It was so hard to believe we were just steps from the crowds on the nearby city streets and around the opera house. Volunteers were friendly and helpful. As an added bonus, admission is free! read more

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A great spiritual oasis as you are leaving Circular Quay; great views of the Harbour Bridge, and you are moving away from the Opera House. The red train is a great way to tour the gardens, although personally I would prefer to walk around the gardens with ice cream and/or water on hand. Do it on a great day. During the week you will find nearby corporates jogging and walking around, and families coming out in force on the weekends with the occasional wedding here. The circular walk from the Opera House heading towards Woolloomooloo gives a great lookout where the view of the Harbour Bridge is so good to take some time out and immerse yourself in; in tandem with Sydney Harbour; Kirribilli House on the other side, and if your lucky a Manly Ferry will be seen to be appreciated. A great walk to the Domain area, and the Mothers Day Classic event enables participants to walk some of this trek in style. Well maintained and beautiful, although it is a shame that the skyscrapers/city skyline still enjoys a prominent view. Read a book even while your here. Eat your lunch. Also a popular destination on new years eve. read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

Went back because it was so good. Karen was awesome, even in the rain we lost only one becasue she we so sincere and wonderful. Totally free and 10:30 everyday. I worried that it would be a total repeat of the last one but Karen made it nearly completly different. The new, to me, App and 2 hour free WiFi allowed me two other free tours using my phone. It's not perfect and there needs to be more signage to utilze the one line tours but for $0, pretty awesome. read more

A beautiful must see while in Sydney. A nice stop on your way to the opera house. There is a gift shop in here as well. read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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What a great spot for Sydney to have. Not only does the Royal Botanic Gardens offer some great views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, but it's a lovely spot to simply spend some time. We wandered down on Boxing Day for a view of the yacht race and to visit Mrs. Macquarie's chair for some photos. It was one of the first days of nice weather since we had landed earlier in the week, and we weren't quite ready for the heat and power of the sun - lucky for us, the police were out and about offering suncream (it was later explained to us that, because of the high rate of skin cancer in Australia, they're pretty big on making sure it doesn't happen!) The views really are wonderful, and the grasses perfect for a lie down or picnic, as many people were having. Just watch out for the birds - they're not afraid! We had lunch in the cafe, which wasn't all that impressive; victims of their own success (and the fact it's really the only place to eat within the grounds.) There's a fair selection of food, but the atmosphere is all a bit hectic, with only a few small fridges with food, creating a backlog if one or two people can't decide. My sandwich was greasy and not all that exciting, but I wolfed it down due to hunger! Spend some time in the sun, but bring some food or plan to go elsewhere. read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - view! (2013) - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

Beautiful. Make sure take a picnic and explore the park. Walk and explore. Beautiful plants and flowers. So close to CBD. read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - Break - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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The Royal Botanic Gardens were established in Sydney nearly 200 years ago. And wisely they made the choice to situate it on the edge of the harbour. (I guess they didn't have any consortiums building apartment buildings and casinos back then??) Head to the gardens for a picnic, or to chill out and relax in the sunshine, ideally with a good book. Favourite spots including the area near the duck pond, or the hillside stretching up to the city side. Alternatively go for a walk in the gardens, possibly starting at the Opera House, before heading along the harbour to Mrs Macquarie's Point (a great vantage point for photos, as indicated by the tour buses), then return to the centre of the park, maybe up to the Art Gallery or the State Library. It's also a great place for a run, and I visited weekly when training for a half marathon a few years ago. (There's a conveniently placed bubbler next to the path near the duck pond.) read more

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Sydney's Botanic Gardens are stunning, with incredible views across the Harbour, Bridge and Opera House. The atmosphere was beautiful, with locals and tourists alike enjoying a lazy Saturday afternoon lounging on the grass - if I was in Sydney for longer I would love to spend an afternoon picnicking under one of the beautiful big trees. There are running paths through the park if that's your kind of thing, and benches and nooks if it's not. The Gardnes really are a beautiful area of Sydney, and well worth a visit for a leisurely stroll. read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - View from the Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

Gorgeous and highly recommended. I cannot. praise this beautiful BCç and magnificent heritage garden enough. A must-see and do.

Having now been a couple of times in different "seasons" (even here, the seasons aren't much), I have concluded that the gardens are a great place to view the harbor and the opera house from, if not that impressive as gardens. Much of the area is just grass, and one sign admitted they didn't even know the identity of one of the trees there. The Calyx, their indoor event venue, offers expensive exhibitions. One can't beat the views though. And while it's hardly empty, it's a much better place to take in the scenery than the urban area on the other side of the opera house, which gets crowded. It's definitely a place you want to go if you're in downtown* Sydney. *(Apparently they don't use that word but I don't know what else to call the central urban area). read more

"Yay! I'm a fan" is the reference that Yelp gives my rating, but that's putting it rather mildly. The Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney may be an obstacle on the way between my home and work; but it is a very charming obstacle indeed! Living in the east of Sydney my path takes me through the Art Gallery Gates, from east to west, from home to work, from concrete construction to cool green calm, to my exit at the Palace Gates. Walking through the park is not just a treat for me each morning, if one heading from the east then the journey into the city is faster by foot than it is by bus (311 for those living around Elizabeth Bay or Potts Point). There are several moments where you catch the city in its awesome picture perfect views: Challis Ave, Wooloomooloo, Art Gallery, Tropical Centre, Palace/Rose Garden and finally from the Palace Gates. But the points I've described leading into, through and out of the park is a small fraction of everything that inhabits and exhibits the park's past. Every day is not enough to divide the intricate passion that gardeners give this park, from camellias, to different lawns, to frangipanis, ferns, succulents, cacti, roses, fig trees, and many more flora. This is a "botanic" park after all! Then there is charming statues, "garden sheds", early settler vegetable patches, fern shelters, the park cafe and shop, the pyramid tropical centre and the intricate maze of roses and herbs leading to Palace Gates. This gives you a sense that what is intended here is for everyone, not just for a gated few. Lovely! But "Lovely" is too cute to describe this part of the park I walk through. In short, my personal journey to the west, where indeed the Rocks is, has become a meditative journey without chants and the need to cross legs with incense. read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - The view of the Conservatory of Music - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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The Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens are HUGE. This was definitely one of the larger botanical gardens I've seen in a while - especially in the middle of a city! I was amazed that there is such a beautiful, peaceful spot in the middle of a bustling city. I love that you can see the skyline while standing in a quiet, grassy spot. And it's free! We didn't see all of the gardens, but we walked around for a while and almost had the place to ourselves. We saw them cleaning up near some bleacher-like seats and asked what it was. Turns out, they have a movie screen that rises out of the water and they play movies. And the backdrop is the Harbour and the Opera House/Bridge. Awesome. Wish we'd known about that. read more

Running out of money? Running out of steam? Take a 1/2 to relax on a blanket right in the midst of the city. The Royal Botanical Gardens afford the visitor a million dollar view and lush foliage within a few blocks of the hustle/bustle of the city. As an avid hobby photographer, the Gardens are an oasis of beautiful to photograph. As a grandmother, it is a lovely place to take a picnic lunch and enjoy the afternoon with my family. Surrounded by Sydney Harbour and within a stone's throw of the Sydney Opera House, the location is an ideal place to take in the beauty of the city and nature. ENJOY! read more

Weather was beautiful and you get a great view of the harbor from here. Beautiful garden!! read more

Let's keep this review short and simple. Whether you are a tourist or a local, you need to visit the Royal Botanical Gardens. This place is huge, peaceful, beautiful , green, and a great display of a diverse flora. You can sit by a pond and read a book.. knit a sweater or do your favorite craft...listen to music...chat with your friends..take a walk or run around the gardens...view all the beautiful plants...Take a sip of your favorite cup of drink... The only thing holding you back is yourself! Come and enjoy this place read more

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The Royal Botanic Gardens is one of my favourite places in Sydney. Absolutely stunning on a sunny day, there is plenty to do here. Make sure to peer up in to the trees to catch glimpses of the hanging bats and marvel at the exotic birds that always cluster around the café in the hope of crumbs. Stunning fountains, statues and walk ways will leave you entertained for hours. The grounds are kept in immaculate condition: perfect for a picnic, sunbathing and relaxing with family and friends. Make sure you go to see the herb garden, home to every herb imaginable. Relax under the shade of the trellises in the rose garden or explore the array of orchids and ferns in the greenhouses. Situated right next to the Opera House, the gardens offer the perfect place to view Sydney's most beautiful landmarks: the harbour bridge, the Opera House and the harbour itself. Watch the ferries chugging out to see, perhaps catch a silvery glimpse of some fish in the water. Feel the sea breeze at Mrs Macquarie's chair, which is also home to an open-air cinema during the summer months. read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

Amazing gardens! This place is very large, peaceful and green. You forget it's inside of a major city! There's many different areas that you can sit around and read or relax as well as get a group of people together to picnic or play sports. I saw a little train cart that looked like it would drive you around the gardens. That looked neat but I opted to wander around and it leads all the way down to water. Absolutely wonderful read more

Lovely gardens with variety of flower and plants

Gorgeous gardens. Full of unique Australian plants, with lots of meandering paths, big open greens that they're happy for you to run or sleep on, plenty of benches, lots of bird life. The views are magical. You can see the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge (usually in the same line of sight), the glittering harbour waters and boat traffic, or the spires of the CBD rising from the greenery. I miss the bat colony, though. They've driven most of them away with ultrasonics, and I understand why. There were thousands of them, and they were damaging the trees. But the flying foxes were one of the wonderful, unique things about these gardens, and I loved watching the chittering, restless trying-to-sleep flying mammals. read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - Beautiful day on Sydney Harbour. - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

I love a good park - especially one big enough that you can get lost in it or at least feel like the city that it's smack bang in the middle of is far far away. Think Central Park, New York and Hyde Park, London. The closest version for Sydney are it's botanical gardens. Like all good parks it has a lot of different area to enjoy and hide away in for some peace and quiet. Watch the birds - they tried to nip my little girl. I think they have no feeding signs up for this reason. The cafe is pretty standard but they do make tasty coffee. The only thing I'm not a huge fan of is the cost of parking in the area - $6 an hour is a bit steep for me. My advice is to take the bus or train in and walk. It will make that picnic and read all the more enjoyable. read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Royal Botanic Gardens - https://philipebulldogs.com english bulldog puppy for sale - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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We had our wedding ceremony at Lions Gate in the Royal Botanic Gardens. It was perfect as it's a secluded, walled-off part of the park. Great choice (if your wedding has under 40 guests). It's also close to the road, so we didn't break a sweat on the walk from the cars. read more

Beautiful Park with amazing history. The park is kept super clean and manicured. The views of the harbour area great, especially of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. The absolute best panoramic photo opportunities of the iconic fixtures of Sydney are from this park. In addition, there is Mrs. Macquaries chair, a large rock cut bench with historical significance. I've been to this park three times. Usually it is pretty empty and lots of room to take great photos or just enjoy the quiet nature. read more

Once again I just don't seem to be able to resist the attraction of a botanical garden. Okay, they may not be on the level of an Art Gallery, but the work that goes into creating the gardens, and maintaining them, is worthy of art in and of itself. The thing about the Royal Botanic Gardens is that it is located in the heart of the Domain, so sometimes it is difficult to work out where one finishes and the other begins. Also, the Governor's Mansion is located next to them, so I guess the Governor has a pretty impressive garden to wander around, especially in spring when all of the flowers come out. The gardens are divided into various habitats, and there are also some glass houses with speciality plants, including my favourite - the flame thrower. read more

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