Next to seeing the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, coming here is also a MUST for visiting. Here is where you get the famous photo where you see both along the waters http://www.yelp.com.au/biz_photos/Ux1UZWfgABNkkJTgx0W-kQ?select=LNn3rLCtqx8ifkNAqBTcVQ. At other angles you get great skyline pictures of downtown http://www.yelp.com.au/biz_photos/Ux1UZWfgABNkkJTgx0W-kQ?select=WL7XCStYNcsIEJYHj6fvBQ. It's a surprisingly big lush park (don't worry, there are plenty of random benches!) and you'll end up spending hours upon hours walking around it. This also means it never felt overly crowded considering this is a tourist spot.. but then again I did go during down season in May (hence my cloudy looking pics!) read more

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

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Beautiful as always! A quick stroll during lunchtime or a whole afternoon! The Pollination exhibit is Beautiful! read more

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

This was such a relaxing place to be on a sunny, very warm winters day. I'm not a nature buff but you don't have to be. Everyone could find something enjoyable here. There are cafes, plenty of walking tracks and a very open grassed area down by the water for a picnic, with a beautiful view of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. I found a lightly shaded spot by a tree and had the most calming lay down. I would suggest bringing your own food though. My partner and I went to one of the cafes. Ended up walking out as nothing really took our fancy and the meals seemed overpriced. read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - Relaxing under a tree. - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Its like New York's Central Park... but for Sydney (I'm sure many Aussies don't like that comparison, so I guess I'll say sorry in advance). I say that because its a great place for an escape if you work in the CBD and want to feel like you're somewhere getting away from it all. There is many different types of 'gardens' ranging from the rose garden to the Asian gardens. Plus you got some photogenic spots like Macquarie's Chair. By far, my favourite part is at sundown when all the bats come out. It totally makes a crazy scene. read more

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One of the top ten things in Sydney City to do has to include a stroll inside the Royal Botanic Gardens. Located just behind Sydney's famous opera house, the gardens are an automatic tourist attraction. It is beautiful to walk along the waters edge and reach Mrs. macquaries chair one of the best vantage points in Sydney. As you walk along, you can see so many exotic birds and trees. There is a shuttle which can take you to the different corners of the park as it is very large and difficult to see the entire park in a day. I especially love visiting the glass pyramid. Reminds me a lot of the Da Vinci Code and France. Also check out the rainforest walk and the Rose garden. The oriental garden is authentic and walking along the herb garden can heighten your hunger. Entry to the park is completely free, but some venues inside the garden may charge a fee. There is a free guided morning walk, but I prefer to just walk on my own and explore the place at my pace. read more

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Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens are a haven of tranquility amid the hustle and bustle of Sydney's traffic. On the edge of Sydney Harbour and divine views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, the Gardens are immaculately maintained and anyne with an interest in botany will love the information posted with many of the both native and non-native plants and trees. See the website for information on the Cactus Garden, Tropical Garden, what's currently in bloom and free tours- there's far too much info there for me to fit in a tiny review. A favourite place for couples to chill with a bottle of wine after work, weddings, groups of fuinsters picnicking and joggers, make sure you look up so you don't miss the thousands of fruit bats dangling from the trees, and if you're here around sunset watching them blacken the sky as they take off on their nightly adventures is quite a thing. read more

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Definitely a beautiful spot worth visiting, especially for a picnic. Not a good park to smoke in

It was beautiful. But a cockatoo swooped at me and my friend, now i know that isn't the garden's fault but no one else got swooped, and this happened almost 6 times, so we decided to leave but then as we were my friend tripped on a misplaced rock and we were furious. To conclude, we can in, got swooped at, and left with a bleeding nose and knee. read more

Another must on any visit to Sydney. One of the foremost botanic gardens in the world, the Royal Botanic Gardens occupies a stunning location at the heart of Sydney, with Government House and the Opera House on one side. Sitting in the gardens and looking across at the skyscrapers of Sydney's business district makes for a unique experience. The location, wrapper around Farm Cove on Sydney Harbour, is not just physically stunning, but historic too, as this was the site of one of the earliest (but not very successful) farming projects in Australia, in 1788. The area was, in theory, the private 'domain' of the Governor, but it took evictions and certain amount of upset for Governor Lachlan Macquarie to turn the area into a park in 1816, into which he introduced all sorts of rules and restrictions (particularly on its use by the public). A Government Colonial Botanist was appointed in 1821, and thereafter its development as a true botanical garden began. By 1831, it was effectively open to the public. Development was slow - in the 1860s it was still grazed by cattle, to reduce the cost of cutting the grass - but by the turn of the century it was a recognizable botanic garden, and in 1901 the herbarium (collection of dried plants) opened, under-pinning its reputation for research. The gardens were given their 'Royal' title in 1959. The botanic gardens proper constitute about 30 acres around Farm Cove, surrounded by the more open parkland of the Domain. Today, the gardens are both a lovely place to spend a day, as well as a seriously interesting place for those keen on plants - it's a great introduction for Europeans to antipodean flora and fauna. One of the more bizarre features is that the gardens have a substantial population of Flying Foxes (very large fruit bats), that have to be culled from time to time. (A word of warning - don't sit under a fruit bat after it has had lunch). Built features include the Palm House, Fernery, Tropical centre (including the Pyramid Glasshouse), and several historic lodges and pavilions, and there of course lots of different habitats, all beautifully landscaped around walks and ponds. Most parts of the gardens have fabulous views over Sydney Harbour. The gardens have plenty of visitor facilities, including shops, cafes, toilets and exhibition spaces. Visitor information is located in the Palm Grove Centre, open 9.30 to 16.30h, daily. Most of the gardens are accessible, and there is a 'train' which provides tours around the gardens. Walking tours are also available. Entry to the both Domain and Garden is free except for special ticketed events. read more

I love love loved this beautiful waterside garden. What a gem! I loved walking through and seeing the lush plants and views of the Opera House. This place is quite large so you could spend a good couple of hours meandering around. Definitely check out the Calyx, a laaarge greenhouse with a beautiful plant/flower wall and lovely displays of various flora. So beautiful! Best part? It's FREE. So you have no excuse not to stop by! :) [46/100] read more

TOURIST STOP!! One of the most amazing well looked after and maintained gardens I've ever seen. An awesome collection of plants, trees, flowers with birds making there homes within sight of Australia's largest City. A beautiful spot to walk, relax and escape the hustle and bustle of Sydney. Some great view of the Harbour, Opera House and City Skyline. Open at 7am daily but closing times vary from Winter to Summer between 5-8pm. read more

These gardens in the middle of Sydney are amazing. They're huge, lush, and filled with all sorts of plants. It's botany heaven. There are ponds, bushes, huge lawns for laying on, shady trees, benches with great views of the harbour, and paths for running. Fascinating: the trees in the middle where thousands of huge fruit bats nest during the day. They squawk, bustle for position, flap about, and poop (watch out!). Not for people who are creeped out by bats, but cool or the rest of us. read more

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One of my favourite locations in Sydney! This is an amazing place to picnic or walk around in, and the views of the water, the bridge and the Opera House are incredible! It's also in a great location, and it provides a little bit of a getaway from the busy city! There's a lot of the gardens to explore, and is a great place for a sunny day! read more

Beautiful park especially in the Spring, they have over 10 types of Cherrybloosom tree, impressive...besides all the plants and flowers, you can also get a stunning view of the Opera house and harbor in the garden...Everybody love nature and flowers will enjoy the path and walks here. read more

Holy Bats, man! Yes, I said bats! The gardens are lovely and a wonderful way to spend part of a day strolling around and enjoying the sunshine. But, hey, I am from California, grew-up at the beach and therefore was much more interested in something that we Yanks don't see that often "up close and personal." BATS! Now, these are no ordinary breed of North American bats. No, these suckers are huge and everywhere, hanging from the trees just above your head. They estimate that there are over 22,000 that call the park their home. Come dusk, they all fly hundreds of feet into the air and circle around the tops of nearby sky scrapers, like some scene out of Ghostbusters. I heard, in the spring of 2011, the government was attempting to encourage the bats to migrate elsewhere, as they are hard on the vegetation. So, perhaps the bats are no longer. I certainly hope not because I found them to be fascinating. I am not an avid comic book reader, but I did answer to Bat Man while down under. G-Day! read more

A fantastic place for a stroll! While visiting Sydney my twin sister told me I absolutely had to visit the Botanic Gardens, and boy was she right. The views are priceless, the lawns manicured and the flowers are gorgeous. You can walk along the waterfront where you'll get fantastic waterfront views and of course a close up shot of the Opera House. Whether you walk your dog, stop for a picnic or just come to take photos, this is a lovely (and large) park to visit! read more

The botanical gardens were amazing!!! So much to see and grounds were absolutely beautiful. It's a must see in Sydney!!!

I've been inside you, Botanic Gardens. And I've enjoyed every moment. From dance festivals to dates to sunset movies and yes, even to hungover naps during office hours when I was meant to be at lunch, I've done you in every way imaginable and I always leave wanting more. How do you do that? I want to say it's some crazy pheromones emitted from all the exotic flowers you have, or perhaps it's the way the waters of the harbour glint just so, like they're winking at you, when run your fingers along the lip of your foreshore. I have noticed that you share yourself with other people, though. Lots of other people. What do they have that I don't, huh? Apart from that guy with the Mercedes keyring, he's probably got a Mercedes and I don't have one of those. But what about the others? Why aren't I good enough for you? You're like a peacock that has to be seen and admired by as many people as possible and you won't stop until the whole planet has seen you. You glorious narcissist. Ah hell, I can't stay mad at you. Not when you're saaaah pretty like that. Let's just call it an open relationship, hey? I'll walk in other parks, but I'll never love any of them as I love you. Just remember that. read more

Situated in the middle of Sydney, this is a must visit for anybody that wants some serenity within the bustling city. With beautiful greenery, picturisque scenes, and a breathtaking view of the Sydney Opera House from the Farm Cove inlet, take a stroll through the many different paths offered in the garden for fresh air and endless picture opportunities. The Farm Cove inlet is amazing itself with calm and clear blue waters. You will find many Sydneysiders along with tourists just taking a jog or sitting on a bench. I was extremely impressed with how well-kempt and organized the garden was. There are rose gardens, palm groves, small bamboo forests, and many colorful birds to be seen. In addition, the Art Gallery of NSW, which is free and displays European, Australian, and Asian art, is located right next to the royal botanic garden, so be sure to visit both read more

We became members here during the international fleet review so that we'd get good seats for the fireworks. They turned out to be GREAT seats, but that's not the only reason this place is great. The Royal Botanic Gardens have some of the best views in the city, and offers an amazingly beautiful outdoor space right smack in the middle of Sydney. They also have some great events, which they do a great job of keeping you up to date on. My favorite interaction to date, though, was when I recently got a call from them. They asked if I had been back to the gardens since the fleet review and let me know about the events they had on currently. These calls always make me cringe because you know they're going to ask you for money at the end. But they didn't! They were just genuinely interested in letting me know what was going on, and if I was making the most of my membership. Thank you RBG for being awesome. read more

The Royal Botanic Gardens offers a wonderful reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is located right in the city but once you are inside the garden, it is easy to feel like you are miles away. I was impressed by the rich variety of trees, plants, and florals in the park. Clearly they reflect how well maintained this huge park is. Definitely a must visit. Tip: To get a view of the most photographed spot in Sydney, walk towards Mrs Macquarie's Chair and you will have the view of both the Opera House and Harbour Bridge together in front of you. Picture perfect. read more

Another great greenery space in the middle of the concrete jungle (besides Hyde Park). Good for jogging / having a picnic / relaxing/ taking photos while enjoying the view of the water. I love how this is right next to the Sydney Opera House. Two tourist attractions, less than 50 feet apart, how wonderful is that? :) Remember not to occupy the whole path when walking with your mates, there are local residents jogging in this area.... be considerate :) read more

So your a tourist...? You've got limited time...? You need to get "the" shot to prove to the family and friends that you've actually been to Australia?? The Botanical Gardens are ready and waiting for you. While anyone can get a pic of just the Harbour Bridge, or perhaps just the Opera House... to get both in the same pic you'll want to head to Mrs Macquaire's Chair (which is also a great reason to walk through the entire length of the park). That aside, the combination of the Sydney Harbour and the Botanical Gardens on a sunny blue sky day, the smell of freshly cut grass, and a cool breeze coming off the water.... why would you want to be anywhere else? read more

Best time to visit is during Spring when all the flowers bloom. A trip to the Botanic Gardens ain't complete without a short stroll to Governor Macquarie's old mansion. read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - Sunset at opera house - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Really beautiful place full of crazy birds (cockatoos galore!), wondrous plants and flowers and trees, and surprisingly, not a slew of people. Sydney is very different from LA in that way, there aren't tons of people in your way everywhere. My friends were married here on the Eucalypt lawn, overlooking the Opera House and Bridge. It was gorgeous, I would highly recommend it! read more

Absolute gorgeous grounds and so many varieties of plants and beautiful flowers. Great place to enjoy the outdoors whether walking around a choosing one of the many benches to relax on. Loved all the different sections of the gardens and the statues. Highly recommend even if you just walk through it on your way to the opera house read more

I was beyond impressed by the Royal Botanic Gardens...the views, the different types of plants, the display explaining the colonization of Australia and its effects on Aboriginal people, the artwork. Best yet, it's free. If you're a true botanical enthusiast, plan to spend time viewing the succulents, the roses, the palm groves, the ponds, the "Oriental" gardens or a guided tour. If you're less of an enthusiast, be sure to catch Mrs. Macquarie's point for breathtaking harbor views. Alternately, if you're a runner, lace up your shoes and catch the garden on your jog; you'll be in good company with many Sydneysiders. The gift shop has a variety of thoughtful treasures, and the cafe has some good choices and ample seating. I'd agree with the other Yelpers who suggested picnicking to find the optimal balance of views and good food. When in Sydney, don't miss this oasis not far from downtown. It's a great spot for a peaceful solo stroll, a great date or a scenic jog. read more

Great view of Sydney Opera House & Harbour Bridge, one of the places that makes Sydney so special. Perfect place for a long stroll in the park. Best time to visit is during Spring when all the flowers bloom. It's a fantastic place to have a picnic and a nice glass of wine. :) read more

So the Botanic Gardens are a hallmark of any former British colony, but the fact that it has about the same number of reviews as the Opera House should tell you that it's a pretty lovely part of Sydney. Part of it fronts the historic harbourfront, and it is full of beautiful flora and fauna. See if you can find the tree that fell over but is still growing and the government building they disguised as a "castle" to fool the Japanese during the War. A perfect place to be on a lovely day. Which is often the type of day you're going to have in Sydney. read more

Probably the most beautiful park I've seen. I love the rose gardens and the centre part where all the exotic plants are, as well as the local ones. I'd give it 5 stars, but it needs some more entertainment - maybe they should allow approved buskers in approved areas so there would be some music or entertainment as well as some quiet areas. But yeah, very quiet and relaxing. Great for a walk (romantic or not), bike ride and/or a picnic. read more

Beautiful grounds, filled with history. They have a train tour for kids, a small deli/restaurant to get a small bite or lunch and a gift shop. There is plenty to look at. A great place for picnic. I saw school age groups, runners, tourists, people doing yoga. It is super safe. Lots of plants and beautiful birds. Watch out for orb spiders. The webs are sticky and caught me off guard. read more

Took our little dude for a stroll and he ran past the cute little train thing and ran straight to a bush of flowers. He found his way through some neat shaded paths, stopping to look at more flowers, leaves, and a spider. He never once asked about a playground. He makes me so proud. I didn't get to show him any bats, which I was really hoping to. Maybe later. Great place to chase after a nature loving child. read more

We had a great Tim walking through the gardens after we toured the Opera House. The trees were huge and quite different then we were used to seeing. We also really enjoyed the rose gardens. They were many shapes and sizes. It was a great way to spend the afternoon. Just be aware of the many runners that also frequent the area. My favorite were the Birds of Paradise. read more

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Such a beautiful place and right in the middle of the city. The little train is a hit with the kids.

Absolutely beautiful way to spend a day, one of the most beautiful and serene places to relax and appreciate where you are. read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - The wall of flowers. - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW

The Royal Botanic Gardens are wonderful. Its more of a park than a garden (though there are some very gardeny areas), and it offers a break from the hustle and bustle of nearby downtown Sydney. I like it because its big, green, peaceful, it has lots of [to me] exotic plants and flowers. It also has the backdrop of downtown Sydney and its right up against Sydney Harbor. There's a greenhouse and some terraces, and some other things. It really is a beautiful garden/park, and I'd recommend going there. After all, it's right next to the Opera House, and you're probably going there anyway. In late May and June, part of Vivid Sydney is in the gardens, and that is certainly a sight to see. In short, go to the Royal Botanic Gardens - you won't be disappointed. read more

Probably my favorite outdoor place in Sydney. Can't wait to get back there. Every bit as beautiful as Central Park in NYTC and 100 times cleaner. Don't miss it! read more

Always nice to go wander around in the botanic garden. Very well maintained and amazing view of the harbour and Opera House. Going while Vivid is on is also a magic experience. read more

The gardens are huge, be prepared to walk a lot. The grounds are kept beautifully. There are so many varieties of plants it's amazing. The entire garden just smells fresh and fragrant. You almost forget you are in a huge city; the gardens, greens, plants and even insects using the plants for home make you forget about everything else but nature! read more

As a garden, it's kind of lacking. As a viewpoint for the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and the harbor itself, it's fantastic. read more

Royal Botanic Gardens - An unbeatable view. - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sydney, NSW