Where to Go: the 15 Best Botanical Gardens in Australia

1.Maleny Botanic Gardens Bird Aviary Experience Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 579 reviews · from $33Our pick

Walk through Maleny’s aviaries with a guide such as Lydia, meeting cockatoos, macaws, and other native and exotic birds that may perch on your hand, shoulder, or head. Your ticket also covers the gardens, free bird photos, and Wi-Fi. Allow 1 to 4 hours for the visit, longer if you add a picnic or buggy ride.

“Beautiful place to visit with great views and scenery. We enjoyed walking around the gardens and visiting the farm friends. They had a 2 month old baby donkey named ziggy who was adorable. We didn’t do the bird aviary but i’m sure that was a fun experience also. Recommend visiting if you are in the area!”

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2.Aboriginal Heritage Walk – Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 314 reviews · from $30Top rated

Spend 90 minutes in Melbourne Gardens with an Aboriginal guide such as Den or Jacobi, learning how native plants connect to Kulin culture, food, medicine, customs, and Country. The gentle walk includes sensory plant experiences and lemon myrtle tea. Meet at the Visitor Centre at 11:00am and return there at the end.

“Den was a great guide with fun humor. He walked us through garden explaining how the plants and land were utilized by aboriginal people. He also made us think about the land and how to continue connecting with the land and each other. Highly recommend this tour.”

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3.Night Walk in Cairns Botanic Gardens – Let’s Go Buggin

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 153 reviews · from $57

Join macro photographer Bridgette Gower at 7 pm for a two-hour walk through Cairns Botanic Gardens. She helps you find frogs, insects, spiders, and fungi, then offers advice on camera settings and composition. Groups are capped at four, and camera hire can be arranged in advance for beginner, intermediate, or professional equipment.

“I had an absolutely incredible time on this bug and nature walk in the morning. I was able to see many different types of spiders, moths, butterflies, beetles, etc. Bridgette is very knowledgeable and has a meticulous eye for pointing out the various insects and arachnids. I would recommend this tour to anyone!”

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4.Cairns: Night Walk in Cairns Botanic Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 86 reviews · 2 hours · from $56

Join Bridgette or Ros from Aussie Macro Photos for a two-hour night walk through Cairns Botanic Gardens. Your guide uses a head torch and sharp eyes to find frogs, spiders, stick insects, possums, birds, snakes, and other rainforest life. The walk suits nature lovers and photographers, with optional camera hire available.

“Bridgette was an excellent guide and very knowledgeable. She founds lots of interesting creatures & insects that we would have never even noticed. We had a wonderful time on the tour.”

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5.Photography and Nature in Cairns Botanic Gardens Let’s Go Buggin

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $57

Join macro photographers Bridgette Gower and Ros Peric at 8:30 am for two relaxed hours in Cairns Botanic Gardens. You will search for insects, spiders, frogs, fungi, and other tiny life, with help using your own camera or phone. Camera hire is available in three levels for an extra $29 to $49.

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6.Foraging Tour: Botanical Gardens Walk & Picnic

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 19 reviews · from $56

Meet at Man O’War Wharf at 4:00 pm for a guided walk through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens. With guides such as David, you’ll identify and taste native plants, hear about Indigenous food and medicine, spot wildlife, then enjoy a native-inspired picnic near Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. The tour lasts about 90 minutes to two hours.

“David was interesting and informative about the history and food of the indigenous peoples. We walked around the botanical gardens and had a box lunch of food produced by these people.”

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7.Maleny: Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 14 reviews · 1 day · from $31

Spend a full day exploring 23 acres of Maleny Botanic Gardens, then join a guided tour through four free-flight aviaries filled with more than 600 birds from over 60 countries. You can have photos taken with friendly birds, meet Alfie the miniature donkey, and visit sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens, and guinea pigs.

“Det var en fantastisk oplevelse at møde alle fuglene”

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8.Picnic in the Royal Botanic Gardens for 2

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 12 reviews

Pick up a three-course picnic hamper for two at Botanic House in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Chef Luke Nguyen’s menu combines Southeast Asian flavors with Australian native ingredients, plus a bottle of wine. You choose your garden spot and enjoy an easy, romantic afternoon in the heart of Sydney.

“Enjoyed the meal and wine. Disappointed that Gardens did not have a walking map. We did not have access to internet to get the walking tour. Beautiful grounds”

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9.Walk the Darwin Botanic Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $42

Join a local guide at George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens for a two-hour walk through tropical plant collections, seasonal flowers, bird habitats, and the site’s heritage. The small group is limited to six people, begins at Eva’s Cafe at 3 pm, and returns there. Bring water, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes.

“A pleasant walk around the gardens with a passionate Darwin resident as our guide. She explained that she was not a horticultural expert at all she is just a Gardens enthusiast. A pleasant way to see the Gardens.”

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10.Kings Park Botanicals And Beyond

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $40

Join The Hike Collective for a guided 7km walk through Kings Park and Botanic Garden. Guides such as Ann, Anne, and Sarah share local plant life, wildlife, Aboriginal history, and Perth stories. Expect treetop paths, Federation artwork, Swan River views, and a moderate workout in a group of up to 20.

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11.Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens Luke Nguyen Tasting Menu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · from $111

At Botanic House in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden, you’ll enjoy an eight-course shared menu created by Luke Nguyen. Expect modern South-East Asian flavors, Australian produce, native ingredients, a welcome cocktail or mocktail, coffee or tea, and premium wine. The two-hour meal suits couples, families, solo diners, and special occasions.

“Well worth the trip into the garden and food was amazing. Each course was different and wonderful. We loved it.”

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12.Cairns: Insect Photography Tour of Cairns Botanic Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 2 hours · from $56

Bridgette and Ros lead a two-hour small-group walk through Cairns Botanic Gardens, showing you insects, spiders, reptiles, and fungi that are easy to miss. Bring your own camera or reserve a beginner-to-advanced camera package. The seasonal route also gives you plenty of chances to photograph plants and flowers.

“Outstanding tour! Bridget really knows where to find the best bugs and as an added bonus the foliage is just amazing. I have as many photos of extraordinary plants (and the flowers!) as insects. Bridget is a quietly professional and organised guide - happy to help with photography as much as identifying what we’re looking at”

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13.Sovereign Hill, Botanical Gardens and Melbourne Skydeck Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 5 reviews · from $135

Spend about 10 hours with an English-speaking guide, traveling from central Melbourne to Ballarat in air-conditioned comfort. Walk through the Botanical Gardens, pause at Lake Wendouree, explore Sovereign Hill and the Eureka Centre, then finish at Melbourne Skydeck on Eureka Tower’s 88th floor. Admissions are included, but meals are not.

“I really hope this tour will get more hype in the future. It's a really great tour, esp if you want to know and experience more about the gold rush history of Melbourne. The tour was well organized, it wasn't too long in total duration but very iRead more”

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14.2-Hour Mushroom Photography Activity in Cairns Botanic Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $48

Join Bridgette of Aussie Macro Photos for a two-hour mushroom walk at Centenary Lakes in Cairns Botanic Gardens. You’ll search for small fungi, learn how to photograph them, and receive hands-on help with your own camera or a hired macro setup. The group is capped at six and starts at 8:30 am.

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15.Perth: Kings Park Botanicals & Beyond Guided Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2 reviews · 2h 30m · from $41

Spend 150 minutes hiking 7km through Kings Park and Botanic Gardens with an English-speaking, first-aid-trained guide from The Hike Collective. Follow the Federation Walkway, see Gija Jumulu, a 750-year-old Boab, and pass manicured gardens, native bushland, orchids, and banksias. The grade 2 trail suits families with a basic level of fitness.

“Thank you so much, it was excellent. The tour guide had a lot of knowledge to share, and we all learnt a lot. Would definitely recommend this tour.”

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