Where to Go: the 9 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 $30Best value

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.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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6.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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7.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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8.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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9.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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