City Botanic Gardens

The basics

The 42 acre (17 hectare) City Botanic Gardens are a refreshing place to walk or sit and enjoy a picnic while spending time in central Brisbane. The gardens are heritage listed and there are many rare plants and species endemic to the Brisbane and Queensland areas. There’s also bicycle hire at the main entrance to the park, if you want to get active and explore the park on two wheels. Some bikes are equipped with child seats. Many travelers visit the gardens independently and it’s also a fixture on many guided walking, cycling, or Segway tours of Brisbane.

Things to know before you go

• Free guided walks are led by volunteers twice a day, most days of the week.
• As well as being an attractive picnic spot there’s a cafe at the gardens.
• The gardens are wheelchair accessible from all entrances except the Parliament House entrance.
• The Baldwin Lawn Playground in the park is an all-abilities playground, so kids with special needs can also enjoy playing here.

How to get there

The gardens are conveniently located near the city center. They’re just a 10-15 minute walk from the Central and Roma Street Railway Stations. The free Loop Bus that travels through the central city stops nearby.

When to get there

The gardens are open 24 hours but are best visited during the day, or in the evening when an event is on. In the summer, concerts, shows, exhibitions, and other events are often held at the Riverstage area. Brisbane has a warm climate and is very rarely cold. In the summer you may want to avoid visiting the gardens during the middle of the day, or if you do, you should stick to the shade.

Visit Streets Beach

While hanging out in central Brisbane, check out Streets Beach, Australia’s only central-city beach. There’s white sand, lifeguards, and shallow lagoon waters that are ideal for kids, right in the center of the city.