The Australian National Botanic Gardens sit in Canberra, on the slopes of Black Mountain in the Australian Capital Territory. Set across 35 hectares, the gardens are devoted to showing the country's native plants, and they make a calm and informative visit for anyone interested in Australia's flora.
What to expect
The gardens are organised around themed trails, each highlighting a different ecosystem. Walking between them gives a sense of how much the landscape changes, from lush rainforest to the dry, sparse plantings of desert country. The setting on the mountain slopes adds to the experience, with the grounds rising and falling underfoot as you move from one area to the next.
Visitors who enjoy plants will find the collection a useful way to see species from across the continent in one place, without needing to travel far between climates.
Planning your visit
- Location: Clunies Ross Street, Acton, ACT 2601, Canberra.
- Best suited to: unhurried walks, nature lovers, and families interested in the natural world.
- Nearby: the gardens are part of Canberra's broader landscape of parks and national institutions, so they pair well with a wider day in the city.
Because the trails are arranged by ecosystem, you can choose to follow the ones that interest you most, or wander at your own pace and take in the variety of native plant life as it unfolds across the hillside.