Tropical rainforest, temperate wetlands and rolling savannah are home to some of the world’s most amazing plants and flowers in Brisbane Botanic Gardens.
Below the 287-metre peak of Mount Coot-tha lies a real jewel in the crown of Brisbane’s amazing outdoor offerings. Opened in 1976 as a compliment to the existing gardens downtown, the Brisbane Botanic Gardens are larger and more extensive than their city counterpart. 52 hectares of the sprawling nature reserve at the foot of Brisbane’s highest peak are devoted to housing some of the world’s rarest and most unusual plants and flowers within a variety of different habitats.Fragrant herbs, towering trees and prickly cacti are just some of the hundreds of species on show in this beautiful park with walking trails leading you past lush vegetation, murmuring creeks and deep lagoons. The largest of the specially created habitats is the Australian Plant Communities section which contains tropical rainforest, wetlands and eucalyptus woods among its 27 hectares. It’s also home to over 40 rare or threatened species including a whole pond full of Eastern Water Dragons.The Japanese Garden was the last work of leading traditional designer Kenzo Ogata and this beautifully landscaped design, based on the theme of “tsuki-yama-chisen” (mountain-pond-stream), really is a sight to behold. The S-shaped path leads you through tranquil water features and carefully sculpted rocks. Not far from here is the Bamboo Grove where you should look out for turtles, birds and eels among the clumps of rare bamboo and manmade lagoon.The Fragrant Plant and Herb Garden is a real aromatic experience as you take in the sweet smells of a huge variety of aromatic, medicinal and culinary plants. The Fern House contains over eighty different varieties of the ancient and fascinating species and also worth a look is the Bonsai House where you’ll find amazing miniature versions of conifers, figs and azaleas.These are just some of the offerings among these ever-expanding gardens, and a good way to find what you want is to grab a map and try one of the three self-guided walks. There are also two daily guided tours from Monday to Saturday, details of which are on the website. Located 7.2 kilometres north of Brisbane in the suburb of Toowong, you can drive or take one of the bus tours from the city. The gardens are open every day except for major holidays and are free but the Bonsai House has more limited hours.
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