Places to visit in and around Blue Mountains Botanic Garden NSW

Gondwana was the single super-continent that made up the earth's southern landmass before separating 60-80 million years ago.

This walk takes you to the Wollemi Pine – a tree with an ancestral heritage dating from the age of dinosaurs, hence its nickname, the 'dinosaur tree'.

The trail takes you under towering Brown Barrel Eucalypts where you will learn about species of plants in the garden that trace their origins back to this pre-historic time, including tree ferns and Southern Beeches.

Access the trail from the P4 car park near the rangers building.

Head to below the Visitor Centre, where The Cascade’s water sheets into a trough of waterlilies, then barrels down a stone watercourse, snaking its way around limestone and basalt boulders and feeding into various unique, water-dependent gardens, including The Bog and The Beach.

While the Botanic Gardens overall is stunning, and its cool climate plant collection expansive, it is The Cascade that is referred to as the ‘heartbeat of the garden’.

Its construction began in 1986 as part of a larger project that used basalt mined from the mountain, and limestone, to build retaining walls, paths and ponds. The idea is that you will hear The Cascade before you see it – that the sound of water will tempt you around corners and through hedge avenues into different garden spaces.

The Lady Nancy Fairfax Walk is a 500 metre walk that takes you through a natural temperate rainforest. You’ll see giant tree ferns, sassafras, coachwood, blackbutt and brown barrel trees – and you’ll understand why this area was once known as The Jungle.

While the area was originally proposed as part of a rainforest National Park in the 1920s, it today welcomes you to experience the beauty of remnant temperate rainforest.

The entrance to the walk is just outside of the garden’s perimeter, near the Jungle Lodge at Mt Tomah. Allow around 15 to 30 minutes for a relaxing meander.

You’ll be entranced by the Brunet Meadow and Garden, with more than 150,000 daffodils rising from the earth in season, and a beautiful array of Camellias in winter.

The garden was once a cut flower farm for the Sydney market, but now it’s a place to catch up with your families and friends for gatherings.

You can access a BBQ shelter on the southern edge of the meadow, offering two gas BBQ facilities and picnic tables.

Wedding Tree Terrace is the signature wedding location in the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Tomah. It offers unrivalled panoramic views across the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area – the perfect backdrop to a perfect day.

The terraced lawn sits under a sprawling Nepalese Alder tree. It is the quintessential Blue Mountains wedding experience with space for up to 80 guests. You’ll also be able to enjoy views of the Rock Garden and the unique framing created by basalt dry stone walls sourced from the garden.

Parking is free on site.

Come and discover the rocky plant communities from different continents at the Rock Garden. You’ll find South African Protea species that come to life in winter and the summer-loving South American Bromeliads. You’ll also see a variety of plants from around the world that bring interest in every season.

You’ll see the garden’s many plants are selected and grouped based on their geographic origin and the type of features that help them to flourish, such as water, soil and aspect. See how the mix of form, texture and colour of plants from many different places create a mosaic of vignettes.

With the mix of plants from different continents, you’ll see a range of colour and unique shapes that could change each time you visit. You can get to the Rock Garden via a sealed path with some steps from the visitor centre.

Sandy shores and a stunning waterfall backdrop combine to create a beautiful and unique location in what’s known as the Beach.

With a backdrop of giant ferns, the iconic blue Puya, Proteas and water flowers, the Beach also features panoramic views across the Blue Mountains National Park.

This is a popular spot for wedding ceremonies, picnics and photoshoots. You can head to the Beach from the visitor centre. It is nestled between other features such as the Brunet Pavilion, the Rock Garden and the Bog Garden, and lies within reach of the Wollemi Pines forest.

The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Tomah is home to several woodland areas that feature trees and plants from different geographic areas.

Take a wander through the Eurasian Woodland amongst the maples, oaks and birch  trees. You'll see many of the trees that gardens staff collected in the wild over the years – all building together to help you feel as if you’re visiting one of the deciduous forests of Asia or Europe.

You’ll enjoy the amazing autumn colour and unique forms and bark of several trees that are rarely seen in Australia – perhaps  stop for a picnic in the nearby De Ferranti Shelter and immerse yourself in another world.

The Formal Garden draws its inspiration from European garden design, with 3 distinct terraces. The first terrace features seasonal displays where colour and form are showcased in mass plantings. The lawn terrace features whispering walls that you can try out for yourself, and the third terrace draws its inspiration from Australian landscape gardener Edna Walling and features a hand-glazed pergola.

Delicate wisteria flowers, vibrant dahlias, elegant Banksian roses and English cottage flower beds fill the space with colour and fragrance through the year, with display beds changing every season.

Take yourself back to the time of exploration and follow in the footsteps of 14 plant explorers. The Plant Explorers Walk recognises 300 years of exploration through Asia and features over 400 different plant species. It celebrates both plant diversity and human endurance.

The walk follows woodchip paths and includes some stairs, but is a wonderful introduction to the spirit of adventure that has helped to shape the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden. You’ll access it from car parks 1, 2 and 3, near the visitor centre.