What are the best gardens in Australia?

The best gardens in Australia include the Cairns Botanic Gardens, Breenhold Gardens in the Blue Mountains and the Western Australian Botanic Garden in Perth.

Australia’s natural strengths tend to lie in the wild bushland, coastal scenery and rainforests. But tucked in amongst the outback, eucalypt forests and white sand beaches, there are several stunning gardens. Here are some of the best gardens in Australia for visitors.

Best gardens in Australia: Queensland

Cairns Botanic Gardens, Cairns: As with most botanic gardens in Australia, the Cairns Botanic Gardens puts an emphasis of education. The star attractions in Cairns are the Gondwana Evolution Garden and Aboriginal Plant Use Garden. The latter shows how Indigenous Australians have used native plants. The Gondwana Evolution Garden, meanwhile lays out plant life in a chronological order. It helps you understand how plant life has evolved over millions of years.

City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane: Location is key for Brisbane’s most visited Botanic Gardens. They’re at the tip of the triangle at the bottom of the CBD, flanked by the Brisbane River. The Rainforest Garden and Bunya Walk along the river are the highlights.

Maleny Botanic Gardens, Sunshine Coast: In the Sunshine Coast hinterland town of Maleny, the Maleny Botanic Gardens are layered and terraced, interspersed with waterfalls and lakes. The views of the Glass House Mountains are marvellous, but the on-site aviary is arguably the best attraction.

Bird World at the Maleny Botanic Gardens on the Sunshine Coast — There are plenty of cheeky cockatoos in the Bird World aviary. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland

Best gardens in Australia: New South Wales

Chang Lai Yuan Chinese Gardens, Sydney: Inside the Nurragingy Reserve in the Western Sydney Parklands, the Chang Lai Yuan Chinese Gardens offer a taste of a largely mythical China. The gateway, pavilion, gazebo and stone bridge add ornamental razzle-dazzle.

Breenhold Gardens, Blue Mountains: These privately-owned gardens are only open during spring and autumn, but that’s when they’re at their best. There are plenty of native species on display, but it’s the crowd-pleasers from around the world the create the carpets of spring blossoms and autumn leaves. Other gardens worth visiting near the Blue Mountains include Mayfield Garden and Gairloch Garden in Oberon.

Breenhold Gardens in Mount Wilson, the Blue Mountains. Photo courtesy of Destination NSW.

Best gardens in Australia: Victoria

Cactus Country, Strathmerton: Part of the Murray Farm Gate Trail, this gloriously eccentric garden shows off more than 4,000 species of cactus. You can also try cactus-flavoured ice cream in the café.

Cactus Country in Strathmerton, Victoria, on the Murray Farm Gate Trail — Cactus Country in Strathmerton, Victoria, is a highlight of the Murray Farm Gate Trail. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne: Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens are sprawling, with several gorgeous nooks and crannies. The running track around the edge is popular with joggers, but the Aboriginal guided garden tours are the main reason to visit. These look at native plants and the Indigenous uses for them. The sister attraction – the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne – is worth a visit too.

Alfred Nicholas Gardens, Sherbrooke: One of the highlights of the Dandenong Ranges, these tranquil gardens see distinctive changes with the seasons.

Best gardens in Western Australia

Golden Valley Tree Park, Balingup: Buried amongst the forests of south west WA, the Golden Valley Tree Park showcases trees from all over Australia. But its strength is that it has deciduous trees from around the world, too.

Western Australian Botanic Garden, Perth: The Western Australian Botanic Garden in Kings Park, Perth, offers a canopy height walkway. There’s also a trail highlighting traditional Indigenous uses for plants and a Discovery Walk detailing which plants grow in different regions. Elsewhere in Kings Park, there are lookouts with tremendous views of Perth.