Noosa Botanic Gardens on Lake Macdonald, Cooroy: Why visit?
The Noosa Botanic Gardens near Cooroy, Queensland, offer eight hectares of natural beauty on a former rubbish dump. Entry is free, and attractions include a Greek-style amphitheatre.
The Noosa Botanic Gardens is the result of a hugely impressive transformation. Once upon a time, the site was farmland, but then it became used by locals as a rubbish dump.
More community-minded locals saw potential in the spot, however, and began a campaign to clear it up. Weeds and rusting cars were removed, and the transformation into an eight hectare gardens began.
The Noosa Botanic Gardens officially opened to the public in 1990.
Get the best out of Noosa – 6 sensational experiences to look into
- Cruise the mirror-like waterways of the Noosa Everglades – a glorious glide through stunning natural landscapes.
- 4WD along the beaches – AND kayak with dolphins on a day tour full of easy adventure.
- Take a dolphin-watching safari down the Noosa River.
- Have a go at kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding or waterbiking.
- Take a tasting tour of the local craft breweries and distilleries – find out how the locals have devoted themselves to quality.
- Get standing on your board by the end of a beginners’ surfing lesson.
Where is Noosa Botanic Gardens
Noosa Botanic Gardens is a somewhat off-the-radar attraction, as it’s not in Noosaville or Noosa Heads. This Sunshine Coast botanic garden is on the short of Lake Macdonald, between Tewantin and Cooroy. It’s easiest to reach from Cooroy.
12 fantastic Sunshine Coast experiences to book now
- Taste coffee and ginger, do rainforest walks, and visit the best lookouts on a highlight-packed hinterland tour.
- Take a serene Noosa Everglades cruise along the mirror-like waterways – or canoe through the Everglades.
- Learn to surf at a Sunshine Coast surf school – or try paddleboarding instead.
- Combine sight-seeing and thrills on a fast boat tour.
- Go e-mountain biking on the downhill trails of Tewantin National Park.
- Kayak with dolphins as part of a beach 4WD tour.
- Explore the Sunshine Coast from above on a seaplane flight.
- Take an indigenous cultural tour – with bush tucker tasting.
- Visit the region’s best craft breweries and distilleries on a drinks tasting tour.
- Go jetskiing through the gorgeous Pumicestone Passage.
- Taste wines, cheeses and chocolates on a hinterland food tour.
- Watch migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.
What can I see at Noosa Botanic Gardens?
No-one is going to pretend that Noosa Botanic Gardens is one of the most lavish gardens in Australia. It is, however, a pleasant place to hang out and mooch around. There are large lawns, picnic areas and a lily pond.
More unusually, there’s an open air bush chapel and a Greek-style amphitheatre. Visitors can also enjoy the children’s play area and the fern house.
If I can do just one thing in Noosa, what should it be?
The Great Beach Drive – a four wheel drive adventure up Teewah Beach towards Double Island Point – is fantastic on its own. To go kayaking with dolphins as part of the same trip makes for a genuinely superb day out.
Take it as a massive personal recommendation – the Great Beach Drive plus Kayaking With Dolphins day tour should be at the top of your Noosa wishlist.
There’s also a decent chance of seeing wildlife within the Noosa Botanic Gardens. More than 90 bird species are thought to call the gardens home.
Noosa Botanic Gardens entry price
Entry to the Noosa Botanic Gardens is free.
For more information on the gardens, visit the Noosa Council website.
Other things to do in Noosa include swimming at Little Cove, shopping on Hastings Street and spotting koalas in the Noosa National Park.
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