The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan located in Sydney’s western suburbs encompasses 416 hectares of rolling hills, Australian flora and peaceful lakes.

On a sunny day, a visit to The Australia Botanic Garden Mount Annan is one of the best things to do for families in Sydney. The gardens are free to enter and you can bring a picnic or barbecue to enjoy in between exploring the expansive area. 

The gardens have become a valuable green space in an area of the city that is experiencing increasing urbanisation. The vast size of the gardens means it can provide a safe and peaceful environment for locals, visitors and native wildlife. 

Top attractions for kids

A highlight for children will be visiting the Jurassic Garden. Download the Jurassic Garden app onto your smartphone or tablet to see the creatures come to life. The whole family will love witnessing Australian dinosaurs and megafauna transforming before their eyes. 

Make sure to keep your eyes peeled during your visit as native mammals such as the wallaroo and swamp wallaby are often seen in the grassy areas and woodland. There are around 190 bird species that have been recorded in the gardens as well as an array of frogs, lizards, snakes and spiders. 

While feeding the animals is forbidden, there are other ways the whole family can feel close to nature. The Seedlings Nature School provides play-based activities and nature experiences for parents and children to help families develop their relationship with plants and flowers.

For little ones, there’s also an adventure playground with slides, swings, forts and climbing nets that will keep them busy for hours. The playground is located right next to the café, so you can keep an eye on your children while getting a much-needed caffeine hit.

Ready for adventure?

For older children, and adults, the mountain bike track provides adrenaline-fueled fun for both novice and experienced riders. Throughout 2019 a committed team of volunteers and members of the Wollandilly Macarthur Mountain Bike Club have spent hundreds of hours restoring the Family Loop and Kids Loop sections of the trail. The trails are free to use, just bring along your bike and helmet.

For a more sedate but no less enjoyable adventure, The Australian Botanic Garden is home to vast and varied landscapes perfect for a days’ walking. You can wander through the stunning gardens at your own leisure, tackle a self-guided walk or book into one of the pre-arranged group tours. 

If you want to leave the gardens with more knowledge about Australia’s native plants, The Connections Garden Walk is a guided tour through a roofless museum which showcases the development of plants through time and their relationship with both animals and humans. 

On Saturdays and Sundays, dedicated volunteer guides also provide free tours of the Australian PlantBank – the award winning home of plant conservation and research. But, for a behind the scenes exploration, choose the paid tour ($28 per adult, $17 per child) and you’ll be taken into the laboratories and Seed Vault of the Australian PlantBank where millions of New South Wales flora are stored for preservation for the future. Seed collections here help in the fight against native plant extinction in Australia.    

Whether you’re looking for some fresh air in natural setting, or hoping to learning some things about the New South Wales environment and native flora and fauna, this is a great spot for it. Enjoy the immaculate lawns, beds littered with vibrant flowers and lofty gums in all directions at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan. Return to the city refreshed.

Where?

Website: www.australianbotanicgarden.com.au

Address: Narellan Road, Mount Annan NSW 2567

When?

Monday – Sunday | 8am – 5pm