City Botanic Gardens

Set in the heart of Brisbane, City Botanic Gardens is Queensland’s oldest heritage garden. This riverside park covers 18 hectares and 1.2 kilometres of river frontage, bringing together heritage, exotic and native plants and trees in a spacious inner-city setting. Its lawns, lagoons, shaded paths and river views make it a practical place to slow down without leaving Brisbane CBD.

There is plenty to do beyond wandering. Visitors can join an hour-long guided walk from the Information Kiosk at 11am or 1pm, Monday to Saturday except public holidays, or explore independently with a Treasures brochure and map. The gardens also provide picnic tables, shaded seating, shelters, drinking fountains, water taps, accessible toilets and an accessible, inclusive playground. The Royal Palm Lawn and Baldwin Lawn Playground are noted as popular picnic spots, while the gardens’ café, The Gardens Club, occupies the heritage-listed Curators Cottage and is dog-friendly.

The park also has a strong connection to Brisbane’s history and community. Guided walks focus on the gardens’ history and features, and The Gardens Club is operated by the Wise Foundation, with profits returned to the community and organisations in need. For schools, the City Gardens Time Traveller program offers hands-on outdoor learning for Years 4 and 5, with lessons aligned to the National Curriculum.

Groups can book one of nine park sites for events, with spaces ranging from small, tree-shaded areas to larger lawns. Options include river or lagoon views, available power at some sites and seated capacities from 20 to 77 people; booking fees start at $217.55 per hour with a two-hour minimum. The gardens are open 24 hours, seven days a week, although facilities such as the café have their own hours. With entrances on Alice, Edward and George streets and access via the Goodwill Bridge, Kangaroo Point Bridge and Bicentennial Bikeway, the gardens suit families, picnickers, walkers, school groups and event organisers alike.