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Alchemy of a Rainforest

Parks and Gardens

Alchemy of a Rainforest

Explore a vibrant tapestry of life! Step inside this immersive, sensory exhibition featuring spectacular rare and unusual tropical and subtropical rainforest plants. Here, amidst a lush, layered canopy, you'll experience the intricate beauty and complexity of the rainforest like never before. Alchemy of a Rainforest is more than an exhibition; it's an immersive journey that envelops you in the vibrant, living essence of one of the Earth's most valuable ecosystems. Throughout the space, garden sculptures by environmental artist Jane Gillings add vibrant pops of colour and texture. Crafted from repurposed plastic waste, these intricate pieces depict seeds, flowers, branches, fungi, and butterflies, highlighting the rainforest's role as an ecological powerhouse that sustains diverse life forms. A highlight of the exhibition is the oversized Satin Bowerbird's bower, crafted from upcycled materials. This stunning installation invites you to walk through, sit, and be surrounded by the hum of rainforest sound art, transporting you to a tropical forest teeming with life. Curated by the horticultural team at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Alchemy of a Rainforest has over 18,000 plants on display and one of the largest living green walls in the Southern Hemisphere. On occasion, The Calyx will be closed. Please refer to the closure dates on their website. They apologise for any inconvenience.

Sydney NSW

0.0 km away

Royal Botanic Garden and the Domain

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Royal Botanic Garden and the Domain

Welcome to the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, an oasis of 30-hectares in the heart of the city. Wrapped around Sydney Harbour and adjacent to the Sydney Opera House, the gardens occupy one of Sydney's most spectacular positions. It is one of Sydney’s most beautiful and alluring destinations, where everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the abundant natural beauty. Established in 1816, it is the oldest scientific institution in the country and is home to an outstanding collection of plants from Australia and overseas. From the provocative rare and threatened plants of the world to the romantic rose garden, the themed garden areas show the diverse beauty of nature. Special features include Cadi Jam Ora: First Encounters, a garden display that remembers and acknowledges the Cadigal - the original inhabitants of Sydney's city centre - and their relationship with this land. The Royal Botanic Garden offers a number of tour experiences, including the Aboriginal Heritage Tour, a free guided walk and bespoke heritage tours. Online bookings are essential. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Download the free app for self-guided audio walking tours, garden maps and information on the latest events.

Sydney NSW

0.1 km away

Enjoy outstanding harbour views, foregrounded by green lawns, colourful flowers & tall trees. — Image credit: Botanic Gardens of Sydney

Parks and Gardens

Harbour View Lawn

Harbour View Lawn is a treat not to be missed. Experience a quintessentially Sydney moment set to impress. Head to the eastern side of Farm Cove where you'll find some of the Gardens' best views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the city skyline and sparkling blue water. Whether you're solo, with family, friends or showing off your sparkly city to visitors, there are plenty of spots along the stretch from Fleet Steps to Harbour View Lawn to take in the arresting views and atmosphere to boot. Soak in the views that have made Sydney famous across the globe.

Sydney NSW

0.1 km away

Royal Botanic Garden Wahganmuggalee/Farm Cove

Landmarks and Buildings

Royal Botanic Garden Wahganmuggalee/Farm Cove

On the ground under your feet you will find artwork by Brenda Croft which commemorates the Gadigal and Dharawal people of the region now known as Sydney. The artwork was commissioned as part of the Sydney Sculpture Walk for the 2000 Olympics. Terrazzo and stained concrete have been used to create figures from Aboriginal rock carvings found across Sydney.

Sydney NSW

0.2 km away

Royal Botanic Garden Bottle Tree

Natural Attractions

Royal Botanic Garden Bottle Tree

This Queensland bottle tree (Brachychiton rupestris) is the remaining survivor of three trees planted in the mid nineteenth century. It has a bulbous trunk that stores water in times of drought. To ensure a continued presence of this iconic tree in the Gardens, young plants were included in the Bicentenary Garden in 2016.

Sydney NSW

0.2 km away

A stunning collection of flowering perennials, shrubs and trees that showcase joyful colours. — Image credit: Botanic Garden of Sydney

Parks and Gardens

Spring Walk

Spring Walk, just inside Macquarie's Wall, is the oldest continuous horticultural display in Australia. First planted with spring-flowering shrubs under Director Charles Moore in the mid-19th century, this walk has been delighting visitors for over 170 years. Here you'll be surrounded by flowers and fragrance. In spring see the blooms of snapdragons, wisteria, ornamental peach trees, fluffball-like flowers of the Purple Mist, as well as unusual rhododendrons and other plants you might not typically see in a Sydney garden. No matter what the season, this walk is always worth exploring as its collection changes throughout the year in beautiful ways.

Sydney NSW

0.3 km away

Royal Botanic Garden Wishing Tree

Natural Attractions

Royal Botanic Garden Wishing Tree

The original Wishing Tree was a Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) planted from a seedling around 1816 when Lachlan Macquarie was the Governor of NSW. That tree died in 1945 and was replaced by the one you see now. It is a popular attraction with signage to explain the ritual of walking around the tree forwards and backwards to make your dreams come true.

Sydney NSW

0.3 km away

Royal Botanic Garden Main Pond

Natural Attractions

Royal Botanic Garden Main Pond

The Main Pond is located in the Royal Botanic Gardens close to the harbour wall. The pond is a home for a variety of bird species who you can observe from the paths that surround the pond. The cafe, restaurant and shop are all located near to the pond. Signage about the residents birds and their behaviour is offered as helpful information for visitors.

Sydney NSW

0.3 km away

Experience weird and wonderful plants from half a world away, survivors of some of the earth’s most — Image credit: Botanic Gardens of Sydney

Parks and Gardens

The Succulent Garden

Step into the Succulent Garden and explore a dazzling world of plants shaped by some of the Earth's driest places. Wander through vibrant zones featuring Africa's colourful Aloes and spiny Euphorbias, then journey to the Americas to see striking Agaves, towering Joshua trees and giant Furcraeas—once called "century plants" as they were so slow to bloom. You'll also spot true cacti here, including iconic Golden Barrel cactus. Bathed in warming sun, the garden glows with bold colours and sculptural forms. You're invited to slow down, soak up the beauty and marvel at how these plants thrive in extreme conditions.

Sydney NSW

0.3 km away

Cunningham obelisk

Landmarks and Buildings

Cunningham Obelisk

Allan Cunningham was an avid botanist whose work sent Australian plants across the globe. Cunningham's quest for plants and scientific knowledge drove him to traverse vast tracts of south-eastern and north-western Australia between 1817 and 1828. Allan Cunningham died in Sydney in 1839 and was buried in the Devonshire Street Cemetery. His friends and admirers erected this obelisk to his memory in 1844. It is one of the earliest public monuments in Sydney. When the Devonshire Street Cemetery was cleared to make way for Central Railway Station, Cunningham's remains were carefully disinterred and reverently placed within the obelisk behind the marble plaque.

Sydney NSW

0.3 km away

Royal Botanic Garden Wollemi Tree

Natural Attractions

Royal Botanic Garden Wollemi Tree

In 1994 unusual trees were found in the rugged Wollemi National Park, northwest of Sydney. Named the Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) it is a conifer whose location in the wild remains a secret to ensure its survival. This tree, from the time of the dinosaurs, is one of the world's rarest plants with only three stands of adult trees known to be growing in New South Wales. This one was planted in the Gardens in 1996.

Sydney NSW

0.4 km away

Cadi Jam Ora shares stories from Gadigal Traditional Descendents, Elders and knowledge holders. — Image credit: Botanic Gardens of Sydney

Parks and Gardens

Cadi Jam Ora

Cadi Jam Ora shares stories led by Country, culture and 65,000 years of knowing the plants and place of Gadigal Country, where land meets sea. The stories shared arose from a deeply collaborative creative process between Gadigal Traditional Descendants, Elders and knowledge holders, and the Botanic Gardens Team, including First Nations Educators. Across 75 metres of signage, there are many renewed stories coming from a place of responsibility for caring for Country and the reciprocal and intimate relationships with land, sky, and sea.

Sydney NSW

0.4 km away

Mrs Macquarie's Chair Sydney

Landmarks and Buildings

Mrs Macquarie's Chair Sydney

Mrs Macquarie's Chair is a Sydney landmark. The chair was carved out of a sandstone rock ledge by convicts in 1810. Specially commissioned by Governor Macquarie for his wife Elizabeth who was known to love the area this is one of the best vantage points to view the sights of Sydney Harbour.

Sydney NSW

0.5 km away

Domain — Image credit: Destination NSW

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Domain

The Phillip Precinct commonly referred to as the Domain, is the largest open space in the central business district. This historic site is the venue for large-scale events such as Opera in the Park during the Festival of Sydney in January and Carols by Candlelight in December each year. The picturesque, harbourside venue offers a unique, inspiring and iconic space to deliver events on the beautiful open green spaces surrounded by the harbour and city landscape. The main part of the parkland takes in the peninsula on the eastern flank of the Royal Botanic Gardens, just next to Mrs Macquarie's Point. Other features of the peninsula include the Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool and the Fleet Steps that lead down to the Farm Cove shoreline. The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and the Domain are managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust (RBG).

Sydney NSW

0.5 km away

Indulge your senses with a visit to the Herb Garden and relax in its peaceful sandstone pavilion. — Image credit: Botanic Gardens of Sydney

Parks and Gardens

Herb Garden and Pavilion

Discover the sensory delights of the Herb Garden, where stories, scents and colour celebrate the many cultures that have shaped Australia. Wander the paths to learn how different communities have used and continue to use herbs for food, medicine and dyeing, or simply relax in the sandstone pavilion and enjoy the fragrant air. Kids of all ages will love the playful Sensory Fountain, while the Armillary Sphere Sundial offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of the telling of time. This vibrant garden is both a place to explore and a peaceful spot to unwind.

Sydney NSW

0.5 km away

The Calyx is home to a café, gift shop & one of the southern hemisphere’s largest green walls. — Image credit: Botanic Gardens of Sydney.

Galleries, Museums and Collections

The Calyx

Relax and unwind at The Calyx, where you can sip a coffee or enjoy al fresco dining before stepping into a vibrant, sensory exhibition filled with spectacular plants. Exhibition entry is by donation. The moment you walk in you'll feel wrapped in nature, as if transported deep into the forest. Inside, more than 18,000 plants are on display, including one of the southern hemisphere's largest living green walls. The Calyx is a public exhibition space, but it's also available for private hire, so it may occasionally close for events. Check the Botanic Gardens of Sydney website for closure dates.

Sydney NSW

0.6 km away

The Conservatorium of Music

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Conservatorium of Music

Music is a vibrant part of any society. The Sydney Conservatorium of Music, also known as 'The Con', was established in 1915 and is the music school of The University of Sydney. For over a century, the conservatorium has led music education and supported outstanding musical performances, from classical to contemporary.

Sydney NSW

0.6 km away

Sydney Sculpture Walk — Image credit: City of Sydney

Parks and Gardens

Sydney Sculpture Walk

The Sydney Sculpture Walk provides a uniquely artistic experience of the city to Sydneysiders and visitors alike. Ten artworks by leading Australian and international artists form a circuit through the heart of the city. The Sculpture Walk showcases the exciting and innovative work of our contemporary artists and at the same time invites you to explore the city`s busy streets, plazas, beautiful parks and harbourside promenades. Artists include Debra Philips, Janet Laurence & Jisuk Han, Brenda L. Croft, Fiona Hall, Kimio Tsuchiya and Lynne Roberts.

Sydney NSW

0.6 km away

New cultivars are tested in the Trial Garden to see which are best suited to Sydney's conditions. — Image credit: Botanic Gardens of Sydney.

Parks and Gardens

Trial Garden

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney's Trial Garden tests new cultivars from plant breeders across the globe to discover which will thrive in Sydney's unique growing conditions. The Gardens horticulturists run annual experiments here. Over 12 months, each plant here is assessed for resilience, beauty and performance in response to real-world conditions. Come and see this fascinating array of plants yourself near the Conservatorium Gate. From this work, Botanic Gardens of Sydney produce a guide to the year's top performing annuals, perennials and natives that have flower power, vigour and pest resistance best suited to the local climate—helpful information for Sydney's plant-growers.

Sydney NSW

0.6 km away

Experience the Palace Rose Garden between September and May for a stunning, colourful display. — Image credit: Botanic Gardens of Sydney

Parks and Gardens

Palace Rose Garden

The Palace Rose Garden, easily accessible from Sydney's CBD, is a romantic symphony of colour and scents. This area is a delight year-round, with green lawns and benches to rest upon. It's a lovely spot to literally stop and smell the roses, which are in bloom from September to May. It's a popular spot for weddings as well. The rose bushes are interspersed with plants that complement their colours and attract beneficial insects such as lacewings and ladybirds. Thanks to the Garden's horticulturalists and scientists working together, the Rose Garden is alive with vibrant colour and buzzing bees.

Sydney NSW

0.6 km away

Child in the Children's Art Library — Image credit: Art Gallery of New South Wales

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Children's Art Library

Colourful, light-filled and welcoming, the children’s art library has ‘cubby houses’ for reading, tables for engaged learning, and a big comfortable lounge for adults to read with kids, and older children to become absorbed in a book. This is a place for young people and their families to drop by any time we are open, to relax and enjoy a collection especially for them, including books about art and artists, books by artists, and books about making art. Their growing collections include books in languages other than English and books by First Nations authors and illustrators, as well as books for children living with disability or who have access requirements. A hearing loop is active in these spaces. There’s also a regular program of engaging events and activities. Note: They’re not a lending library, so books and other materials cannot be borrowed. Children under 12 must be supervised by an adult at all times.

Sydney NSW

0.6 km away

Garden Palace gates

Landmarks and Buildings

Garden Palace Gates

As you walk up Macquarie Street, see one of the last remaining reminders of the Garden Palace which once stood in the Botanic Gardens. The enchanting Garden Palace was purpose-built to house the Sydney International Exhibition but after the fair it continued to be used for government offices, the occasional event, and a government repository for records and a cultural store. The Garden Palace burnt down on 22nd September 1882.

Sydney NSW

0.7 km away

Yayoi Kusama Flowers that Bloom in the Cosmos 2022 — Image credit: © Yayoi Kusama, photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Zan Wimberley

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Located on Gadigal Country, just 15 minutes' walk from Sydney's city centre and hotels, the Art Gallery of New South Wales stands as one of Australia's premier cultural destinations and Sydney's must-see art museum. Their unique art campus features two stunning buildings and an art garden with breathtaking Sydney Harbour views, in which you can discover historical and contemporary art from Australia and around the world, including the Yiribana Gallery, dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Be immersed in Australian culture and stories through inspiring exhibitions, unique tours, and dining experiences from renowned Australian chefs, within one of the world's most beautiful cultural precincts. There's always something on for families, especially during school holidays. The Art Gallery of New South Wales is a must-visit for anyone exploring Sydney.

Sydney NSW

0.7 km away

Grandiflora — Image credit: Grandiflora

Shopping and Markets

Grandiflora

In 1995, Saskia Havekes opened a small flower shop, Grandiflora, in Sydney’s Pott’s Point. Today, while the shop still flourishes, its founder has an International reputation, not only as a florist but as an author and now a creator of fragrances. The Grandiflora aesthetic has influenced interior styling, hospitality, fashion, editorial and even the modern rituals of giving and displaying flowers. Saskia Havekes does not arrange flowers, she curates them. Drama and scale are her signatures. From an artful posy to a full-scale installation Saskia is always searching for the chance to sculpt beauty out of the bounty of nature and the mutability of the seasons.

Elizabeth Bay NSW

0.7 km away

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