Brisbane City Botanic Gardens are 18 hectares of heritage gardens beside the Brisbane River in the CBD, with avenues of Bunya pines and weeping figs, ponds, a bamboo grove, an accessible playground and a dog-friendly cafe. Brisbane City Council calls them Queensland’s oldest heritage garden, and they are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It is an easy stop on a city day. Walk in from the CBD in 10 to 15 minutes, take the kids to the playground, join a free guided walk or pick a lawn for a picnic. Do not mix them up with the larger Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, which is in Toowong.
Bunya pines and Weeping Fig Avenue
The gardens were declared a botanic reserve in 1855, with Walter Hill as the first curator. He planted Bunya pines, fig trees and other plants that still stand today, and the collection now has more than 600 plant species, including rare and heritage trees planted in the 1850s.
The scenic way in from Alice Street is Weeping Fig Avenue, a fig-lined boardwalk that links the entrance path to the Riverwalk. The trees were planted in the 1870s.
Ponds, rainforest and the bamboo grove
Away from the avenues you will find lily ponds, a rainforest area, a bamboo grove and colourful garden bed displays. A few historic pieces are worth hunting for as well, including a cannon from the early 1800s and Brisbane’s first drinking fountain.
The Riverwalk
The Riverwalk is a two-way shared path for walkers and cyclists, with separate lanes for each. It runs from the City Reach Boardwalk at the corner of Alice and Edward Streets to Bunya Walk, with lighting, signs, a viewing platform and access to the City Botanic Gardens River Hub.
Baldwin Lawn Playground and picnic spots
Baldwin Lawn Playground is an accessible and inclusive playground for children of all ages and abilities. It has a castle-themed fort with slides, a climbing net, a quiet play area and a sandpit, and accessible toilets are close by.
Royal Palm Lawn and the lawn around the Baldwin Lawn Playground are the two popular picnic spots, and there are picnic tables, picnic shelters and shaded seats around the gardens. For more playground ideas around the city, browse the playgrounds.
The Gardens Club cafe
The Gardens Club is in the heritage-listed Curators Cottage at 75 Gardens Point Road, and it is dog friendly. It is open 7 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday and 7 am to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The kitchen closes at 2 pm on weekdays and 2.30 pm on weekends.
The cafe is run by the Wise Foundation, a not-for-profit charity that runs programs for people facing barriers to employment, and all its profits go back to the community and organisations in need.
Free guided walks and self-guided walks
Hour-long guided walks, led by local guides, leave from the Information Kiosk at 11 am and 1 pm, Monday to Saturday, except public holidays. They cover the history and features of the gardens and are free, and individuals and small groups do not need to book. Walks can be affected by weather and guide availability on the day.
To go it alone, pick up a Treasures brochure at the Visitor Information Kiosk and plan your own route. Groups of 10 or more can book a customised walk, but it needs 6 weeks’ notice. Ring council on 07 3403 8888.
A short history of the gardens
Part of the land was first used to grow crops for the early penal colony. After it became a botanic reserve in 1855, Walter Hill grew the gardens from a 6 acre block to nearly 28 acres. A zoo operated here too, with flamingos, bears, monkeys, emus and a Galapagos tortoise, until it closed in 1958. The gardens were added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1997.
If you like the convict-era story, the Old Windmill on Wickham Terrace was built by convicts of the same penal settlement and stands on the edge of the CBD.
Riverside at the Gardens Market and events
Riverside at the Gardens Market is a free craft and food market in the gardens, open every Sunday from 8 am to 3 pm. It has arts and crafts stalls, coffee, pancakes, international food and live music, and no booking is needed.
Riverstage is an outdoor venue on the river that hosts festivals, community events and concerts, so check what is on if you plan to visit in the evening. Nine lawns and sites around the gardens can be booked for weddings and functions from $217.55 an hour (2 hour minimum), but no booking is needed for wedding photos.
Is Brisbane City Botanic Gardens dog friendly?
Yes. Dogs are welcome on a leash, and you need to dispose of their waste responsibly. The Gardens Club cafe is dog friendly too. The closest off-leash dog parks are across the river in Kangaroo Point.
Planning your visit
- How long: about an hour for a wander, longer with the playground, a picnic or a guided walk (one hour).
- Best time: the gardens never close, so any time of day works. Guided walks run at 11 am and 1 pm Monday to Saturday, and the cafe closes at 3 pm on weekdays and 4 pm on weekends.
- Cost: free entry and free guided walks. The cafe is extra.
- Facilities: toilets (including accessible toilets), drinking fountains and taps, picnic tables and shelters, shaded seats and bike racks at several spots.
- What to bring: a hat, sunscreen and a water bottle you can fill at the taps. Bring a picnic if you want a lawn lunch.
- Accessibility: accessible toilets are in the gardens and Baldwin Lawn Playground is an accessible playground. Council does not publish path surfaces or gradients, so ring 07 3403 8888 if you need to check a route.
Getting there and parking
The gardens are at 147 Alice Street, at Gardens Point in the CBD. There are four entrances: Alice Street (corner of Albert Street, next to the Kangaroo Point Bridge), Edward Street, the Goodwill Bridge and The Domain (Gardens Point Road), and Parliament House (George Street).
On foot and by public transport
Walking from the city centre takes 10 to 15 minutes. Central Station and South Bank station are each about a 10 minute walk away. The free City Loop buses (routes 40 and 50) stop on Alice Street and run about every 10 minutes from 7 am to 6 pm on weekdays. Ferries stop at QUT Gardens Point (CityCat and Express CityCat) and Riverside (CityCat and Cross River Ferry). Plan a trip with the Translink Journey Planner.
By bike
Ride in over the Goodwill Bridge or the Kangaroo Point Bridge, or along the Bicentennial Bikeway. There are bike racks at the East Wing path, Bunya Walk, People’s Walk, Queen’s Row, Royal Walk, Palm Avenue, the Central Path, Gardens Point Road and The Domain.
By car
The gardens are only a short drive from the middle of the CBD, about 2 km by road and about 10 minutes by car, but parking is limited. There is metered street parking on Alice, Albert and Margaret Streets. Disability parking is inside the Edward Street gate and behind The Gardens Club (enter from Gardens Point Road). Drop-off areas are on Gardens Point Road and George Street, both off Alice Street.
More detail is on council’s City Botanic Gardens page, and the cafe’s own site is thegardensclub.com.au. Details can change, so check before you go.
Nearby
- South Bank Parklands – walk across the Goodwill Bridge from the gardens to the other side of the river.
- Roma Street Parkland – another big city garden, on the other side of the CBD.
- Brisbane City Hall – in the city centre, which council puts a 10 to 15 minute walk from the gardens.
- Markets in Brisbane – more markets around the city, if you want to pair a garden wander with one.
- Brisbane cross river ferries – the ferry routes across the river.
- Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha – the larger botanic garden, with a Japanese Garden and a tropical display dome.
Browse more public gardens and things to do in Brisbane.
Quick answers
Is Brisbane City Botanic Gardens free?
Yes. Entry is free, and so are the guided walks. The cafe, hiring a site and Riverstage events cost extra.
What time do the gardens open and close?
They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Gardens Club cafe is open 7 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday and 7 am to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday.
Can I take my dog to the City Botanic Gardens?
Yes, on a leash, and you need to clean up after your dog. The cafe is dog friendly too.
Is there a market at the City Botanic Gardens?
Yes. The free Riverside at the Gardens Market is on every Sunday from 8 am to 3 pm, with craft stalls, food and live music.
Is there a playground?
Yes. Baldwin Lawn Playground is accessible and has a castle-themed fort, slides, a climbing net, a quiet play area and a sandpit. Accessible toilets are nearby.
Where do you park at the City Botanic Gardens?
Street parking is limited. There is metered parking on Alice, Albert and Margaret Streets, and disability parking inside the Edward Street gate and behind The Gardens Club. Walking or public transport is easier.
How do I get to the City Botanic Gardens by public transport?
Walk 10 to 15 minutes from the city centre, about 10 minutes from Central or South Bank station, ride the free City Loop bus (routes 40 and 50) to Alice Street on weekdays, or catch a ferry to QUT Gardens Point or Riverside.
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