Australian National Botanic Gardens

Nestled on the foothills of Black Mountain, the Australian National Botanic Gardens is the perfect retreat from the rush of city life. Only minutes from Canberra’s City Centre the Gardens give you the opportunity to explore one-fifth of Australia’s diverse flora amongst Canberra’s bushland setting. The Gardens provides an inspirational place for learning and recreation with guided walks, exhibitions and year-round events.

Attraction

Eucalypt Walk

Explore Australia’s iconic and dominant tree species on this fascinating one-hour self-guided walk. You’ll learn how to distinguish the three kinds of eucalypt and find out about the variety of leaves, fruits, bark and more. Of the more than 850 eucalypt species known, almost all are native only to Australia. Some species have a wide geographic distribution; others are extremely restricted in their natural habitat and need conservation.

Indigenous Plant Use Trail

Discover the many ingenious ways Australian Aboriginal people used plants for food, fire, tools and more on this self-guided walk. Aboriginal cultures of Australia are the oldest living cultures in the world. These cultures have been passed on over thousands of years, including knowledge of plants used to survive in Australia’s sometimes inhospitable environments.

Bushland Nature Walk

Escape on a secluded bushland walk with spectacular views of Lake Burley Griffin and Parliament House – you’re guaranteed to spot some of the rare plants, birds and wildlife found on Black Mountain. From the Gardens’ Visitor Centre, the walk passes through the most diverse nature reserve in Canberra, with more than 650 species of plants, including more than 60 orchids. Interpretive signage along the trail provides stories on the plants and wildlife of Black Mountain.

Paperbark Treehouse and Children's Trail

Climb a three-level treehouse into the canopy of a lush paperbark forest. Constructed mainly of recycled timber (some retrieved from the set of the Baz Luhrmann movie Australia), the Paperbark Treehouse is nestled among a colony of swamp paperbark trees (Melaleuca ericifolia). The treehouse has a ramp-accessible platform at 2.5 metres high. From there, a ladder takes you up to a crow’s nest in the forest canopy. After climbing the treehouse, you can scamper across stepping stones, to follow the Who Did That? Children’s Trail and foster your child’s imagination and love of learning by interacting with nature.