May is a special time of year for Sydneysiders because it’s the garden season. These are some of the best gardens in Sydney that you can visit during this lovely month.
Featherdale Wildlife Park
In Paddington, there is a bird zoo called Featherdale Wildlife Park. It has a Tropical Fruit & Aviary tour where guests get to explore the lush fruit-filled rainforests and see kookaburras, cockatoos, blue wrens, parrots and rainbow lorikeets. This last one is incredible because all their tongues are the same colour as the fruit they eat!
The Australian Botanic Garden
Another great place in Paddington is The Australian Botanic Garden in Mount Annan. Right now they have millions of beautiful flowers blooming, including the blue flowering wattle ( Acacia baileyana ) and pink-flowered waxflowers ( Chamelaucium axillare ). They also have a special exhibition called Flowers of War, showing off plants that were used during World War I.
Sanctuary Koala Gardens
In Centennial Park, there is Sanctuary Koala Gardens. Guests can see koalas in their natural habitat and hold a koala. There are also kangaroos that people can feed and pet!
Tumbalong Park
Head to Darling Harbour in Sydney to visit Tumbalong Park. The area was transformed into an all-ages outdoor playground with food stalls, carnival games and entertainment for kids. Right now, they’re hosting the Rainbows End Festival where everyone gets dressed up in bright colours and big smiles.
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
Another great place to visit is the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. They’re hosting an Indigenous Plant Walk where you will learn about local medicinal plants like the coolibah ( Eucalyptus coolabah ), desert bloodwood ( Corymbia terminalie ) and the blue devil ( Erythrina flabelliformis ). Visitors can also try bush tucker cooked over an open fire by an aboriginal elder!
The Circle Garden
Warrane College is one of Sydney’s oldest universities, but did you know they have a gorgeous Japanese-style garden called The Circle Garden? It was built in 1988 to commemorate Australia-Japan relations after WWII. Each plant, rock or stone has its meaning and story that expresses itself in the design of the garden. In May, they always have a special exhibition to celebrate Mother’s Day.
The Goat House
A hidden gem in Sydney is The Goat House. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a house shaped like a goat! You can find this magnificent sight at Harmony Park by Circular Quay. However, there are no goats inside so please don’t get your hopes up!
Cloudehill Gardens
If you’re travelling outside of Sydney, check out Cloudehill Gardens. They’re known for their tranquil outdoor spaces filled with native Australian plants from birds to butterflies. Many of the trees here were grown from seeds brought back from Captain Cook’s voyages in 1770. Some of these trees are more than 200 years old!
Wollemi National Park
There’s also the Wollemi Wilderness in Wollemi National Park. This park has a special tree called a Wollemi Pine (Wollemia Nobilis). It was thought to be extinct until one day some people found it growing in a very deep canyon. Now they have thousands of these trees from different ages! Not only that but there are lots of other animals here too like echidnas and wallabies.
You can get outfitted with special equipment for an underground journey into the heart of this ancient landscape.
Blue Mountains
A place not too far from Sydney is the Blue Mountains. This park has a variety of plants and animals like kangaroos, wombats, wallabies and even koalas! There are also 50 different types of birds here. Plus there’s lots of beautiful scenery along with incredible gorges, eucalypt forests and rainforests.
The Royal National Park
The Royal National Park is another great choice because it was made for everyone to enjoy! Visitors can discover nature through education programs, access trails or just visit to take in all the sights. It’s where you’ll find pristine coastlines, swimming spots, views of lush cliffs and beaches. Even though it’s very big (about 4 times the size of Central Park), visitors never have trouble getting around because there are train and bus stops.
Other places you should see are the Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay, Bondi Beach, Luna Park and Darling Harbour. There’s a lot more to do in this city than just looking at gardens! If you’re a nature lover, Australia has it all. So don’t forget to check it out next time you visit!