The new NSW/ACT Botanic Trail Guide offers an invitation to explore some of Australia’s most diverse and inspiring cultivated landscapes, from coastal forests to cool-climate mountain gardens and inland collections of national significance.
Designed for both the curious traveller and the dedicated plant enthusiast, the guide brings together a network of gardens that collectively tell the story of Australian plants, people and place.
Among the highlights is the National Arboretum Canberra, just minutes from the city centre. With more than 44,000 trees, it stands as one of the largest living collections of rare and endangered trees in the world. Visitors can explore a mosaic of forests, take in sweeping views, or spend time in the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection, while the extensive trail network encourages both gentle strolls and more active discovery.
Further along the trail, the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden showcases the unique flora of the NSW South Coast within a rich natural bushland setting. Its walking tracks, Aboriginal Heritage Trail and strong connection to local biodiversity make it a place where ecological understanding and visitor experience meet.
Inland, the Orange Botanic Gardens highlight the drama of seasonal change, pairing native and exotic plantings with sculpture and open space. Meanwhile, community-led spaces such as the Pearl Beach Arboretum demonstrate the important role of local stewardship in conserving native flora and fostering public engagement.
From the subtropical plantings of the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens to the expansive collections of the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, the trail reflects the breadth of climates and communities across NSW and the ACT. It also includes iconic institutions such as the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney and the vast Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, both central to conservation, research and public education.
More than a visitor guide, the NSW/ACT Botanic Trail Guide is an invitation to connect – with plants, landscapes and the people who care for them. Whether planning a dedicated journey or a series of day trips, it provides a practical and inspiring pathway into the richness of Australia’s botanic gardens.
