As a Canadian in Australia, I’m constantly reminded of the differences between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. The season of spring (September to December) is no exception! The crisp fall air is replaced with the increasing heat, the orange and red leaves become pink cherry blossoms and purple jacarandas, and Sydney comes alive in a flurry of colour.
If you’re a Sydneysider like me, planning a visit, or want to learn about the best spots to see spring flowers and capture that perfect photo, read on to see a few places I’ve visited recently to investigate what’s “growing” in the Emerald City!
If you want an Educational Experience: The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
If you’re in Sydney, you absolutely must visit the Royal Botanic Garden (no matter the time of year!). This is Australia’s oldest botanical garden and scientific institution, established in 1816. It is a mere stone’s throw away from the iconic Sydney Opera House.
I’ve visited the gardens many times, but its beauty never gets old. Something new is always blooming, thanks to the range of Australian natives and international plants that dot this green oasis.
On the day of my most recent visit, I arrived upon juicy red hibiscus, velvety soft kangaroo paws, and buttery yellow daisies. The area around the Herb Garden and Palm Grove were especially alight with colour (as I write this in early October). Small wildflowers and clover bloom in this area in particular, which encourage pollination for bees. I even saw a kookaburra catch a massive grub!
If you need a rainy day activity, go to the Calyx. This indoor hub offers a full educational experience thanks to rotating exhibitions, dedicated volunteers, and the Southern Hemisphere’s largest green wall.
This was my first time at the Calyx and it didn’t disappoint. The current exhibition is “Love Your Nature”, which explores the ways plants reproduce. I learned so much from one of the Calyx volunteers about pollination and the difference between European and Australian Native Bees (for example, Australian Native bees don’t sting!). The Calyx also has a cafe on site and offers a beautiful seating area.
Address: Mrs Maquaries Rd, Sydney CBD
Price: Free, although the Calyx is by donation
Opening Hours: Varies month by month (from dawn to dusk), the Calyx is open 10am-4pm
Perfect For: Couples, Friends, Families, even an AmazingCo Mystery Picnic!
If You’re Looking for a Side of Culture: Chinese Garden of Friendship
The last time I visited the Chinese Garden of Friendship I was a tourist. Now as a local, I often pass the walled up setting on walks, watching Tai Chi and swordfighting instructors finding their inner piece near the entrance. I was excited to check out the inside after all this time.
Because of my research, I knew the garden had a couple of flowering trees, such as the massive Magnolias and ornamental Pomegranate, however, unlike Western Gardens, there are no flowerbeds. Unfortunately, despite what I read prior to my visit, a lot of the flowers had already bloomed and have begun falling off!
I wasn’t let down though, as this tranquil space is alight with colour and tradition. The Chinese Garden of Friendship opened in 1988 to symbolise the friendship between sister cities Sydney and Guanzhou, which is located in the southern province of Guangdong, China. The decorative plants almost glow green in the daytime, the hearty wooden structures were dotted with red lanterns, and the charismatic (and hungry!) koi fish scattered the landscape with bits of orange, white, and black.
What impressed me the most about visiting the Chinese Garden of Friendship is that every element is carefully curated and has a purpose. The garden was built upon the Taoist principles of Yin and Yang, opposing but complementary forces, and “Wu-Xing”, also known as the five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Metal. If one of these elements is missing from the garden, the harmony and balance of the space would be compromised. Incorporating all of these elements together forms a free flowing Qi, or energy.
If you’re looking to explore a different style of garden in Sydney, the Chinese Garden of Friendship offers a sense of calm in the hectic city.
Address: Pier St, corner of Harbour St, Darling Harbour
Price: $12 for adults, $8 for children under 12, children under 5 are free
Opening Hours: 10am-5pm, with special events sometimes after hours
Perfect For: Couples, Friends, Families with prams (the lower garden is accessible)
If You’re Looking for Family Time: Centennial Parklands
Despite living in Sydney for 3 years, I had yet to venture out east to the Centennial Parklands. This area is vast, and as I quickly learned, you’ll want good walking shoes if you visit!
Many people have heard of Centennial Park, but the parklands also consist of Moore Park and Queens Park, which encompasses a total of 360 hectares (890 acres) of space! Despite visiting on a weekday morning, the area was alive with the soft footsteps of joggers, the smell of morning coffee, and the chatter of cockatoos waking up from their slumber.
The main blooms in early October were just starting in the Rose Garden. There were some yellow roses, fragrant calla lilies, and deep purple irises already showing off their colours, but there were still some humble buds ready to burst as well. If you get a chance to visit in later October or into November I’d expect a huge floral rainbow awaiting your arrival!
Centennial Park is the traditional home of the Gadi people, and contains a wealth of swamps and ponds. This is recognised along the Lachlan Swamp Nature Trail, where you can see the native bush, flowers, and birds in the area.
If you have children, I highly recommend bringing them to the Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden! This playground is immersed in natural landscape complete with a water play area and bamboo forest. The Centennial Parklands also have an equestrian track, and plenty of geese, black swans, and parrots in the area to surprise and delight the little ones. With all the space and attractions, it would be a perfect place to spend an afternoon with the whole family!
Address: Entrances along Lang Rd, Moore Park Rd & Oxford Street, and many more bordering Sydney & Randwick LGAs
Price: Free
Opening Hours: From dawn to dusk depending on the time of year
Perfect For: Couples, Friends, or an AmazingCo Family Mystery Picnic!
For Surprises & Wildlife: Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden
If you’re after dense, jungle-like atmosphere not too far from the city, you need to visit Sydney’s worst-kept secret: Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden. After famous artist Brett Whiteley’s death in 1992, his grief stricken wife, Wendy, began clearing overgrown bushes down the hill from her Lavender Bay home. As she cleared the land, she replanted flowers and tropical plants, without permission from the authorities.
I’ve been once to the garden on a lunch break, so I never had a chance to go deep into its nooks and crannies. I arrived after a five-minute walk from Milsons Point train station, and was surprised with how lush this land has become. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is slowly being swallowed by Australian and exotic palm trees, and the brightly plumed birds were already stretching their wings.
As I took the wooden handmade steps down, I began to find some of the little secrets Wendy had left among the trails. Patches of pink, red, purple and orange flowers punctured the green landscape, thirsting for the rays of sunlight between the trees. The most zen statues, with moss beginning to grow over them, laid in nirvana. Wee fairy houses popped out of nowhere, and at the bottom of the hill this garden is perched upon, a handful of tables and benches appear for you to rest your weary feet.
The highlight for me on my miniature journey was the bird life! Gargantuan brush turkeys were hanging in trees bending the sinewy branches, and I even spent a few minutes watching a rainbow lorikeet devour seeds left out on a tree stump. I’d never expected to see so much of a controlled yet chaotic garden so close to the Sydney city centre, and had a fantastic time!
Address: Located in Clark Park, Lavender Street, in Lavender Bay
Price: Free
Opening Hours: No official hours, but I’d suggest dawn to dusk
Perfect For: Couples, Friends, Families with children who can handle steep steps
I hope you get a chance to spend time with your loved ones and explore the bounty of blooms around Sydney this spring! For more inspiration, check out the City of Sydney’s website for a list of fantastic gardens to visit.
