Sydney gardeners are you slowing down on the gardening jobs over winter? While there might still be plenty to do on your jobs list, winter is also a super terrific time to take a step back and a step out and get inspired. So, here's our Sydney scoop of five gardens that we love where you can do just that. From relaxing walks and tours to culturally empowering workshops, there is an activity perfect for nature lovers of all ages. Even if you are not a gardener...
Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan in alignment with the 2022 NAIDOC theme Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! extends the invitation to explore the botanic garden on 11 July and learn about the perseverance and resistance of First Nations peoples in their journey and fight for sovereignty, justice and freedom. Participants will discover through the Botanic Garden, important First Nations figures, Dreaming stories and dates whilst creating their own Aboriginal flags, headbands, calico bags and much more.
Mount Annan is an easy trip just 60km south west of the city in Camden Council and the botanic garden is home to over 4,000 plant species. A free half hour guided tour of The PlantBank which specialises in research into the conservation of Australian native plant species can be booked to round off your day.
Centennial Parklands is one of the world's leading public parklands. As Sydney's largest urban green space Centennial Parklands is also affectionately known as 'the lungs of the city'. Part of Greater Sydney Parklands, it has also some of the most historically and socially significant urban spaces in Australia.
While there is a plethora of places to picnic, trees to hug, tracks to walk, grass to lie on and places to play (or to train if you must), Centennial Parklands is also home to the most intricately built labyrinth in the world. The Centennial Park Labyrinth is an 11 circuit sandstone labyrinth, based on the design of the medieval labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral in France, which dates from the early 13th century. Located to the northern end of Willow Pond (off Dickens Drive).
The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is the oldest botanic garden in Australia, encompasses 30 hectares and is and home to an outstanding collection of more than 27,000 plants from around the world.
Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday you can walk with your First Nations guide through The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney to learn more about Indigenous bush foods and how these foods were used traditionally and adapted to the modern plate and palate. On your one-hour tour, you’ll journey through the Cadi Jam Ora garden and learn about some of the hottest bush foods on the market right now, all while tasting some goodies for yourself!
Sydney Scoop always stops by the heart of the botanic garden The Calyx which is a hub of activity including workshops and exhibitions, and home to one of the largest green walls in the southern hemisphere.
The Wollongong Botanic Garden of the Illawarra has a range of varied collections, from Australian Open Forest and Grassland through Towri Bush Tucker Garden to explore and is such a beautiful healing place with a wonderful new Go Slow for a 'Mo nature wellness trail, among the amazing open spaces.
The Wollongong Botanic Garden Greenplan Nursery has an extensive range of local trees, shrubs, ground covers and grasses, as well as worm farms and compost bins for sale coming up next on 15 July and 19 August.
Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah was the first place I escaped to after lockdown. When I couldn't leave my small Kings Cross studio apartment, I binged watched Gardening Australia (which later prompted a move to 1/2 acre in the suburbs) and dreamt of my favourite botanic garden. The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden is the only botanic garden in Australia located within a UNESCO World Heritage Area. The garden features hundreds of different plant species from all over the world, as well as birds, lizards, possums and insects that call the garden home.
Nature Therapy Walks 23 July and 20 August invite participants to take time out of their busy lives so they can slow down and connect with the calming and health-giving benefits of nature along the Lady (Nancy) Fairfax Walk. Facilitators will gently guide participants through a series of sensory experiences, mindfulness, quiet aware walking and nature appreciation to help promote slowing down, nature connection and relaxation. The experience, presented by the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden and In My Nature, concludes with a Japanese-inspired tea ceremony. Originating from Japan, Shinrin-yoku (or forest therapy) is a preventative health practice that improves wellbeing by immersing your senses in nature. This guided experience is designed to increase your mental and physical health by reducing stress levels and lowering your pulse and blood pressure.
