Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

The Royal Botanic Garden occupies the ground where the colony planted its first farm in 1788, which failed, and where a botanic garden was established in 1816 instead, making it the oldest scientific institution in Australia. It curves around Farm Cove from the Opera House to Woolloomooloo, with lawns running down to the seawall, collections of palms, succulents, ferns and Australian natives, and glasshouses holding tropical and arid plants. Mrs Macquarie's Chair, a bench cut into the sandstone at the point in 1810, gives the classic view with the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge lined up together. The garden is free, open every day, and used as much by office workers on lunch breaks as by visitors.

What you actually see

• The harbour lawns - grass running down to the seawall with the Opera House beyond.
• Mrs Macquarie's Chair - the sandstone bench at the point with the classic bridge view.
• The glasshouses - tropical and arid collections under glass.
• The native collections - Australian plants including rainforest and Wollemi pine specimens.

When to go

Spring from September to November for flowering, and autumn from March to May for mild weather; summer midday is hot with limited shade on the lawns. Early morning gives the best light over the harbour and the quietest paths.

Honest expectations

The garden is free but the paths near the Opera House are busy with tour groups all day. Sydney's summer sun is fierce and shade is patchy. The glasshouses charge separately, and the site is large enough that seeing it properly takes longer than most people allow.

Nearby

The Opera House is at the northern edge; the Art Gallery of New South Wales sits on the Domain side.