Attraction
Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
Queensland's state art museum, split between two free riverside buildings at South Bank, with Australian, Indigenous and Asia Pacific art and a cinema.
Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha
Free 56-hectare botanic gardens at the foot of Mount Coot-tha, with a Japanese Garden, Tropical Display Dome, bonsai house and the city planetarium.
At a glance
- Type
- Botanic garden
- Area
- Toowong, Brisbane, Australia
- Official site
- brisbane.qld.gov.au
Good to know
- Free entry
- Free guided walks
- Cafe
- Playground
- Planetarium
- Car park
Why we recommend it
Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha is the city's main botanic garden, set at the base of Mount Coot-tha about seven kilometres west of the centre. Brisbane City Council established the gardens in 1970 and they were officially opened in 1976. They cover 56 hectares and contain more than 200,000 plants from around the world, grouped by region and habitat.
The highlights are spread out, so a map helps. The Japanese Garden, designed by landscape artist Kenzo Ogata, uses stone, water and paths around quiet ponds. The Tropical Display Dome holds palms, aroids, heliconias and a temperature-controlled section of food crops such as cocoa. The Bonsai House is one of the largest publicly owned bonsai displays in Australia, and the Fern House has more than 80 species. The 27-hectare Australian Plant Communities area brings together eucalypt forest, heathland, wetland and rainforest plantings, including more than 40 rare or threatened species. Around the lagoon and bamboo grove you may spot turtles, egrets and water dragons.
Entry is free. The Bonsai House, Fern House and Tropical Display Dome open from 9am to 4pm daily, and volunteers lead free guided walks from Monday to Saturday, except public holidays. Five themed self-guided trails take between 10 and 30 minutes each. Dogs are not allowed, apart from guide and assistance dogs.
The gardens suit families, with a nature-themed playground beside the lagoon and a Hide 'n' Seek children's trail. Garden lovers can easily spend half a day here, and the Gardens Cafe serves meals, snacks, Devonshire teas and ice creams. The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, which opened in the grounds in 1978, offers shows in its Cosmic Skydome and makes a good choice on a rainy day.
There is a main car park with coach parking. If you are using public transport, check the TransLink journey planner for buses to Mount Coot-tha Road. The Mt Coot-tha Summit Lookout is higher up the same mountain, and the wider Mt Coot-tha Reserve has many walking tracks. Combining the gardens in the morning with the lookout later in the day is an easy way to spend a relaxed half day away from the city centre.
Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha FAQs
Is entry to Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha free?
Yes. Entry to the gardens is free.
When do the indoor displays open?
The Bonsai House, Fern House and Tropical Display Dome open from 9am to 4pm daily.
Are there free guided walks?
Yes. Volunteers lead free guided walks from Monday to Saturday, excluding public holidays.
Can I bring my dog?
No. Dogs are not permitted, except guide and assistance dogs.
Is there somewhere to eat?
Yes. The Gardens Cafe serves meals, snacks, Devonshire teas and ice creams.
Is it good for children?
Yes. There is a nature-themed playground by the lagoon, a children's trail and the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium.
How big are the gardens?
They cover 56 hectares with more than 200,000 plants.
What is nearby?
The Mt Coot-tha Summit Lookout and the walking tracks of Mt Coot-tha Reserve.