Brisbane Botanic Gardens

Whenever we travel we like to check out gardens.  For whatever reason, we had never really spent any time in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens.  We have really missed out on a lovely space within the city and will be sure to spend more time there.

Hibiscus Shrubs

The city botanic garden is one of the oldest in Australia.  It was the original site of the gardens used by convicts to grow vegetables but it was changed to a botanic garden in 1855.  Many of the now iconic imported trees of Australia (Jacaranda, Poinciana) and the native species (fig trees, bunya pines) were showcased here for early residents.  This is a tropical garden, without the formal areas that we saw in the Sydney and Melbourne botanic gardens.  There are lovely pathways through the park and along the river, making it easy to forget that one is actually right in the middle of the city.  There are venues for weddings, picnics and even an amphitheatre (where we saw kd lang perform in November).

Brisbane City Gardens

River Pathway

One of the more unique features is the Mangrove Riverwalk.  This is a boardwalk that stretches out into the riverbank and winds through a mangrove swamp, allowing for a closeup view of the trees, birds and wildlife that make a home here.  We were a little worried that there would be a stagnant smell, but it is constantly refreshed by flowing river water and tidal influx, so has a really fresh smell to it.  We will definitely be checking out all the gardens in Brisbane after seeing this!

Mangrove Boardwalk