With a wealth of beautiful gardens and sprawling woodlands, Western Sydney is a surprise must-visit for park and garden lovers. Here’s our guide to some of the most lush and verdant wonderlands found throughout the west.
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Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park
If you don’t find the idea of mangroves and wetlands particularly riveting, have your mind changed by taking a stroll along the raised boardwalk that weaves through the atmospheric Badu Mangroves in bird-rich Bicentennial Park. In late winter, there’s an added bonus of exploring the park – the glorious pop of golden wattle. It’s entirely appropriate that our fuzzy national floral emblem – the very essence of green and gold – is right next door to Sydney Olympic Park, the scene of national Olympic sporting glory in 2000.
Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park
Everglades, Leura
Leura is known as the Garden Village of the Blue Mountains – and one of the most impressive sights here is Everglades Historic House and Gardens, a 5.2-hectare National Trust property renowned for its Paul Sorensen-designed formal cool-climate gardens that overlook the unruly Australian bush. Visit the interwar period garden in early spring to find the Cherry Terrace a veritable froth of pale pink (and a popular subject for photos). Other features include European-style terraces, rose-lined walks, the grotto pool, and tranquil reflection pool.
Insider tip: Everglades is home to Tea Rooms where, on weekends, you can enjoy a traditional Devonshire tea with scones. Sit under the silver birch in the courtyard, in the breakfast room or next to the roaring fire in the living room of the golden-walled 1930s Art Deco house.
Campbell Rhododendron Gardens, Blackheath
The Campbell Rhododendron Gardens, at Blackheath atop the Blue Mountains, are open year-round, but they’re really at their showy best from late September to mid-November. Explore the 18-hectare grounds to see not only the namesake flowers but azaleas, maples, and other deciduous trees. You can even take your (leashed) hounds for a stroll around these pretty-as-a-picture gardens.
Campbell Rhododendron Gardens, Blackheath - Credit: Martin7d2 | Flickr
Wildwood Garden, Bilpin
In autumn and spring, catch a profusion of colours at Bilpin’s Wildwood Garden – the handiwork of a pair of dedicated gardeners. The highlight is the garden's 600 camellia varieties but there are also climbers, bulbs and perennials to admire, as well as a cherry walk, fragrant daphne hedge, waterfall, ponds and a lake.
Insider tip: Nearby culinary hotspots in Bilpin include Hillbilly Cider Shed where you can enjoy excellent wood-fired pizza and apple calzones with cream. The Grumpy Baker also turns out a mean pie with unusual fillings such as chicken and harissa, and mushroom and feta.
Wildwood Garden, Bilpin
Auburn Botanic Gardens, Auburn
Famous for its fabulous cherry blossoms (and the odd flowering quince) in late winter/early spring, Auburn Botanic Gardens in the suburb of the same name has something worth seeing year-round. Inhale deeply at the scented garden and sunken rose garden, inspect the plantings in the native and rainforest garden, and skip across a lake using the stepping stones.
The gardens also feature an Avenue of Remembrance, a fauna reserve (home to emus, kangaroos, and other animals), aviary, equal-access playground, lakes with fish and ducks, and a picnic area. Don’t be surprised to see peacocks strut their stuff here as well.
Auburn Botanic Gardens, Auburn - Credit: Cumberland City Council
Australian Botanic Garden, Mt Annan
Mt Annan’s Australian Botanic Garden has the distinction of being Australia’s largest botanic garden (from 2021, it will also be home to the NSW National Herbarium, making it one of the state’s key scientific facilities). This horticultural playground in south-western Sydney sprawls over 416 hectares. Specialising in native Australian flora, its collection showcases more than 4,000 species. Hit the visitor centre first to find out how to make the most of your visit, which could include dropping by the Banksia Garden, the Bird Hide, the Ironbark Woodland, and the Mallee Eucalypts. Keep your eyes peeled, too, for wallaroos and swamp wallabies nibbling on the grasslands. Pack a picnic and make a day of it.
Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mt Tomah
The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, on the Bells Line of Road at Mount Tomah, shows off cool-climate plants and alpine rainforest, along with an extraordinary view out over a great swathe of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Wander among the 28 hectares of plantings to see the hand-glazed pergola in the Formal Garden and the proteas and bromeliads in the Rock Garden. Kneel to inspect the carnivorous plants of the hanging swamp, a feature of the Bog Garden.
Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah
Picton Botanic Gardens, Picton
A favourite among locals in the Wollondilly Shire, the Picton Botanic Gardens were originally established in 1986 and are home to a number of native plants, a six-kilometre-return walking and cycling trail through towering trees, barbecues and kid's playground, making it a great spot for a family day out.
Picton Botanic Gardens, Picton
