City Botanic Gardens

On the Brisbane River at 147 Alice St, the City Botanic Gardens are a historic green space within the city centre. Paths pass broad lawns, ornamental ponds, bamboo and the large weeping figs of Fig Tree Avenue, with native and exotic plants throughout. You can take a quiet walk, find a spot for a picnic or visit the playground. The gardens began as a food garden for the colony and officially opened in 1855. Go early for a calmer walk and cooler conditions.

A garden beside the river

The City Botanic Gardens occupy a bend of the Brisbane River beside the central business district and QUT Gardens Point. The site was planted with food crops by convicts in 1825. Botanist Charles Fraser selected it for a public garden in 1828, and it officially opened in 1855. Plantings from the garden’s early years remain part of its appeal.

Paths and open lawns make it easy to explore at your own pace. The river edge, ornamental ponds and mature trees give the garden several distinct settings within a short walk of the city streets.

What to look for

Weeping Fig Avenue is one of the garden’s defining walks, with large figs shading the path. The Bamboo Grove offers a different feel, while the ponds and lawns provide places to pause. Plant collections include Australian natives and exotic species, alongside older trees and subtropical greenery.

The garden also has a playground. The Edward and Alice Streets gate is the most convenient access point for it. Children can run around while adults take a break on the nearby lawns.