A 30-hectare harbourside garden adjoining the Opera House and the Domain, with themed plant collections, a colony of wild flying foxes, and Mrs Macquarie's Chair, the sandstone lookout carved in 1810 with the classic Opera House and Bridge view.
Established in 1816, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is Australia's oldest scientific institution and one of the finest examples of a colonial-era botanic garden anywhere in the world. Its 30 hectares wrap around Farm Cove between the Opera House and Woolloomooloo, mixing formal garden beds, a rose garden, a rainforest gully, and remnant native bushland with sweeping harbour views at almost every turn.
Mrs Macquarie's Chair, a bench hand-carved into sandstone rock by convicts in 1810 for the wife of Governor Lachlan Macquarie, sits at the tip of the point and remains the single most photographed vantage point in Sydney for its uninterrupted view of both the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge in one frame. The garden is also home to a noisy colony of grey-headed flying foxes that roost in the fig trees near the Palm Grove — a protected species and a startling sight for first-time visitors unaware that Australia's largest bats live in the middle of the city.
| Admission | Free |
|---|---|
| Hours | Daily 7AM until sunset (varies seasonally, roughly 5:30PM-8PM) |
| Typical visit | 1.5-3 hours |
| Best time | Early morning for cool temperatures and quiet paths; late afternoon for golden-hour photos from Mrs Macquarie's Chair |
| Getting there | 5-10 minute walk from Circular Quay or St James train station |
| Address | Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney NSW 2000 |
Good to know
- Best for
- nature, photography, relaxation
Location
Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
-33.8642, 151.2166 View on map
Highlights
- Photograph the Opera House and Bridge from Mrs Macquarie's Chair
- Watch the grey-headed flying fox colony in the Palm Grove fig trees
- Walk the harbour promenade from the Opera House into the gardens
- Explore the rose garden and rainforest gully
- Visit the adjacent Art Gallery of NSW through the Domain
Tips for visiting
- Walk from the Opera House along the harbour promenade into the gardens to reach Mrs Macquarie's Chair — about 20 minutes on a flat, paved path
- Look up into the fig trees near the Palm Grove in the late afternoon to see the resident grey-headed flying fox colony stirring before their nightly flight
- The free garden is separate from the paid Calyx glasshouse and event spaces — most of the grounds and lookouts cost nothing to visit
- Combine a garden visit with the adjacent Art Gallery of NSW, a 5-minute walk through the Domain
When to visit
Visit at sunset for the golden-hour view from Mrs Macquarie's Chair, or early morning for a quiet walk before the CBD crowds arrive.
Accessibility
Main paths through the garden are paved and wheelchair accessible, with gentle gradients in most areas; a few sections near the rainforest gully have steps as an alternative to a longer accessible route.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Royal Botanic Garden free to enter?
Yes, the garden grounds are completely free and open daily from around 7AM until sunset. Only specific ticketed features, like The Calyx glasshouse exhibitions, charge admission.
Where is the best Opera House and Bridge photo spot?
Mrs Macquarie's Chair, at the eastern tip of the garden on Mrs Macquaries Point, frames both the Opera House and Harbour Bridge in a single wide shot and is the most reliable spot for this classic photo.
Are the flying foxes dangerous?
No, the grey-headed flying foxes roosting in the garden's fig trees are harmless fruit bats and pose no threat to visitors walking beneath them, though visitors should avoid touching any injured or grounded bats and report them to garden staff.