George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens

The George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens is 2 kilometres from Darwin's city centre.

It covers 42 hectares and is one of Australia's most significant tropical botanic gardens.

Set within a diverse Top End landscape, it has a large collection of northern Australian and tropical plants from around the world.

The gardens offers space to relax, explore and connect with unique plants and stories of the Top End.

Find out how to plan your visit.

Admission

Entry to the gardens is free.

Location

The gardens is bordered by Gilruth Avenue and Gardens Road, 2km from Darwin city.

Enter via Gardens Road or Geranium Street.

Digital gardens map

Explore the digital gardens map.

Use the digital gardens map to explore the gardens and follow walking routes.

Living plant collections

Explore the tropical flora of northern Australia and beyond, including:

• the Rainforest Gully, with towering palms and shaded boardwalks
• the Cycad Garden with ancient plant species
• the Africa-Madagascar Garden with its distinctive baobabs and boabs
• orchids, bromeliads and seasonal displays in the Plant Display House
• native Top End plants in open woodland areas.

Other features

• Rainforest waterfall - a tranquil spot in the garden loop.
• Ornamental fountain - Darwin’s tallest, perfect for photos.
• Picnic lawns and barbecues - shaded spaces for relaxing under trees.
• Children’s playground - with the iconic treehouse and viking swing.
• Eva’s Café - in a restored 1897 Wesleyan church.

Use the digital gardens map to follow walking routes and explore the gardens.

Special Tree Walk

The Special Tree Walk covers 18 significant trees in the gardens.

This walk will take 45 minutes to one hour.

You can follow this walk on the digital gardens map.

Matboerrma (Larrakia) Walk

Provides information about how the local Larrakia people use native plants for traditional purposes.

This walk will take 45 minutes to one hour.

You can follow this walk on the digital gardens map.

Cycad Walk

There are 11 species of NT cycad plants at the Geranium Street entrance near the car park.

The area displays Australian and Northern Territory cycads.

There are five dinosaurs to show the connection between cycads and dinosaurs.

Larrakia coastal Walk

This walk takes you from Mindil Beach onto a boardwalk, through natural mangrove forest and up to Bullocky Point.

From there, you can walk to the museum and art gallery.

En route are painted poles indicating various Larrakia coastal plant uses.

This walk will take 30 to 45 minutes.

Guided walks

Guided walks are not provided by The George Brown Botanical Gardens.

You can book and pay for a guided walk through a local tour company.

You must follow these rules when you visit the gardens.

Dogs

You can only walk your dog in the gardens if:

• you keep them on a lead in car parks
• they always stay under your control
• you pick up their waste
• they don't:
  • disturb or trouble other visitors
  • enter ponds, waterways or the children's playground
  • chase or attack wildlife.

Gardens rules

All plants and animals in the gardens are protected.

You must not:

• pick flowers
• take plant cuttings
• catch fish
• release fish in any waterways
• enter or swim in the fountains, ponds or waterways
• start fires
• bring your own barbecue (electric barbecues are provided).

You must put all rubbish in bins or take it away with you.

You should:

• keep to lawns, paths and tracks
• lock your vehicle and secure valuables.

Asbestos at the gardens

Asbestos has been found at the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens.

There is a management plan for dealing with it.

If left alone, it is not a risk to people.

If you think you see asbestos:

• don't touch it
• call the gardens staff on 08 8999 4418.

The gardens host special community events across the year including:

• school holiday programs
• botanic gardens open day
• plant sales
• conservation activities.

To find out about upcoming events, follow the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens Facebook page.

You do not need a Facebook account to view these events.

You can apply to hold events, functions and weddings at the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens.

The gardens offers a unique tropical setting surrounded by open lawns and tranquil garden spaces.

Function areas include:

• the indoor Event Centre, with a mini amphitheatre
• open and shaded lawns
• fountain area
• Eva’s Café
• intimate gardens.

See where these areas are on the digital gardens map.

Contact

Contact the team at Botanic Gardens Catering Co. about your next event and arrange a site visit:

• email events@botanicgardenscatering.com.au
• call 08 8941 8110.

To find out more, go to the Botanic Gardens Catering Co. website.

There are no education programs offered by the gardens.

Self-guided school visits are welcome.

Plan your visit using the digital gardens map.

School groups can:

• use the map to follow walks in the gardens
• set a navigation challenge with an orienteering map from the Top End Orienteers website
• look for birds with a bird ID sheet from the Visitor and Event Centre
• visit the children’s playground
• explore the Visitor and Event Centre to learn about the history and purpose of the gardens.

Enter via Gardens Road for bus parking.

To discuss your next excursion, email botgardens.darwin@nt.gov.au.

The Snake Bean community food garden is located near the Geranium Street entrance.

The garden:

• has 29 individual plots for local community members who don't have space to grow produce at home
• allows community members to grow seasonal vegetables and tropical fruit in a sustainable way
• is open to the public to visit.

Produce grown in the garden is for participating gardeners only.

You must not pick any fruit or vegetables from the garden.

To check if a plot is available, email snakebeangarden@gmail.com.

Friends of the Botanic Gardens is an independent, community led organisation.

For more than 30 years, they have helped connect the community with the gardens.

They support its scientific, educational, horticultural, conservation and recreational functions.

They support the gardens by:

• speaking up for the gardens
• raising funds
• helping as volunteers
• supporting projects for artworks and sculptures
• helping run public events, such as:
  • plant sales
  • open days
  • school holiday programs.

The group meet weekly in the gardens and run their own nursery.

Everyone is welcome to join the Friends of Darwin Botanic Gardens group.

For more information or to join, email info.fodbg@gmail.com

Contact the staff at George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens through the details below.

General information

Phone: 08 8999 4418
Email: botgardens.darwin@nt.gov.au

Eva's Café

Email: info@botanicgardenscafe.com.au

Events and functions

Phone: 08 8941 8110
Email: events@botanicgardenscatering.com.au

To find out more, go to the Botanic Gardens Catering Co. website.