Auburn Botanic Gardens is a must visit for families! It’s high on the list of places we recommend the most. While beautiful all year round, it’s particularly gorgeous in spring with the blooming cherry blossoms and autumn with the changing leaves.
There’s so much to enjoy at the gardens. Here are some of the main attractions.
1Japanese Garden
The Japanese Garden is gorgeous!
There are large koi carp fish, beautiful ducks swimming and two small waterfalls. It’s a great place to reflect and catch your breath.
2Native Animals (Open Daily 9am to 4pm)
The fauna reserve has wallabies, kangaroos, emus and ducks.
The layout is done well and children can feel like they are up close and personal with these native animals.
The feeding times are 10am and 2pm on weekends. We usually see the keepers cleaning the enclosures when we go on a weekday morning and they are happy to answer questions.
3Community Reading Box – Street Library
At the entrance to the native animal enclosure, you will now find a lovely community reading box where you can take a book and leave a book for FREE.
4Playground Inside the Gardens
The current playground at the back of the Gardens is scheduled for an upgrade – though now word yet when. The plan is to turn the space into a wonderful nature play area with an edible garden nearby. Then Cumberland Council will also be building a new regional playground just outside Auburn Botanic Gardens near Duck River.
The current playground is not gated but it’s far at the back of Auburn Botanic Gardens -and far away from cars. It’s accessible for toddlers and definitely a favourite.
There’s a liberty swing and a maze, plus some picnic tables. While still great for young kids, it was built over 10 years ago now and showing some wear. The other small downside of this playground is that there is a recording of native animals that includes some scary roar-like sounds. It is turned on via a sensor. It left my youngest in tears. Hopefully Council can change the recording to birds chirping instead.
5Other Gardens
In between the Japanese Gardens and playground on one side, and the native animals and toilets on the other, are a number of other gardens and ponds to explore. We particularly like the rose garden (when in bloom) and maze.
6Just Outside the Gardens
Just outside the gardens, is a large picnic area with a large number of bbqs and covered picnic tables. Makes for a great spot for family gatherings, with a wander around the gardens afterwards. There are also three sets of play equipment throughout the area, including a climbing play gym for little ones and swings and monkey bars.
You can also set off on a walk or ride along Duck River that runs alongside Auburn Botanic Gardens. Be warned though, it can be pretty full of rubbish!
Entry
Auburn Botanic Gardens is FREE on weekdays, during school term. Outside these hours, it’s free for Cumberland Council residents and kids under 16yrs to enter. For everyone else, it’s $5 on weekends and during the school holidays. Though sometimes there’s no one there to collect the entry fee.
Opening Hours
Auburn Botanic Gardens are open every day from 9am to 5pm. NOTE: the native animal enclosure closes one hour earlier, at 4pm.
Finding Auburn Botanic Gardens
The gardens are tucked away in suburbia, between Auburn and Guildford train stations. They’re just over 7km south-east of Parramatta CBD. There’s free on-site parking (entering along Chiswick Road). Or you can get there by bus 909 from Auburn train station.
The main entrance is currently on Chiswick Road. But a new entrance is being built on Chisholm Road.
Places of Interest Nearby
