Botanic Gardens

Peanut Butter Tree

Take a wander to the rare fruit orchard and sample the ripe orange red fruit of the peanut butter tree Bunchosia glandulifera. The sweet flesh has a taste and texture similar to peanut butter.

Roses

Enjoy the scented blooms of the roses in the Hinkler Garden near the Café.

Ylang Ylang

Highly prized for its perfume extracted from its leaves this stunning specimen near the train station is covered in clusters of dark fruit.

Plumed Ducks

Plumed ducks, Dendrocygna eytoni are gathering in large groups and can be seen on the banks of the lakes. These highly social birds vocalise regularly with a ‘whistling’ sound giving them their other common name Whistling duck. Enjoy these birds from a distance as they can become stressed quite easily.

Visit the Gardens Information Board located at the entrance to Café 1928 to keep up to date with what’s flowering and fruiting in the Gardens.

Beauty abounds as the weather starts to warm up.  Enjoy the display of Azaleas in the Japanese Gardens, flowering Wattles along the Wallum Walk and the native blooms of Grevilleas. 

Marvel at the colourful show from the Leichhardt Bean, Cassia brewsterii and the Pink Trumpet Tree, Handroanthus impetiginosus.  The Dogwood, Jacksonia scoparia provides a striking display with it's vibrant yellow flowers in contrasted plantings with the purple flowers of the Hovea acutifolia.

Bird life is abundant with pelicans and Plumed Whistling Ducks sharing the lakes with our seasonal visitors of Magpie Geese.

The Chinese Gardens come alive with stunning pink Waterlilies, Frangipanis, Strelitzias, Ixora's and the delicate fragrance of the purple Thyme Leaf Honey Myrtle. The fruits of the native Black Bean are large seed pods containing chestnut shaped seeds and can be found under the tree in the Friendship Grove. 

Summer is when you will find sprays of yellow flowers on our botanical emblem, the Golden Penda, Xanthostemon chrysanthus.  Look for the delicate colours of the Native Ginger.  The Crepe-myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica, puts on a wonderful show in the Chinese and Japanese Gardens.  Throughout the gardens you will also find delicate flowers of the Native Cordylines and a striking display from the Bloodwood, Corymbia ptychocarpa.  Take the time to sample the purple Chinese Star Apple, which is ready to harvest at this time of year.

Dragonflies and Damselflies can be seen around the ponds and lakes, while baby Eastern Water Dragons lazily bask on the rocks. Turtles, Darters, Cormorants, Hardheads and Dusky Moorhens are active and you may be lucky to spot some visiting Black Winged Stilts. 

As the climate starts to cool, take a stroll through the Japanese Gardens to see the beautiful flushes of red foliage on the Liquidambar, Liquidambar styraciflua, our sub-tropical Maple substitute. The Lagerstroemia indica, maintains it's display of flowers throughout the season.

Take the time to admire our native bee hives before they go quiet for the winter.  While you are in the area, let your nose lead you to the magnificent Lemon Scented Iron Bark.