Hunter Region Botanic Gardens

Description

Easy walking trails provide access to the natural bushland with its mature blackbutt, angophoras and swamp mahogony forests and its under-storey of more than 150 native plants. The forests are the natural habitat of goannas, wallabies, lizards, brushtail and ringtail possums, sugar gliders, bats, a small group of resident koalas and many birds.

We invite parents groups to enjoy the many facilities that make a day out with the kids rewarding, educational and relaxing.

Location

The Gardens are located on the Pacific Highway, 4km north of the Hexham Bridge between Newcastle and Raymond Terrace. They are 2 hours drive from Sydney, 40 minutes from Lake Macquarie, and half an hour from Newcastle and Maitland.

Opening Hours

The Gardens and Visitors Centre, and Gardens Shop and the Kookaburra Cafe are open daily, from 9.00am to 4.00pm (closed Christmas Day and Good Friday).

Admission and Parking

Admission to the Gardens is FREE for individuals.

The Gardens has a boom gate controlled carpark for visitors. A parking charge of $4.00 applies for cars, and a charge of $2.00 per passenger for coaches. Tokens to operate the boom gate should be purchased from the Kookaburra Cafe before you leave the Gardens. All revenue from parking charges is applied to maintaining the Gardens.

Visitors Centre

The Visitors Centre, at the entrance to the Gardens, contains the resource library, administration centre, educational displays, tourist information and services, and can be booked for private art exhibitions. There is a gift shop (including Australiana Souvenirs) and the Kookaburra Cafe serving Devonshire teas, light lunches and refreshments. Visitors enjoy the outdoor eatery or picnic on the lawns. Regular events, such as music or brunch in the Gardens, have special appeal to members and visitors.