Updated in October 2026, this Australian National Botanic Gardens guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Australian National Botanic Gardens is a native plant collection on the lower slopes of Black Mountain in Acton, Canberra. Car parking costs $3.80 per hour, up to a maximum of $16.00 per day, and Telstra Tower on Black Mountain is still closed to visitors. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the current parking fees and the tower closure, which some older guides do not reflect.
Quick facts: the Australian National Botanic Gardens
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 8.30am to 5.00pm daily. Closed on Christmas Day only. |
| Ticket prices | Free entry ($0). Flora Explorer bus: adults $8, children under 16 and concessions $5. |
| Address | Clunies Ross Street, Acton ACT 2601 |
| Nearest transport or parking | On-site car park: $3.80 per hour, $16.00 daily maximum. Nearest bus stop: Barry Drive, a 1.3 km walk. |
| Typical time needed | About 1 to 2 hours |
Australian National Botanic Gardens opening hours
The Gardens are open 8.30am to 5.00pm every day, except Christmas Day. The hours are the same all year, and the official website lists no seasonal changes. Gates are locked outside these times.
Staff may close parts of the Gardens in dangerous weather, such as high winds or high fire danger. Other venues on site have their own hours:
- Visitor Centre and Botanical Bookshop: 9.30am to 4.30pm daily.
- Pollen cafe: 9.00am to 4.00pm daily.
- Jindii EcoSpa: 8am to 5pm Monday to Wednesday, 8am to 8pm Thursday, and 8am to 5pm Friday and Saturday. It is closed on Sundays.
All three are closed on Christmas Day.
Australian National Botanic Gardens ticket prices
Entry to the Australian National Botanic Gardens is free. Charges apply only to parking and the Flora Explorer bus.
- General entry: free.
- Daily guided walks: free. They run at 11am and 2pm, last about one hour and need no booking.
- Flora Explorer electric bus: adults $8, children under 16 and concessions $5, children under 3 free.
- Car parking: $3.80 per hour, up to $16.00 per day. Accessible spaces are free.
- Wheelchair or mobility scooter loan: free.
The Flora Explorer leaves from the Visitor Centre on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays at 11.30am and 1.30pm. The tour takes 45 minutes and bookings are highly recommended.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
How to get to the Australian National Botanic Gardens
The Gardens are about 2.5 km from central Canberra. The main entrance is on Clunies Ross Street in Acton.
- On foot or by bike: the walk or ride from central Canberra is about 2.5 km. Bicycle racks are near the Visitor Centre and car park.
- By bus: the nearest bus stop is on Barry Drive, off Clunies Ross Street. It is a 1.3 km walk to the Gardens.
- By car: use Parkes Way from the south or Barry Drive from the north to reach the main entrance.
Parking at the Australian National Botanic Gardens
Parking costs $3.80 per hour, up to a maximum of $16.00 per day, for each vehicle. The Gardens has plenty of car parking.
Accessible parking spaces are free. They are at the northern end of the main car park, close to the Visitor Centre and cafe, and behind the Crosbie Morrison building. Botanical Bookshop customers can use four designated spaces near the Visitor Centre for free, with a strict 30-minute limit. Coach parking is free in the main car park.
How long to spend at the Australian National Botanic Gardens
Plan about 1 to 2 hours for a first visit. This is a planning estimate, because the Gardens publish times only for individual walks and tours.
- Main Path Walk: a 1.4 km loop that takes 40 minutes.
- Daily guided walk: about 1 hour.
- Flora Explorer bus: 2 km, 45 minutes.
- Flower to Tower Trail: 5.4 km return, about 2 hours.
The Flower to Tower Trail is graded difficult and climbs Black Mountain from the Gardens. Telstra Tower at the top has been closed to the public since 13 July 2021. The ACT Government expects it to reopen in summer 2027/28.
Accessibility at the Australian National Botanic Gardens
The Main Path Walk has no steps, so it suits wheelchairs and strollers. All slopes on the path meet Australian standards for wheelchair access.
You can book a free wheelchair or electric mobility scooter at the Visitor Centre or by phoning 02 6250 9588 between 9.30am and 4.30pm. Public toilets are in the foyer of the administration building, opposite the Visitor Centre.
The daily guided walks are wheelchair accessible. The Flora Explorer bus and the Flower to Tower Trail are not. Only registered assistance animals may enter the Gardens.
What to see at the Australian National Botanic Gardens
The collection has around 75,000 plants from more than 4,300 species, about a fifth of Australia’s known native plant species. It covers 35 hectares. Plants are grouped by region, botanical family or Indigenous use.
The Rainforest Gully has an elevated boardwalk through cool coastal rainforest. Water dragons can be seen at the waterfall on the Main Path.
Short detours from the Main Path lead to the arid Red Centre Garden and Rock Garden. The Red Centre Garden shows plants, animals and landscape features from central Australia.
The Eucalypt Lawn is a picnic area under eucalypts. The Banksia Garden, Proteaceae displays, Asteraceae (Daisy) Garden and Sydney Region Gully show further plant groups.
The Paperbark Treehouse gives a view from the treetops. The Who Did That? Children’s Trail introduces children to biodiversity.
Wildlife includes birds, echidnas, native bees, possums, snakes, swamp wallabies and water dragons. Visitors must not feed any wildlife.
The Visitor Centre has maps, the Botanical Bookshop and an exhibition space. It also runs a free plant identification service for fewer than ten specimens. The Pollen cafe serves lunch.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Daily guided walks leave at 11am and 2pm. Arrive 10 minutes early at the clock near the entry. |
| Crowds and bookings | Book the Flora Explorer before a weekend or public holiday visit, as bookings are highly recommended. |
| Layout | Collect the free map and guide from the Visitor Centre, or download the PDF map from the official website. |
| Entry process | General entry needs no ticket or booking. Leave before the gates lock at 5.00pm. |
| On-site logistics | Stay on paths and lawns and take rubbish home or use the car park bins. Do not touch sick or dead animals. Tell a ranger instead. |
Frequently asked questions about the Australian National Botanic Gardens
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Australian National Botanic Gardens free to enter? | Yes. General entry is free. Parking and the Flora Explorer bus have charges. |
| Is the Australian National Botanic Gardens suitable for children? | Yes. It has the Paperbark Treehouse, the Who Did That? Children’s Trail and a step-free Main Path suitable for strollers. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Australian National Botanic Gardens? | No booking is needed for entry or the free guided walks. Flora Explorer bookings are highly recommended. |
| Is the Australian National Botanic Gardens open on Sundays? | Yes. The Gardens are open daily from 8.30am to 5.00pm, except Christmas Day. Jindii EcoSpa is closed on Sundays. |
| Are dogs allowed at the Australian National Botanic Gardens? | No. Only registered assistance animals are allowed. |
Things to do near the Australian National Botanic Gardens
- Black Mountain summit walk: a steep 5.4 km return walk from the Visitor Centre to the summit. Telstra Tower at the top is closed to visitors.
- Black Mountain Nature Reserve Forest Trail: a moderate 2 km trail that circles the summit. It starts at the parking area halfway up the summit road, above the Gardens.
- National Museum of Australia: a national history museum on Acton Peninsula, about 2 km from the Gardens in a straight line. It covers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, Australian history since 1788 and how people have shaped the environment.
- National Film and Sound Archive: the national audiovisual archive, also in Acton, close to the Australian National University. It has free displays and an art deco cinema.
- Acton District Park: a 10.4 hectare park on the Lake Burley Griffin foreshore, also in Acton. It suits a picnic, a lakeside walk or a boat hire.
Alternative attractions
- National Arboretum Canberra: a large collection of forests, gardens and a bonsai collection, 6 km from the city centre. It has views over Canberra and no public transport.
- Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: a nature reserve with bushwalks, wildlife viewing and picnic areas, about 45 km and 50 minutes’ drive south-west of Canberra.
- Namadgi National Park: the largest park in the ACT, with walking tracks and Aboriginal rock art. The park entrance is less than 40 km from the city, and under 45 minutes’ drive.
- Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden: a 42-hectare garden of regional native plants, 5 km south of Batemans Bay and about two hours’ drive from Canberra.
- Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens: a cool-climate garden of about 13.5 hectares in Bowral, around 170 km and under two hours’ drive from Canberra.
More Canberra travel
Other Canberra travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Top tips for visiting the Museum of Australian Democracy in Canberra.
- All the important visitor information for the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.
- Questacon guide – key information about Canberra’s science and technology museum.
- National Portrait Gallery, Canberra: Visitor guide with opening hours and parking information.
- Adelaide to Canberra road trip guide: Distance, driving time and the best places to stop.
