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Located 60 kilometres south-west of Sydney is the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan. It is one of three gardens under the Royal Botanic Garden and Domain Trust, along with the Royal Botanic Garden of Sydney and the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah. The garden is located on Dharawal country, and consists of over 400 acres of gardens, lawns, lakes and rolling hills.

The garden was opened in 1988, and only Australian plants are grown and displayed. This is the largest botanic garden by size in Australia, and the extensive grounds are effectively used to showcase different plants. For example, there are bottlebrush, wattle, and banksia gardens as well as woodland areas and lakes.

Most areas of the garden are accessible, with over 20 kilometres of pathways available. There are various walks including the central valley walk and woodland walk. Lawns, pavilions, and BBQ areas are positioned at different parts of the garden, and the sense of space is abundant.

Over 700,000 visitors come each year to enjoy time in the garden, which includes over 3,000 local flora specimens. Part of the critically endangered Cumberland Plain woodland is contained within the park.

Birdlife and fauna also appreciate the gardens, with different birds including royal spoonbills, cormorants, and herons spotted during my stroll past Lake Sedgwick. Many species are at home in the gardens, including swamp wallabies and wallaroos.

This was my first visit to the garden, and I look forward to returning during different seasons and to exploring more of the extensive range of native plants on display. You can find out more about the garden here.

When was the last time you went for a wander in a botanic garden?

Photo: the Connections Garden, Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan