Free Kids Activities in Canberra: National Botanic Gardens

If you want space for the kids to roam and play while getting in touch with nature, then add the National Botanic Gardens to your list of places to visit in Canberra!

If you're look for free kids activities in Canberra that are outdoors, then the National Botanic Gardens offers a beautiful day out. With a rainforest, multiple gardens, and an awesome cafe, this place is a family favourite in Canberra.

What are the National Botanic Gardens?

The Australian National Botanic Gardens, on the lower slopes of Black Mountain in Canberra, has the world’s most comprehensive display of living Australian native plants. The Gardens give you the opportunity to explore approximately one‑fifth of Australia’s diverse and spectacular flora in a bushland setting.

What will I find at the National Botanic Gardens?

The Gardens offer everything for a perfect family day out. You can enjoy a range of walking trails to suit all abilities, interesting plants and animals, educational activities, a Botanical Resource Centre, lawns for running and playing, numerous picnic tables, a cafe, day spa and bookshop.

For curious kids, the Gardens are an excellent place to explore. There's a number of trails you can take through the gardens, most of which are suitable for families and young children. If you follow the main path loop (roughly a 1.4km walk), it's about a 40 minute walk. The main path also offers you the chance to cut your journey shorter and just explore the areas you're really interested in. Note: if you're bringing a pram, you'll be stuck to the main path, as all other areas are only accessible by stairs.

The most popular highlight at the Gardens is the rainforest gully. It will take you on a journey through the rainforests of Australia’s eastern coastline from Tasmania to Queensland, and it's an incredibly beautiful, tranquil space. It's amazing how calming a space like this can be for kids, especially when you point out things like the sound of the birds, the feeling of the mist, or the smell of the soil. The rainforest is misted at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm daily, and it's a great time to visit. The rainforest gully is lovely and cool, and is definitely worth visiting in summer.

Other gardens and areas to check out include the Banksia Garden, Asteraceae

Garden (where you can get up close and experience the diversity of Australian daisies), the Eucalypt Lawn (find a restful spot to relax beneath more than 70 species of Australia’s most famous trees), the Red Centre Garden (experience the unique landscape, colours and plants of Central Australia), and the Rock Garden Lawn, which houses a very cute native bee hotel.

There are guided tours on offer at the Gardens, free of cost. Led by knowledgeable guides, these walks allow you to appreciate the beauty and clever adaptations of Australian plants and the research and effort involved in creating and maintaining the gardens.

If you're interested in seeing the gardens but don't think your kiddos could handle the long walk, you can always book a trip on the Flora Explorer shuttle bus. In a 45-minute guided tour, you can discover the gardens in a relaxed atmosphere. The bus is available weekends and public holidays, and is suitable for families and visitors with limited mobility. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The bus is not wheelchair accessible and is not suitable for babies due to seating requirements. Tickets for the bus cost $8 for adults (16+) and $5 for children (3 - 15 yrs).

Another great way to explore the gardens is the 'Who Did That?' Children's Trail, an interactive trail of tracks and traces that will get the imagination working. The trail uses activity stations to get kids thinking about pollination, adaptation and biodiversity, and includes an accompanying activity booklet. This is an easy 330 m trail that will take about 30 minutes to complete.

The Aboriginal Plant Use Trail Walk is also a fascinating tour exploring the many ingenious ways Australian Aboriginal people used plants for food, fire, tools and more. This is a self-guided tour, and has an accompanying map.

Is there a cafe/food?

The Gardens are home to the award-winning Pollen Cafe, with a gorgeous deck overlooking the rainforest gully. They offer some kid-friendly options.

Is it pram friendly?

The main path loop is pram friendly, as well as the visitors centre, bookshop and cafe. All other areas of the Gardens are only accessible via stairs.

Cost

The Gardens are free, however there is paid parking.

Hours

The Gardens are open 8.30am – 5.00pm daily.

Want more info?

Visit their website here.

If you're looking for free kids activities in Canberra, then The Australian National Botanic Gardens are a really lovely way to get the kids outside and exploring their natural environment.

Have you visited the National Botanic Gardens with kids? Let us know your top tips in the comments!