Sydney walks places to see Chinese Garden

Chinese garden of friendship    

Leave the hustle and bustle of the fast pace city life and enter a world of peace and tranquillity on a self-guided tour. Immerse yourself and explore the ancient stone pathways as they lead you to majestic waterfalls lakes and many pavilions where you can sit back relax and admire the extraordinary views of this truly amazing ancient Chinese garden.  The Chinese garden of friendship is only a small part of what Sydney has to offer in the way of Chinese architecture, Chinese land scapes, culture and history.  This beautiful garden is located in the heart of the city central district area Darling harbour.  The garden has a small entry fee of six Australian dollars per adult and three Australian dollars per child. Once a year during the Chinese New year festival the garden will have an open free day but expect to wait in line anywhere up to two hours, before you are able to enter on open free day.  

What to see

Guarding the entrance to the garden are two Foo-dogs which have been carved from Chinese granite. Foo dogs (Chinese lions) represent loyalty strength and prosperity they are always in a pair on the right the male with a ball of chi (energy) guarding the left side is the female with her cubs.

Penjing court yard 

Penjing is the art of creating Stunning miniature land scapes through careful pruning creating stunning artistic arrangements of trees.  The Penjing court yard has a small collection of this ancient Chinese art displayed alongside three extraordinary rock sculptures made from rare Ying rock. A mountain limestone from southern Guandong, the oldest tree featured in the court yard dates back from 1932.

The Dragon wall

A gift from Guangdong it features two dragons the blue dragon represent NSW and the gold dragon represents Guangdong.  The pearl of prosperity siting between the two dragons symbolises the bond between the two states.

Water pavilion of lotus fragrance

Enjoy an unobstructed view extending in all directions of a lake covered in lotus and water lilies for most of the year, and the rock monster that guards against evil. When the lotus flower is in full bloom it has a captivating fragrance and is the symbol of purity and perfection. Watch the koi swim gracefully through the clam still waters.

 The Chinese tea house

Reminisce about your visit to this beautiful garden as you sit back and relax in the traditional Chinese tea house enjoy an authentic range of Chinese tea, Steam buns and dumpling.  Other light meals and beverages are also available from the café style menu.

 Imperial Costume

Take a journey back in time and take a photo of the family in one of the many silk gowns based on designs from the Ming and Ching dynasties and be transformed into a princess, warrior or emperor. Enjoy the   advantage of getting a photo shot using the many picturesque background setting that can be found within the gardens.  These photos can be great memorabilia to take home to show your friends and love ones as you reminisce about your day at the Sydney Chinese garden of friendship.

For more information

Telephone (02) 92408888

Or visit dalingharbour.com

 

Sydney garden free to see Sydney Botanical Gardens

free walks Sydney Botanical gardens

The city of Sydney have many beautiful gardens to see but The  Sydney botanic gardens are as must see when visiting Sydney this very famous garden is located on the shores of Sydney harbour and is east of the Sydney opera house and circular key.  When you visit this magnificent garden hidden within the city you are encouraged to walk on the grass hug the tress and smell the flowers.  The Sydney botanical gardens the oldest garden in Australian has 30 hectares of beautiful Australian Flora numerous Sculptures and memorials and many more beautiful sight and attractions. The Sydney botanic gardens attract over 3 million tourist and visitors every year. The gardens are easily accessible as there are several entrances including gates by The Sydney Opera House where you can also get a ticket for the choo choo express and a free visitor’s map. More gates are located along, Macquarie Street such as the palace garden gate positioned near the palace garden cafe and the government house gate or the gate located opposite the state library you can also enter at the Woolloomooloo gate Opposite Wharf 11.  Train stations close to the gardens are Martin place station located near Sydney hospital and Macquarie Street and also Circular key train station.   

Succulent Garden

Walking around the Royal botanical gardens

The network of paths that criss-cross the gardens provide hours of walking trails all enjoy a free guided walk Free guided walks that depart at 10:30am daily except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday and 1pm walks Monday - Friday except over Summer (December, January and February ) . Walks leave from the Visitor Information Counter (next to the Gardens shop in the Palm Grove Centre) the walk usually takes about 1 and half hours  Enquires phone :92318134

What to see

The Royal Botanical gardens was originally farm land for the young city of Sydney. However, crop cultivation proved unsuccessful so the area was designated as parkland for both recreation and botanical use, whilst the Domain was set aside for the use of Governor Macquarie and Elizabeth, his wife.  There are hundreds of plant species growing throughout the gardens see the Wollemi pine a living dinosaur until its discovery in the Blue Mountains in 1994 The species is located on the Woolloomooloo Bay side of the Gardens Shop and Restaurant. The succulent garden view prickly cacti and other species from Africa and the Americas and the few species that is native to Australia.  The herb garden a collection of herbs from all around the world delight your senses while you learn about the important uses such as medical aromatic and culinary delights these plants have been used for many centuries.  Walk underneath an Australian rain forest canopy where you will see a variety of plants. HSBC Oriental garden, view Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese wild and cultivated plants from their subtropical and warm-temperate areas. Visit the Lewis Wolf drinking fountain one of the remaining few public drinking fountains still remaining in the city of Sydney. Built in 1889 was a gift to the gardens from the Levy family in memory of Lewis wolf Levy

 

Other attractions to see

Rare and Threated plant garden learn what you can do to help save these plants.

Cadui Jam Ora the local indigenous people of the city of Sydney learn about their as they first encounter European settles.

The fernery open from 9am until 4pm daily 

National Herbarium a collection of over one million preserved plants and is also the centre of conservation and research 

The garden shop Gifts for all occasions opening hours from 9:30am to 5pm

The Botanic garden and restaurant and cafe Lunches from 12 noon daily opening hours from 8:30am to 4:30pm

The Scenic train departs every 20 mins near the opera house side of the gardens charges apply

Government house free tour

Government house is decorated with oil painting portraits and the coats of arms of all the governors of News south Wales that have occupied government house.  View 100 year old red cedar dining table and furniture in the dining room with its very beautiful stone marble fire place view gold lined doors and the ceilings unique designs learn the history of government house and about the people who lived and served in this 1845 Australian castle.

Government house tours run every Friday to Sunday from 10 30 am until 3pm tours depart every 30 minutes and run for approximately 45 minutes. Government house is closed occasional for official functions Christmas day and Good Friday. Telephone for information 02 9931 5222

Government house