These expansive gardens are the city's favourite picnic destination, jogging route and snuggling spot. Bordering Farm Cove, east of the opera house, the gardens were established in 1816 and feature plant life from Australia and around the world. They include the site of the colony's first paltry vegetable patch, but their history goes back much further than that; long before the convicts arrived, this was an initiation ground for the Gadigal people.
Free 1½-hour guided walks depart at 10.30am daily. From November to March there's an additional hour-long tour at 1pm on weekdays. Book ahead for an Aboriginal Heritage Tour , which covers local history, traditional plant uses and bush-food tastings.
