Guardians of the Green - Protecting our Future
Celebrate Botanic Gardens Week with us between 19-25 May. Most of our free community activities this week will take place on Sunday 25 May between 11am to 3pm.
You can visit anytime throughout the week to simply explore our amazing collections or enjoy a picnic with family and friends.
Free activities at the Garden
You don't need to book, but numbers are limited for some activities.
Need some help finding a location? Download our Garden Map PDF, 76 KB
Wednesday 21 May
| Time | Activity | Meeting Point |
|---|---|---|
| 10am to 12pm | Garden Discovery Buggy Tours | Duck Pond (map ref O3) |
Friday 22 May
| Time | Activity | Meeting Point |
|---|---|---|
| 10am to 10.45am | Budding Bookworms | West of Tea House (map ref L6) |
Sunday 25 May
| Time | Activity | Meeting Point |
|---|---|---|
| 11am to 3pm | 'Big 5 Endangered Plants’ Self-Guided Safari Tour Collect passport from Towri Centre | Towri Centre (map ref K10) |
| 11am to 3pm | Native Plant Sale | Towri Centre (map ref K10) |
| 11am to 3pm | Celebrating Compost Kids Activity | Turpentine Lawn (map ref O6) |
| 11am to 3pm | Garden Discovery Buggy Tours | Duck Pond (map ref O3) |
| 11am to 3pm | Friends In the Garden (FIG) Stall Ask about our volunteering activities | Towri Centre (map ref K10) |
| 11am to 3pm | Buzzing about Native Bees Stall | Towri Centre (map ref K10) |
| 11am to 11.45am | Behind the Scenes Tour | Towri Centre (map ref K10) |
| 11am to 11.45am | Wild Native Bees Walk | Towri Centre (map ref K10) |
| 11am to 11.45am | Anti AI Aesthetic - Poetry to Music | Rose Garden (map ref N4) |
| 12pm to 12.30pm | Rose Garden Results Talk | Rose Garden (map ref N4) |
| 12pm to 12.45pm | Wild Native Bees Walk | Towri Centre (map ref K10) |
| 1pm to 1.45pm | Behind the Scenes Tour | Towri Centre (map ref K10) |
| 1pm to 1.45pm | Anti AI Aesthetic - Poetry to Music | Rose Garden (map ref N4) |
| 2pm to 2.45pm | Wild Native Bees Walk | Towri Centre (map ref K10) |
| 2pm to 2.30pm | Rose Garden Results Talk | Rose Garden (map ref N4) |
OMG Decadent Donuts will also be at the event with their delicious gluten, dairy, egg and nut free donuts.
Updates and cancellations
Any updates or cancellations of Botanic Gardens Day events will be posted on this page and the Garden's Facebook and Instagram.
Learn more
Behind the Scenes Nursery Tour
11am & 1pm
Delve into the rarely seen heart of the Botanic Garden on a guided tour of our Nursery. Find out how and why we propagate the plants used for the Garden’s collections, Council's Community Greening program, for local Bushcare and for our monthly plant sales. On this behind the scenes tour you’ll see our collections of threatened plants and find out what we are doing to help save these wonderful endangered species through projects and partnerships. This is a fascinating tour not to be missed.
Please wear enclosed shoes for this fascinating walk around the Nursery!
No bookings required. Limited to the first 20 people to arrive at the info stall.
Meet us at the info stall in front of Towri Centre (map ref K10).
Rose Results Talk
12pm & 2pm
Growing roses in Wollongong can often be challenging because of our wet and humid summers. Learn how the horticulture team at our Garden has found ways to get the best results from our rose garden through:
- the selection of appropriate rose varieties
- better irrigation practices
- pest and disease management
- using the right products to fertilise and improve soil health
Come along and be inspired to give rose-growing a go!
No bookings are required. Limited to the first 20 people to arrive.
Meet us near the Duck Pond (map ref O3).
Garden Discovery Buggy Tours
11am to 3pm
Join a guided buggy or walking tour with our knowledgeable guides to discover the beauty, plant diversity and history of Wollongong Botanic Garden!
No bookings are required for these interesting tours led by our wonderful volunteer guides. Meet us near the Duck Pond (map ref O3).
Wild Native Bees Walk
11am, 12pm & 2pm
From cheeky Neon Cuckoo Bees to buzzing Blue Banded Bees and crafty Leafcutter Bees, Wollongong Botanic Garden is home to a diversity of wild Australian native bees. Join native bee enthusiast Alison Mellor and Lucy Loft from the Illawarra Ecosystems and Threatened Species team for a fascinating introduction into the lives of these important local pollinators and the plants they love.
This short-guided walk is designed for adults and young people 12 years+.
Participants will need to be able to walk on walk on uneven surfaces and be on their feet in the sun for 45 minutes. Closed shoes must be worn.
No bookings required. Limited to the first 15 people to arrive at the info stall.
Meet us at the info stall in front of Towri Centre (map ref K10).
Native Plant Sale
11am to 3pm
Make your garden greener by picking up some gems from our Native Plant Sale on Botanic Gardens Day.
On the Towri Centre deck, you'll find a collection of ground covers, grasses, trees and shrubs that are native to the Wollongong area as well as other Australian natives. Our expert horticulturalists will also be around to help with advice about plant selection for your garden.
Did you know we also open our Garden Nursery on the third Friday of each month (except April - Good Friday, and December), plus a few Saturdays throughout the year? At these sales we offer a larger range of native plants plus a few exotic plants grown by our amazing volunteers. For more details visit our Greenplan Plant Sale webpage.
You'll find the plant sale on the Towri Centre Deck (map ref K10).
Buzzing about Native Bees
11am to 3pm
Drop in to chat all things native bees with members of the Australian Native Bee Association. See native stingless bees up close. Kids can even make a Blue Banded Bee wristband to take home.
You'll find the native bee stall in front of the Towri Centre (map ref K10).
More details coming in April.
The main hub of activity will be around the Towri Centre, with self-guided trails and tours taking you for a trip around the Garden!
- Public Transport: The best way to arrive is via public transport with the free shuttle bus stopping at Northfields Ave and connecting to North Wollongong train station.
- Driving: A limited number of car spaces are available at our car parks off Madoline Street or Murphys Avenue, or street parking is also available.
- Cycling: we have a number of bike racks at Garden entrances.
Download our Garden map PDF, 76 KB and find full details (including access and mobility) on getting here.
Botanic Gardens Week (formally Botanic Gardens Day) is an annual week of celebration to shed light on the role of plants in our lives and the important work botanic gardens undertake every day to conserve them for future generations.
More than 100 botanic gardens, arboreta and gardens across Australia and New Zealand participate in this national event to highlight the significant work undertaken at botanic gardens to ensure plants survive into the future.
For more information visit BGANZ (Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand Ltd.)
Prior to Botanic Gardens Week, BGANZ (Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand Ltd) will hold three online webinars, hosted by Costa Georgiadis.
To watch the live webinars, head to Costa’s Facebook, LinkedIn or YouTube pages at 7pm AEST on the dates below! They will also be recorded so don’t worry if you can’t make it on the night.
2024 Webinars:
- Science Saving Species
- Connecting to Country in Botanic Gardens
- Conservation Beyond the Garden Gate
- The Role of Friends Groups in Botanic Gardens