George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens — Attraction in The Gardens

A mouthful of a name for Darwin's Botanic gardens but George Brown is the very reason it is still in a good state after Cyclone Tracey of 1974. Did a guided walk with Walk Darwin & according to guide John, this was not the only cyclone to wreak damage in the gardens.

It is expansive, so you will get an excellent workout as it is set on a hilly slope - find a layout map if you want to get through it all.

Notable section is the Madagascar & African garden with massive Baob trees incl the local native Adansonia Gregorii.

Waterfall has not worked for quite awhile & it is evident parts of the garden is neglected. Interesting tropical trees like Ashoka Seraca (religious significance to Buddhists), toxic Suicide Tree (Cerberus Odallam) - up there with Death Cap mushies 🫣, Pride of Burma Amhertsia, Black Bean Moreton chestnut tree, Sausage Tree (er.. rr..true - from Africa) & quite few others used in perfumes, medicinal oils or just plain quirky.

Main entrance is actually across the road from Mindil Sunset Beach area - look for Eva's Cafe on google which is just past entrance. Interesting sculptures scattered around, some good & others like the dinosaurs in the cycad area plain garish (cast off from elsewhere). The Centre is worth a visit for background & seed saving history. We spotted a Rufuos Owl & you will see & hear the ubiquitous native scrubfowls.

Wld be really good to visit this special garden in the wet season - bit too hot, humid & parched on our guided tour on Sun 27/7/25 a week ago to enjoy it properly though...

This could well be the highlight of my walking ~days around Darwin. It is only 2km from the CBD.

Unlike other botanical gardens ive ever visited this garden has been devastated by Cyclones and WW2 so there is a strong connection with the effort and emotion associated with keeping a garden alive and in this case truly thriving.

There are examples of a wide range of plants and trees from Africa and Asia, of course Northern Australia, the extreme dessert climate right through to rainforest and the cycad garden with some of the oldest plant species in existence.

The visitor centre is brilliant an absolute treasure trove of information and interactive displays & we loved the mini cinema which immersed us into the wet season experience there. Allow an hour here alone if you like to delve into information and learning.

The Cafe was perfect as well with outdoor or indoor seating to suit the conditions to enjoy an excellent coffee, lunch etc etc. Totally set up for wheel chair or mobility challenged people.

Lastly there is open lawns and an area to host outdoor events which would be great for a garden...

HI GUYS I VISITED GEORGE BROWN BOTANICAL GARDENS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND I HAVE NO WORRIES IN LETTING YOU KNOW I WILL BE GOING BACK SOON BECAUSE OF THE MANY DIFFERENT SPECIES OF PLANTS AND BIRDS AND ANIMALS THAT LIVE THERE THE WORK THAT MUST OF BEEN DONE TO GET IT TO EMACULENT LOOKING CONDITION IT IS IN TODAY MUST OF TAKEN A LOT OF LOVE AND TIME I SEEN MANY SPECIES OF PLANTS THAT ARE RARE AND BEAUTIFUL AND RAIN FOREST TYPES OF DISPLAY AND SO MANY COLORS AND FLOWERS AND ORNAMENTS I WOULD RETURN IN A HEART BEAT I HAVE TO JINGLE WATER GARDENS AND I BELIEVE IT IS INCREDIBLE BUT THE BARTANICAL GARDENS HAVE BEEN APART OF DARWIN SINCE I CAN REMEMBER THEIR IS TOILETS DISABILITY PARKING ACCESS TO TO ALL AREAS AND THE ANTHONY THEATRE RIGHT NEXT TO THE BOTANICAL GARDEN GUYS DO YOUR SELF A FAVOR CHECK IT OUT I NEVER GET TIRED OF GOINGTHERE FOR THE FOR THE GARDENS CHANGE BETWEEN THE WET SEASON AND THE DRY SEASON DO YOUR SELF A FAVOR CHECK IT OUT I'M SURE YOU WILL LOVE AS MUCH AS I DO...