Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park — Attraction in North Side

I find this a hard review.. We came here 10 years ago and a fair bit has changed but there is so much more that needs doing, Honestly if I was the Queen I think I would be a bit embarrassed as this is not up to the standard or a Royal Garden Sorry.. As a Brit we will do our best to support the site. . . This visit we went to visit the Blue Iguanas breading program, an extra few dollars into the parks pot. Our guide was great, he certainly loves his babies and they definitely recognised him and came running to see him. It was interesting to find out a few extra bits about the Iguanas and how well things are going. Now for the rest of the Park . . Well 10 years ago we came here on our Honeymoon and I complained to the staff that there was not enough water points around the park.. I am very disappointed to say this is still the case so make sure you have PLENTY of water with you. I am not sure if it’s because we visited in May that the park is quite dormant and there are very little flowers out, which also meant there were next to no butterflies but we did see a couple but not so we could take a photo. My wife and I took a very slow walk and there was almost no wildlife to spot, although I did come across a frog sat on one of the resting points. We walked the long way round to the lake (Mud Pit!!) not a beauty spot and as this is supposed to be a picnic area another spot where water should be available.. On the walk back we did discover some of the new features of the park. They are in a sorry state but I get the idea, I did like the Heritage Garden though.. this was I think set out to show how the first settlers lived and this I think was done well so I found it interesting. I can see they are building a new “Children’s Garden” and some hard work is going into this.. I even spotted some water fountains :-). The Orchid walk was interesting too but again not sure if it was the time of year or not but there were only a couple of Orchids in flower. I wish I could say much happier things about the park but I am guessing that as they have so few visitors they don’t have the money to really make the park glow, I hope the addition of the “Children’s Garden” creates new life...

We visited the botanic park for a couple hours with our 2.5 year old. There isn't too much for a toddler to do. After about an hour she was asking to go home. The orchid garden had a boardwalk which is easy to use with a stroller, but the rest of the paths are gravel and didn't work well with an umbrella stroller (not a big deal for us, but larger families may have issues with this).

The iguanas have been moved to a fenced off area to protect them from dogs. You can only go in with a guide and the tour is one hour and costs an extra $15pp. It rained the morning we got there so the tours were cancelled. We were lucky to see a blue iguana sunbathing on a path.

They are currently building a kids area that is scheduled to open in 2019. The renderings we saw showed a splash pad and mazes and playgrounds. This will go a long way to making the park more kid-friendly.

Overall, I would recommend the park for a couple hours with kids until the children's area is open. I wouldn't recommend travelling really out of your way to get there (we had a car and were only 20 minutes away). Mention "explore" magazine to get 20% off admission and 10% off in...

Visiting the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park was an enchanting experience! The garden is a haven of beauty and tranquility, offering an incredible variety of indigenous plant species. From vibrant flowers in full bloom to towering, palm trees, the diversity of flora was breathtaking.

The pathways were well-maintained, making it easy to navigate, and the strategically placed benches provided the perfect spots to pause and soak in the serene surroundings. Highlights included the colour garden, where colorful butterflies danced around, which exuded peace and harmony. The blue iguanas were something to see as they basked in the sun.

Whether you’re a plant enthusiast, a photographer, or just someone looking for a peaceful retreat, the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is a must-visit destination. I highly recommend it for families, couples, or even solo explorers. But, please don't forget to wear your bug spray or you'll get little love tags from mosquitoes to remind you of your visit. I can't wait to return in a different season to see how the landscape...