slothis · English

Relaxing at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

2015-05-23 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

I had been walking for a while, thinking I was already in the botanic garden, when the actual entrance appeared. So what was I walking through all this time...? The map definitely said it was the botanic garden... One thing I've realized since coming to Sydney is that, if nothing else, the parks are massive, well-maintained, and open for anyone to enjoy. And fittingly for such parks, animals roam around freely. That sounds incredibly romantic, but to add a bit of reality, thanks to that, I've already seen a few rather plump rats despite only being here for a few days. Still, I prefer a nature-friendly city where you might occasionally spot a rat over a concrete jungle completely devoid of nature.

Stone main gate with black iron doors at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
The gate to the botanic garden. In other words, the garden actually starts here.
Granite Levy Drinking Fountain with lion head decorations and bronze statues.
Bronze goddess statue fountain standing against a backdrop of high-rise buildings.
Information board detailing the history and origins of the Levy Drinking Fountain.
Just a short walk from the entrance is the Levy Drinking Fountain. It was built in 1889, so it really is quite old. However, aside from its age, it doesn't have much historical significance, which made this pretty fountain a little disappointing.
Signpost in the park pointing towards nearby attractions like the Sydney Opera House.
Only 14 minutes left to go.
Information board commemorating botanist Solander, featuring a map of Australia.
The botanic garden is filled with plants collected by Daniel Solander as he traveled around eastern Australia.
People gathered under a giant tree, looking up.
It was so fun watching these older ladies huddled together taking pictures.

From here on down, it's a feast of flowers.

Plant with red pinecone-shaped flowers blooming among green leaves.
Small sign showing the scientific and English names of the plant Costus comosus.
Huh? Ginger? This is ginger??
Blue blossoms blooming among broad green leaves.
Yellow flower blooming against a background of green leaves.
Stone statue of a woman with closed eyes on a pedestal engraved with the English word Wish.
White flower blooming downwards against a background of green bushes.
Tall pine tree and an information board surrounded by plants with purple leaves.
Information board explaining the history of the Wishing Tree and how to make a wish.
They say if you make a wish while walking around this tree, it will come true. My wish was pretty cliché, but I'm keeping it a secret just in case telling someone ruins it.
People sitting on the botanical garden lawn, relaxing or drawing.
They looked like a club, with a wide range of ages from young people to seniors, and a mix of genders. But you could see the same focused passion for drawing in all of them.
Large tree standing in the middle of a wide lawn with people sitting and relaxing around it.
People gathered sitting on the lawn under the shade of a tree, with the Harbour Bridge visible in the distance.
People sitting on camping chairs on the lawn with birds around them, against a backdrop of high-rise buildings.

I didn't see the entire botanic garden, just the path leading to the Opera House, but even on that short walk, it was easy to spot people relaxing in the park, eating, chatting, or enjoying their hobbies. In Seoul, the Han River serves this purpose, but it's honestly too narrow for the population size. It's not an easy problem to solve, which makes me envious of countries with this kind of nature. Of course, I hear Sydney's real estate bubble is no joke either, with housing prices even higher than Seoul's. Well, it's not like I'm deciding where to live right now, so I should just enjoy this rare scenery while I can.

It really is massive.



#LeisurelyStroll #OnlyThoseWhoKnowHowToRelaxCanEnjoyIt