Plan your visit to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha. Learn how to get there and book a space or guided walk.
Spanning 56 hectares, the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha are Queensland’s premier subtropical botanic gardens. They’re one of the main attractions in the Mt Coot-tha precinct.
With free entry and a variety of facilities, wildlife and plant species, there’s always something to see and do at the gardens.
Open 7 days a week:
8am–6pm in summer (September to March)
8am–5pm in winter (April to August).
Opening hours differ for the facilities and services in the gardens.
Access the main entrance from Mt Coot-tha Road.
Free parking is available in the car park at the main entry. You can also park at:
Wheelchair accessible parking is available. For detailed access information, download the mobility map.
Access the main entry at 152 Mt Coot-tha Road.
If you're entering from Mt Coot-tha Forest, you can also use the Citriodora Trail gate. The gate is open 8am to 4pm daily, all year round.
Plan your ride using our bike paths map.
Note: Riding in the gardens is allowed on the Ring Road and Botanic Way only.
You can park your bike at a rack:
The nearest train station is Toowong Station, which is a 40-minute walk from the gardens.
The closest bus stops are:
Plan your trip with Translink’s Journey Planner.
There’s bus parking next to the main driveway and on Mt Coot-tha Road. School buses can use the bus drop-off zone at the back of the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium.
Use the wayfinding guide to follow the garden’s key trails. It includes:
information on access and facilities
trails through the plant collections
other attractions to explore.
Download the guide or pick up a copy at the Visitor Information Centre.
The mobility map helps you navigate the gardens if you have a physical or mobility impairment.
It includes information on pathway gradients and the location of accessible toilets, buildings and telephones.
Located at the main entry, the Visitor Information Centre helps you make the most of the attractions, trails and picnic areas.
The centre is open 9am–4pm daily, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Ask about free guided walks, pick up a track map and chat to the friendly staff about what’s on at the gardens.
Explore the gardens and learn about the plants and features on a free guided walk.
Walks leave daily from the Visitor Information Centre at 11am and 1pm, except on Sundays (11am only) and public holidays. They’re taken at a gentle pace and last about one hour.
Large groups (10 or more people), or groups with a special interest, can make a booking for a customised tour. You must book 6 weeks in advance.
To book:
Enjoy your meal at a picnic table, on the lawns or the shaded seating area.
There are drinking fountains and toilets throughout the gardens.
Didn't pack any food? Visit the Botanic Gardens Café for a meal with a relaxing view of the lagoon and bamboo grove.
The café is open from 8.15am to 4pm, 7 days a week.
Attend a workshop, lesson or activity at the Kitchen in the Garden.
These sessions offer opportunities to:
learn how to garden sustainably
create a wicking garden or solar cooker
experiment with food fermentation
Sign up for an art workshop to:
photograph flowers or wildlife
paint with watercolours and acrylics
make ‘living’ paper
grow a succulent photo frame
create a sculpture from organic materials.
You don’t need any experience to take part in the workshops.
Make learning interesting, engaging and fun with a range of curriculum-based activities.
See science theory in action, explore geographical concepts and interact with trained and knowledgeable educators.
Aligned with the National Curriculum, the hands-on outdoor lessons are suitable for early childhood, primary and senior school groups.
Lessons are offered Tuesday to Friday at 9.30am, 11.30am and 1.30pm. Primary school lessons are 1.5 hours long and secondary school lessons are 2 hours.
Different lesson times can be requested with booking enquiries.
Download and read the brochure to choose your lesson.
You can also estimate the fees:
These prices include GST.
You’ll only be charged for the numbers that attend on the day.
Complete the online form to make a booking enquiry.
You can also use the form for lesson enquiries in the City Botanic Gardens and the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium.
Your school can also visit the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha in a self-guided capacity (without booking a lesson or guided walk).
To plan your visit, contact our Education Coordinator via email.
Have fun in nature with our School Holiday Activities Program.
Meet creepy critters, make a seedling pot, or discover the plants and animals living in our gardens.
Choose from 3 picturesque outdoor sites. These sites are available for hire from $199.60 per hour, with a 2-hour booking minimum.
This space features rainforest with a small flowing creek. It's ideal for small wedding parties. The lawn has synthetic grass.
| Capacity | 20 people (50 standing) |
| Power | Unavailable |
| Vehicle access | Unavailable |
| Marquees | Not permitted |
| Virtual tour | Yes |
This site features a large, shady fig tree, surrounded by mature trees and shrubs.
| Capacity | 100-120 people |
| Power | Unavailable |
| Vehicle access | Unavailable |
| Marquees | Not permitted |
| Virtual tour | Yes |
Mature trees and lush foliage plants (including bamboo) surround this space. It's ideal for larger wedding parties.
| Capacity | 100-120 people |
| Power | Unavailable |
| Vehicle access | Unavailable |
| Marquees | Not permitted |
| Virtual tour | Yes |
Before you book a site at the gardens, read the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha park booking sites guidelines.
To book a site, you’ll need to specify:
what type of event you’re planning
how many people you expect to attend.
You’ll also need to check the booking conditions and fees that apply to your chosen site.
When you're ready, complete the Park Booking Application online form.
You can also book the Auditorium for an art and craft show or horticultural exhibition.
Hire fees for the Auditorium:
Before you book the Auditorium, read the hire terms and conditions.
You can make a booking enquiry for the Auditorium by email.
The Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha Master Plan 2018 sets the vision and strategic framework to guide the next generation of growth in the gardens.
The master plan will help to inform future improvements for this iconic Brisbane landmark.
Download the plan to find out more.
You can drive on the Ring Road of the botanic gardens. Gates to the Ring Road and Botanic Way are closed to vehicles on weekends, public holidays and from 4pm on weekdays.
Visiting the gardens? Find out where to park.
To protect the wildlife and plant life, only service and assistance dogs are allowed in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha.
You can walk your dog on a leash along designated trails in the Mt Coot-tha Reserve, but not in the botanic gardens.
You can’t ride an e-scooter in the botanic gardens. Personal mobility devices, including scooters, skateboards and other rideables are not permitted.
Find other places in Brisbane where you can ride your scooter.
To access the Spotted Gum Trail from the botanic gardens, use the gate at the Australian Plant Communities garden. It’s the gate marked ‘C’ on the Mt Coot-tha Forest track map. The gate is open between 8am to 4pm daily.
Download the Mt Coot-tha Forest Track Map.
Yes, you can volunteer at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha.
Volunteering opportunities include:
You don’t need a formal qualification in horticulture or botany, but it’s important to have good social and communication skills.
If you’re interested in volunteering at the gardens:
You can only ride your bike along the Ring Road and Botanic Way in the botanic gardens. When you visit the gardens, you can park your bike at the bike racks.
Find other places to go riding in Brisbane.
Entry to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha is free.
There may be costs for activities in the gardens.
