Events and attractions

Discover visually striking dry region plants from Africa and Central America, such as the stem-succulent Euphorbia and the juicy-leaved Aloe.

Spanning 27 hectares, this area includes more than 40 rare or threatened native species. You’ll also find an open eucalypt forest, heathland, wetlands, and tropical and subtropical rainforest gardens.

See one of the largest publicly owned bonsai displays in Australia. It includes trained native and exotic plants such as figs, conifers, camellias, azaleas and subtropical deciduous species. 

The Bonsai House is open 9am–4pm daily.

Take in more than 80 different species and varieties of ferns, from ferns that live on rocks and trees to those that survive in water.

The Fern House is open 9am–4pm daily.

Pay your respects to servicemen and women, and those who worked on the land, in protected industries and organisations such as the Red Cross. The memorial offers a place to contemplate and reflect on the spirit of freedom.

Designed by leading landscape artist Kenzo Ogata, the Japanese Garden features elements of stone, water, ornaments, arbours, paths and vegetation. See evergreen gardens, native and exotic plants and tranquil bodies of water.

Marvel at different types of bamboo, including Bambusa vulgaris, Bambusa textilis and Dendrocalamus giganteus. 

Spot a variety of wildlife in the nearby lagoon, including turtles, egrets, cormorants, dusky moorhens, eels, lizards and eastern water dragons.

Encounter tropical and subtropical trees, shrubs and vines on the Australian Rainforest Trail, Australian Plants Trail and the Exotic Rainforest on the Gardens Explorer Trail.

Immerse yourself in a multisensory learning experience. Smell the blooms in season, feel the leaves of assorted mints and lavenders, and see culinary and medicinal herbs.

Admire modern sculptures crafted by local artists. After a time, these sculptures are displayed in the gardens as part of Council’s public art collection.

Discover plants from the tropical regions of the world, including aroids, calatheas, heliconias, caladiums, palms and epiphytes.

See a variety of tropical food crop plants in the temperature-controlled section of the dome, including Indian arrowroot, African nutmeg and cocoa.

The Tropical Display Dome is open 9am-4pm daily.

Yes, there are free and low-cost events at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha.

You can:

• explore the gardens on a guided tour
• get crafty and creative in an arts and crafts session 
• get your heart pumping in an outdoor fitness class
• seek hidden treasure on a botanic hunt through the gardens.

Entry to the gardens is also free. 

Find out what’s on at the gardens. 

There are plenty of ways to entertain kids at Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha.

• Spot sculptures and plants on the Hide ‘n’ Seek Children’s Trail.
• Create, learn and experiment in the outdoor kitchen or sign up for an art workshop.
• Get to know the plants and animals living in the gardens with the School Holiday Activities Program.
• Learn about space exploration at the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium.