The Australian National Botanic Gardens, or ANBG, is one of the most popular attractions in Australia. This haven for nature lovers is located on the Black Mountain in Canberra, and it covers an area of 90 hectares, of which 40 hectares are developed. The ANBG was established in the year 1933 to give the public the opportunity to admire and learn about the native flora of Australia.

The Australian National Botanic Gardens has a collection of 99,000 plants, which belong to more than 6,800 different species. While some of the plants can be found throughout the gardens, others are organized into categories and displayed in separate environments that are suitable for their growth. The main areas of the gardens are the Rainforest Gully which displays the rainforest plants of East Australia, the Rock Garden which features alpine and desert plants, the Sydney Region Flora which has a wide variety of plants from the Sydney Basin, the Eucalypt Lawn where many Australian eucalypt species are on display, and the Joseph Banks Building Garden which has a wonderful range of colorful plants that attract birds. Some of the interesting species of plants that you will find in the gardens are banksias, waratahs, grevilleas, bottlebrushes, honey-myrtles, wattles, as well as hybrids of native Australian plants.

The Australian National Botanic Gardens has a number of trails to make it easier for visitors to reach certain points of interest. There is the Main Path which will take you to the Rainforest Gully, the Sydney Region Flora, the Eucalypt Lawn, the Rock Garden, and the Information Centre. This trail is 1.5 km long, and it takes about 1 hour to complete. The Black Mountain Summit trail passes the Eucalypt Lawn and the site of an old nursery before it ends at the summit of the Black Mountain. A return trip on this trail will take about 1 ˝ hours. Another trail that is worth exploring is the Aboriginal trail, which brings you to the gardens' lower slopes, passing the Rainforest Gully on the way. There are signs on this trail that tell you how the aboriginals made use of certain plants.

If you want a complete experience of the Australian National Botanic Gardens, you can join the guide tours that are conducted by volunteer guides. The tours will start at the Visitor Centre, and they last for approximately one hour. An additional tour will be available from the month of October to March, and it starts at 9.30 am. The Visitor Centre is the place where you can get all the information you need about native Australian plants. It also has a bookstore that sells a wide selection of books on botany and horticulture. If you want a place to relax after a long walk, you can go to the Hudsons in the Gardens café for refreshments.

The Australian National Botanic Gardens will give you a most wonderful experience of Australian flora. If you are a nature lover who is vacationing in Canberra, this is one attraction that you should not miss.

Links:

Official Website of the Australian National Botanic Gardens

Information about the Australian National Botanic Gardens

Visitors' Information on the Australian National Botanic Gardens

History of the Australian National Botanic Gardens

Travel Packages to the Australian National Botanic Gardens

Reviews of the Australian National Botanic Gardens

Future of the Australian National Botanic Gardens

Map of the Australian National Botanic Gardens

Pictures of the Australian National Botanic Gardens

Photos of Plants in Australian National Botanic Gardens