Japanese Gardens, Auburn Botanical Garden

The Japanese Gardens are so lovely. Any garden or flower enthusiast should visit and don’t be scared to take the kids – they will enjoy it too. 

 

It may be quite a trip to get there but I am sure you wont be disappointed. We visited last year for the Cherry Blossom Festival and I was completely taken aback. If you’re in the area you have to stop in for a time out and maybe a picnic.

The Japanese Gardens in Auburn

Where are the Japanese Gardens

 

The Japanese Gardens are in the Auburn Botanical Gardens. The Auburn Botanical Gardens are 18 kilometres from Sydney city and just over 7km south-east of Parramatta CBD. The official address for the Auburn Botanical Garden is Chisholm Rd & Chiswick Rd, Auburn NSW 2144. 

 

There is parking within the greater Auburn Botanical Gardens if you’re driving there. Thankfully the parking is free so you can spend lots of time there.

 

You can use public transport to get to the Auburn Botanical Garden by making your way to Auburn Train Station and from there the 909 bus. The bus will you to nearby Cumberland Road which is about a 2 minute walk away. 

 

Japanese Garden Features

 

The Auburn Botanical Gardens was established in 1977 and covers an area of 9.7 hectares. The Japanese Gardens is one of the main features of the Botanical Gardens.

It is absolutely beautiful. There is a big lake in the centre of the Japanese Gardens that you walk around. It is a walk that takes you past Zen gardens, over bridges and up little hills. It is a stunning walk to do with kids and its not very long but there is so much to look at. 

My kids absolutely loved visiting  the Japanese Gardens. There are little man-made mountains that the kids can run up, look outs to take in the views and rocks to walk over. 

There are a number of ducks and geese on the lake that form the central feature of the Japanese Gardens. I also understand that there is a special time when you can feed the fish in the lake but we haven’t been able to experience this for ourselves yet. 

For me, I just loved all the trees, flowers, waterfalls and Japanese style architecture. I must have taken hundreds of photos while we were there. 

For those who know their stuff, you can also spot the following:

• Ryoan-ji style garden 
• Symbolic mountains 
• Tiled Moon Gate 
• Torrii Gate 
• Worshipping stone 

 

The Cherry Blossom Festival

 

The annual Cherry Blossom Festival is held in the Japanese Gardens between mid August and early September. 

 

It is absolutely beautiful to experience the Japanese Gardens when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. 

 

Aside from the gardens themselves and the beautiful blooms there is a lot going on at the gardens relating to Japanese Culture. Last year my kids watched a demonstration on Japanese Music, fighting and got to make some origami flowers. 

 

The only problem is that it is packed with people and on the last weekend you can hardly move for all the people. 

What else is at the Auburn Botanical Gardens

• An Amphitheatre
• Fauna Reserve and Aviary
• The Native and Rainforest Garden 
• The Scented Garden 
• The Sunken Rose Garden 
• An Equal Access Playground
• Picnic and BBQ areas

 

Fauna Reserve and Aviary

Out of all these different aspects of the Auburn Botanical Gardens we only managed to see the Fauna Reserve and Aviary. It is well worth its own post as it came as a complete surprise to see some animals. The kids loved this aspect of the Auburn Botanical Gardens. 

 

This year when we go back for the Cherry Blossom Festival I will check out more of these. 

 

Picnic and BBQ Area

 

You will find the picnic and BBQ area just outside the gardens but within the greater garden area. You can see these clearly from parking area.  

Opening Hours and Entry Fees

 

Opening Hours

The Japanese Gardens are open every day from 9am to 5pm. 

 

The opening hours for Auburn Gardens are from 9am to 5pm every week day. Outside of Daylight Savings times the gardens are also open at this times over the weekends.

 

On the weekends, during Daylight Saving Times Auburn Gardens are open from 9am to 6pm. 

 

Entry Fees

Auburn residents are free but proof of residency is required.

 

Children and people under 16 are free. 

 

Adult non-Auburn residents are:

• $4 during weekends, school and public holidays. Except for entrance into the Cherry Blossom & Autumn Colours Festivals. 
• $5 during the Cherry Blossom & Autumn Colours Festivals. 
• Free any other times

 

Rules for visiting the garden

 

There are a number of rules pertaining to visiting the Auburn Botanical Garden including: 

• There is no food in the gardens – you have to go to one of the designated eating areas. 
• You can’t take glass into the gardens. 
• The riding of bicycles, scooters and skateboards is prohibited.