FAQs

No. You must not take cuttings, pick, damage or remove any plants from the garden.

This also includes any dead plants or leaves and twigs that might have fallen on the ground.

We do have herbs (such as parsley and mint) growing near the playground which you are welcome to use, just make sure you leave some for other visitors!

If you want a plant for your home, check out our Native Plant Sales.

Our Greenplan Plant Sales are a Wollongong Local Government Area ratepayer subsidised service.

If you rent in the area you will need to seek approval from your landlord. Ask them to write a letter of support for your garden plans and bring that along to our next Plant Sale so you can make a purchase.

Yes, our qualified horticultural staff and knowledgable Friends volunteers are available to provide advice at our monthly Plant Sales.

You'll find great plant information on the Growing Illawarra Natives website, including many of the plants we have available to purchase from our nursery. Be sure to check out the useful Plant Finder.

We ask that you DON'T bring any plants to the garden as they can introduce pest and disease to our valuable collections.

We do not have a herbarium or botanist on site. For accurate plant identification contact The National Herbarium of NSW who may be able to help you identify a plant.

You can also check the Growing Illawarra Natives website which contains useful information on local plant species.

You're welcome to email us photos of the plant (please include clear close ups of flowers, fruit, leaves and bark), and we'll let you know if we can identify it.

The Botanic Garden is an important wildlife refuge, so you can't bring dogs or pets.

Accredited Assistance Dogs accompanying visitors with a disability are the only exception to this rule.

If you’re looking for an outdoor space to enjoy with your dog, check Council’s Dog Beaches and Parks page.

It's best not to feed the ducks at all. Natural is best and they have all the food they need already in the Garden. With 500,000+ visitors a year all the food quickly adds up and sadly some ducks have left due to critical health issues.

If you do feed the ducks, please chose these healthier options and limit how much you feed them:

• green peas (max 10 per person)
• grapes cut in half (max 10 per person)
• grains such as cracked corn, barley oats or birdseed (max 4 pinches per person)
• duck feed pellets, available from farm supply stores (max 4 pinches per person)
• earth worms, or worms from your compost (max 4 pinches per person).

We ask that you DON’T give them bread. It can make them sick, and eventually even kill them.

Yes, we have an abundance of wildlife in the garden.

All of our wildlife is protected including snakes, spiders, lizards and birds.

Please be aware, wildlife can sometimes display unpredictable behaviour. If you have any concerns during your visit, please call us on (02) 4227 7667.

There is a kiosk (Garden Grounds Cafe) located at the Murphys Ave entrance, near the playground (located at grid reference P2 on the garden map PDF, 76 KB).

They open 9am to 2pm daily, serving coffee and snacks.

We have two free click-start BBQs near the All Abilities Playground with a herb garden nearby, in case you need any fresh parsley or other herbs.

You cannot bring your own gas, coal or fire BBQs, and camping is not permitted.

Wollongong Botanic Garden is a smoke and alcohol free zone.

No. To make sure the Garden is safe and enjoyable for all of our visitors, bikes, skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, skates etc. aren't allowed in the Botanic Garden. Slowing down and walking is the best way to absorb the natural surroundings!

You are welcome to walk your bike through, or leave it at the bike racks provided at the Murphys Avenue entrance.

To make sure the Garden is safe and enjoyable for all of our visitors, and to protect our plants and wildlife, ball games and similar activities such as frisbees aren't allowed in the Botanic Garden.

To protect our plants, wildlife and their delicate habitat, you cannot climb trees or go in any of the garden beds.

Please stick to the designated paths or enjoy our grassy areas instead.

If you feel like climbing, you can climb the grass hill to the historic Glennifer Brae manor house for some spectacular elevated views!

Wollongong Botanic Garden is a smoke and alcohol free zone.

We have two free click-start BBQs near the All Abilities Playground with a herb garden nearby, in case you need any fresh parsley or other herbs.

You cannot bring your own gas, coal or fire BBQs, and camping is not permitted.

The Botanic Garden is an important wildlife refuge, so you can't bring dogs or pets.

Accredited Assistance Dogs accompanying visitors with a disability are the only exception to this rule.

If you’re looking for an outdoor space to enjoy with your dog, check Council’s Dog Beaches and Parks page.

For the safety of our visitors, and so everyone can enjoy the garden scenery, private marquees and large shade structures are not allowed. We do allow small shade tents for young children and infants, and we have many shady areas on offer.

Marquees may be approved as part of hiring a space. If you are using an external provider to equip your event, the supplier will need to have Public Liability Insurance to the value of $20 million. You will need to provide a copy of their Certificate of Currency.

Contact us to discuss the options available.

Jumping castles are not permitted in the Garden.

We may still go ahead if there's light rain. But if there's heavy rain, or if it’s rained for several days and the ground is very wet, we will usually cancel all outdoor activities.

If you’re not sure, check our Facebook page or call us on (02) 4227 7667 to confirm.

We are currently accepting bookings for weddings from 1 April 2022 onwards. 

The Botanic Garden is a popular wedding ceremony venue, so we do recommend you book in advance as much as possible to secure your preferred location and date.

Please see our Weddings page for more information.

No. We host wedding ceremonies only.

If you're looking for a reception venue, you may like to consider Wollongong Art Gallery or one of Wollongong City Council's Community Centres and Halls.

If you’re flexible about the location for your gathering and bringing all your own setup, you don't need to book a space. Just show up, find a spot and enjoy!

Alternatively,  if you need exclusive use of part of the garden, or are using a third-party supplier of any kind you will need to book a Garden space (fees apply). Find out more about hiring a space.

Please note, jumping castles are not permitted in the Garden.

We have two free click-start BBQs near the All Abilities Playground with a herb garden nearby, in case you need any fresh parsley or other herbs.

You cannot bring your own gas, coal or fire BBQs, and camping is not permitted.

For the safety of our visitors, and so everyone can enjoy the garden scenery, private marquees and large shade structures are not allowed. We do allow small shade tents for young children and infants, and we have many shady areas on offer.

Marquees may be approved as part of hiring a space. If you are using an external provider to equip your event, the supplier will need to have Public Liability Insurance to the value of $20 million. You will need to provide a copy of their Certificate of Currency.

Contact us to discuss the options available.

Jumping castles are not permitted in the Garden.

Wollongong Botanic Garden is a smoke and alcohol free zone.

Absolutely! Visitors are welcome to take photos throughout the Garden, however drones are not permitted. See our filming and photography page for more information.

Be sure to tag us or use #WollongongBotanicGarden for your chance to be selected for our Feature Friday on Facebook and Instagram.

Wedding groups are welcome to drop into the Garden for photos any time during our opening hours. A permit is not required.

See our filming and photography page for more information.

We welcome bridal parties to take photos in the Garden at any time during opening hours.

There are some restrictions around the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music (Gleniffer Brae Manor House) so please contact us if you would like to use this area.

No photography permits are needed, and there is no cost involved. However , we do ask that you follow the below rules for filming and photography.

• Make sure your filming and photography doesn't disrupt any other Garden visitors, including wedding ceremonies or other events being held in the Garden.
• No vehicles may enter the Garden. The wedding party can be dropped off at the main entrance, but your driver will need to park within our car park, or on-street.
• No throwing of confetti, rice, petals, etc.
• No alcohol on site.
• Do not disturb or climb on or into any trees, shrubs or garden beds in the Botanic Garden.
• Decorations or other items cannot be attached to trees, plants or other structures in the Botanic Garden.
• Any props need to be removed after the photo shoot.
• Do not use flash photography near any of our wildlife as you may distress them.

See the Rules section on our FAQs page for other conditions that apply to all visitors.

If you want to take photographs or video footage for commercial purposes in the Botanic Garden, you will need to apply to Wollongong City Council for a permit at least 10 working days before your proposed shoot date.

Photographers will need to hold Public Liability Insurance to the value of $20 million. You will need to provide a copy of your Certificate of Currency.

Personal and family photo shoots with a professional photographer do not require a permit, payment or booking.

Drones are not permitted within Wollongong Botanic Garden. The Garden is within an area identified by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) as a no-fly zone for drones.

For detail, please visit CASA's website.

A walk around the surrounding Sorensen Garden and the house perched at the highest point of the garden is a must-see when visiting the Garden. However at the moment, the inside of the building is not open to the general public.

You can attend one of our 'Step Back in Time' Tours where we bring history to life with an entertaining theatrical guided tour of the house and garden. Keep an eye out on our Events Calendar for upcoming dates.

Some of the Manor House is used by the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music (The Con), so people attending classes at The Con can access part of the building.

During the 1950s, Gleniffer Brae and the land around it were bought by the Sydney Church of England Girls Grammar School (SCEGGS). The school added various classroom buildings from the 1950s to 1970s. You can learn more on our History page.

The classroom buildings are used today by the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music.

Paul Sorensen was a well known 20^th Century landscape designer. He designed many notable and now-heritage listed gardens in New South Wales. He had a long association with the Hoskins family (the original owners of Gleniffer Brae) and designed the landscaped gardens around the house.

Over time some parts of Sorensen’s original design have changed, but we’ve been working to reinstate many of the garden’s original features.

You can learn more at one of our 'Step Back in Time' Tours where we bring history to life with an entertaining theatrical guided tour of the garden and through Gleniffer Brae manor house. Keep an eye out on our Events Calendar for upcoming dates.

A draft plan to care for and protect the heritage value of Gleniffer Brae has been developed. This is called a Conservation Management Plan (CMP).

This CMP is now with the NSW Heritage Council for their approval. Once approved, the plan will be used to guide ongoing maintenance and improvements at Gleniffer Brae to make sure it’s around for many more years to come.

At present this historic building is not suitable as a venue for weddings or functions.

Please note restrictions apply around Gleniffer Brae Manor House (The Wollongong Conservatorium of Music), please contact us for further information.

The Conservation Management Plan (currently awaiting approval) will guide the future use of Gleniffer Brae for functions and community events.