Wollongong Botanic Garden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wollongong Botanic Garden |
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Swan at the garden's Autumn Lake
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| Type | Botanical garden |
| Location | Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia |
| Website | Official website: http://wollongong.nsw.gov.au/botanicgarden/ |
The Wollongong Botanic Garden is a super cool place to explore plants and nature! It's located in the suburb of Keiraville in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. You'll find it right at the bottom of Mount Keira.
This amazing garden is the main botanical garden for the Illawarra region. It was first started in 1964 and officially opened its gates to visitors in September 1970. It's a great spot for families, students, and anyone who loves the outdoors.
Right next to the garden, you'll find the old Gleniffer Brae house. This historic building is used for special events and is also home to the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music.
The Botanic Garden also looks after a few other natural areas. These include Puckeys Estate Reserve in Fairy Meadow, the Korrongulla Wetlands in Primbee, and the Mount Keira Summit Park.
Contents
What Can You See at the Garden?
The Wollongong Botanic Garden is packed with different themed areas, each with its own special plants. It's like visiting many different gardens all in one place!
Explore the Themed Plant Areas
You can wander through a beautiful rose garden, smell the wonderful scents in the herb garden, or relax in the peaceful woodland garden. There's also a colourful bank of azaleas and a unique collection of succulent plants.
Discover the Rainforests
The garden has several amazing rainforest areas. You can see plants from the local Illawarra rainforest, as well as subtropical rainforest, dry rainforest, and even exotic rainforests from other parts of the world. A small creek flows through the garden, leading into a lovely lake. This creek eventually joins Para Creek and flows into Puckeys Estate Reserve.
The azalea garden and the succulent garden are very popular. Many visitors love to take photos of the bright flowers and interesting plants. Students from the local university often come here to study plants for their courses.
Special Features and Landmarks
One of the most famous spots in the garden is the Japanese-style wooden bridge. It crosses the creek and was built as a gift of friendship. This bridge shows the strong connection between Wollongong and its sister city in Japan, Kawasaki. It was carefully restored in the early 2000s.
Another cool landmark is the BHP fountain. You'll find it at the northern entrance, close to the university. Its unique shape makes it a stop on local art tours.
The Lake and Its Wildlife
The lake is a favourite spot for many visitors. It has a boardwalk that leads to a rotunda, a round building, right in the middle of the water. The lake is home to ducks and geese, and you might even spot some seagulls visiting too!
Images for kids
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Swan at the garden's Autumn Lake
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A purple swamphen in Wollongong Botanic Garden
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The official logo of the Botanic Garden
