Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden: Sydney’s Best Parks & Gardens
The Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden is a 123-hectare garden on Sydney’s north shore. Established in 1968, the garden is dedicated to preserving and showcasing Australian plants.
Located adjacent to the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, the garden is home to two endangered ecological communities; Duffys Forest and Coastal Upland Swamp as well as 18 threatened species of flora and fauna.
The Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden is a beautiful spot to picnic, bushwalk and learn about Australian flora and fauna.
While some areas of the garden have been cleared from bush such as Lambert’s Clearing, which has a large grassed area with picnic tables and a children’s playground, most of the garden is in a natural bush state.
The Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden is tended by volunteers from the Australian Plants Society, who cut samples of common wildflowers in bloom and place them on a labelled stand in front of the St Ives Visitor Centre.
When visiting the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, your first stop should be the aforementioned St Ives Visitor Centre to collect a map, and take a quick look at the stick insects and snake on display inside. The visitors centre sells cold drinks and ice blocks.
There is no cafe inside the garden so bring a picnic lunch and plenty of water. There are lots of picnic tables dotted around the gardens for use.
There are bathroom facilities in several places around the garden, including at the visitors centre.
While most of the garden is quite wild, there are a few features of interest: The Knoll Garden
(a display garden containing native plants from around Australia), the Fern House, Caley’s Pavilion Gardens (featuring a wide variety of showy native flowers, rainforest trees and bush foods such as macadamia, Davidson’s Plum and native ginger).
Use the map to take one of many walks around the garden. We took the Solander Trail which took about 40 minutes to complete and had plenty of lovely wildflowers along the path.
Plenty of the trails are step-free and paved, suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. Other “adventure tracks” offer an off-road trekking experience.
Step-free paths
The Senses Track
The Senses Track is located at the top of the Wildflower Garden opposite the Visitor Centre.
There are two loops of 400m and 500m respectively, which each take ten minutes or so at a steady pace. Interpretive signage reveals interesting facts about the bushland. This is a great track for kids to enjoy.
The Solander Trail
The Solander Trail is an almost 2km circuit that takes visitors past some of the best wildflowers in the garden. It takes about 40 minutes to an hour to complete.
The Brown Trail
The Brown Trail is a short detour off the Solander Trail route that offers a view of Donnelly’s Swamp and access to the Mueller Track.
There is also a short, step-free path that winds through Caley’s Pavilion Gardens and boardwalk over the wetland area.
All of these paths are adjacent to accessible picnic areas and toilets.
Short adventure tracks
Banks Track
The Banks Track is 200m in length and takes about 5 minutes.
Smith Track
Smith’s Track is 400m in length and takes 10-15 minutes.
Bentham Track
The Bentham Track is 400m long and takes about 10 minutes.
Caley Track
Caley Track is 200m long and takes about 5 minutes.
Wilderness path
Mueller Track
A strenuous walk of 4km in length.
I really enjoyed looking around the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Nursery, located inside the Visitors Centre. The nursery specialises in local indigenous plants. It also stocks a variety of native plants suitable for planting in Sydney gardens.
Garden runs programs for kids throughout the year. You can see what’s coming up online.
Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden,
420 Mona Vale Road, St Ives (entry off Richmond Avenue).
kmc.nsw.gov.au
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Bathrooms
There is a little cafe, Saluti Cafe by Novella, near the park entrance to grab a coffee. It was closed when we visited. There is often an ice-cream van in the park for old school soft-serves. Every Saturday, Lizard Log Markets, are held in the park.
