Our Garden is widely recognised as an outstanding Regional Botanic Garden and tourist attraction, offering visitors a unique blend of flora, recreation, education and relaxation.
Visitors enjoy the beauty of native or exotic plants, the relaxation of a quiet walk, or the stimulation of learning about the environment.
Take the time to discover the many attractions, to find out information about the Garden, or the conservation, education, and cultural activities at the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden.
Opening times
The Garden is open 9am to 5pm every day of the year in Coffs Harbour, capital of Australia’s sub-tropical Holiday Coast.
Entry is free – a donation would be appreciated
Location
The Garden is centrally located about 1km east along High Street from the City Centre Mall. The parking area and entrance is at the end of Hardacre Street.
Information Centre
Staffed by members of the Friends it is open 10am to 2pm
week-days, 9am to 5pm on week-ends, school and public holidays.
Phone 02 66 484 188 (during open periods)
Located in the Information Centre, the Garden Shop has soft drinks, ice-creams, cards, plants and souvenirs available.
Facilities
There are several picnic areas, toilets, plenty of seats, and an extensive wheelchair accessible well signposted pathway system.
Plant Display Areas
The Garden offers the visitor the opportunity to enjoy half an hour in the Prime Display Area, or as much time as you would like, enjoying the many features of the other display areas.
The Display Areas are being intensively planted with exotic and native plants in accordance with the approved Plan of Management. These sections were previously either cleared or opened up for the burial of garbage and nightsoil, and now there is an intensive system of paths and comprehensive labelling of plants.
The southern area, now known as the Prime Display Area, was always sparsely forested, although occasional trees, mainly turpentine, have subsequently been removed to reduce heavy shading. It was built up with imported top-soil, extensively drained, and is designed as an intensive visually attractive area incorporating a lily pond, fountain, picnic areas, information centre, kiosk, amenities and car park. It is in demand for displays, recitals and weddings.
The central section, now the site of the Rare and Endangered, Rainforest Proteaceae, and Melaleuca plantings was open forest that had been subject to unauthorised rubbish dumping.
The northern area previously cleared for the burial of garbage and nightsoil, was artificially contoured to either drain north into the artificial lake, which replaced a natural freshwater reed swamp, and thence into the creek, or east to a smaller artificial lake. The area is now the location of the glasshouses, sensory garden, North Coast rainforest, coastal heath, and exotic areas featuring plants from climatically comparable world regions. There are lakes, waterfall and an amenities block.
Natural Areas
The half of the Garden covered with natural forest is being maintained as such with a minimum of disturbance. Gaps in the natural area have been utilized for the display areas such as the Rare & Threatened Plantings, Melaleuca and Rainforest Proteaceae.
Works include unobtrusive gravelled tracks, boardwalks to protect the sensitive swamp forest, seats, outdoor classroom and labels. There are five kilometres of unobtrusive gravelled walking tracks that provide easy access to observe the flora and fauna communities.
Please do not pick or otherwise damage these plants on the walks as it will spoil the walk for others.
The pre-existing central access does however dissect this natural area. An old quarry has been utilized for the caretaker's residence, Herbarium Seed Store.
Friends of the Garden
The Friends (The Friends of the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden Inc.) are an active community group, formed to further the objectives of the Garden, and while the contribution made by individuals varies, one thing is certain, there is some way every member can help.
If you are interested in becoming a member, staffing the Information Centre, guiding schools and special interest groups, working bees, herbarium or seed collection seed or voluntary work, the contacts are as follows:
- Post: Friends of the Botanic Garden
PO Box 648, COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
- Phone: 02 66 525131
- Herbarium: 02 66 484 898 (during open periods, Monday, Tuesday, Friday mornings) 02 66 523 820 (after hours)
- email: tmonaghn@tpg.com.au
